PENNILESS PRIMATE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 361, 24 October 1932, Page 2

PENNILESS PRIMATE

CHANCELLOR OF DIOCESE STEALS OYER NINE THOUSAND. TRUST FUNDS LOST. Winnipeg, October 12. His Grace Archbishop Matheson, former Primate of the Anglican Church in Canada, is almost penniless as the result of the d'apletion of the ' church's trust funds. The venerable prelate said yesterday that he "had lost everything." John A. Machray, K.C., Chancellor of the diocese of

Rupert's Land, who had charge of the funds, has been formally charged with theft of more than £9400 of the University of Manitoba endowment moneys. The Archbishop had saved ahout £1800. This money has completely vanished. In addition, he has never been able to get title to the house in which he lives-, which he purchased two years ago for £1600. "I am very ill," he said, "and this whole business has been such a blow to me, and the whole church, that I really daren't discuss it. I am afraid it will have a serious effect on the j church throughout the* whole of Canada. If an appeal to replenish th t Clergy Sup-erannuation Fund, and Widows' and Orphans' Fund is made ' to the Church of England, I would be j glad to assist in every way I could." The total of the shortages in the different trusts is not known, and auditors are still unable to say when their final report will be ready. Records are confusing and months of investigation may be necessary hefore the final amount is struck. It is known, however, that the losses will be heavy. For St. John's Anglican Coll'ege the

shortage will total £80,000, and it is unofficially estimated it may be al- j most as much as that of the University of Manitoba, which, in records of the court, was placed at £179,000. Church committees are assuming that they will have to repiace revenues of hetween £12,000 and £14,000 annually. Tentative plans are accoi'dingly being discussed to raise this. amount rather than make any immediate attempt to launch a campaign for replacement of the capital fund which at the moment is out of the question. if the income estimate of hetween £12,000 and 14,000 is correct, this would mean the total church losses may reach £200,000.