ASHBURTON ANGLICAN CHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 12

ASHBURTON ANGLICAN CHURCH.

COMPLAINTS OF RITUALISM. (From Our Own Corhbspomdknt.j CHRISTCHURCH, Aogust 12. A special and largely-attended meeting of p -rishioners and •worshippers' of St. Stephen's Anglican Church, " Ashburton. was held on Wednesday, as the outcome of a numerously-signed petition which had besn presented to the Vicar and churchwardens: praying thai an altar-table and cross recently placed in the sacristy of the new chancel be removed, and that the former communion-table be replaced. The vicar stated that the former communiontable was a mere "box," which had been, > draped, and that the present altar-table was, in fact, an -historical communion- tab! a in tne proper sense of the word, which had for many years been in use in the Clvristchurch Cathedral. The cross was also of much historical value, and it also had been in use for many years in the Cathedral, and both 'were a p.re&ent from the Cathedral Chapter to St.' Stephen's Church by a faculty from the bishop. The cross had been placed on a Tetable, cr shelf, above the table, but not on the table itself, without the slightest wish or thought on the part of himself or the churchwardens to introduce Ritualism into the church. He would be one of the very .last to countenance ritualistic practices. Mr Ferriman, as one of those who had. signed the petition, said that a number of those who had signed the petition had been worshipping in the church for periods varying from 10 years up to' 30 years and over, and if the -cross were allowed to jemain it would be painful to these earnest ' -worshippers and zealous church members. A-lengthy discussion' ensued, and a motion, that the cross be removed was eventually negatived by 56 votes' to' 33.