A VICAR’S TROUBLES.

Shannon News, 22 December 1925, Page 3

A VICAR’S TROUBLES.

PROHIBITS DANCING IN CHURCH HAUL. SYDNEY, November 26. There are bitterly contending factions in the Anglican parish of St. Mary’s, Balmain East, and serious trouble has developed there. ‘‘l have dropped into a heritage of trouble, a veritable hornet’s nest, into which any rector who might have succeeded to this parish would have fallen. It was in existence already when I came, owing to the bitterly contending factions in the parish.” This explanation was vouchsafed by Rev. Frederick Kellett, M.A., the rector, who just now is engaged in defending himself and his parish from what in military language, might be described as , a massed attack, Mr Kellett is a quiet, inoffensive man, a clergyman of 20* years’ experience, with high ideals as to the responsibilities of his sacred calling. He has only been rector of St. Mary’s for five months but they have been stormy and distracting months and unexampled in his career. His ministry hitherto has been in quiet peaceful parishes. In agreeing to exchange the restful parish of Springwood on the Blue Mountains, for one in the heart of a great industrial centre, he little reckoned, that lie was forfeiting the “harvest of a quiet eye" for. one of ecclesiastical turmoil and strife. Yet so it proved. Injunction Badly Taken.

The rector quickly discovered .that he had come into a parish absolutely at cross purposes. His first cognisance of trouble was when he prohibited dancing in the Sunday school hall. Unpleasant rumours' were afloat, which may or may not have foundation in fact. Mr Kellett, holding that a rector’s first concern should be for the spiritual welfare of his parishioners considered it to be his duty to ’’avoid even the appearance of evil.” He accordingly informed all whom it might concern that, if they must have that form of recreation, they must take it in some hall other than the school hall. “The church must be a church and not used, for anything unspiritu-, al,” was his explanation.

Conflict of Authority. This injunction was taken with a bad grace by some of the parishioners who showed their resentment in unmistakable ways. The rector had arranged for a young people’s mission to be held in the church. Some of th parishioners organised opposition gatherings, which were held simultaneously in the school hall-. This raised, the question of authority as to the possession of the keys of the school hall. The rector and churchwardens decided that the best way to solve this difficulty was to have a new lock put on the school hall door. Discord in Sunday School. There was conflict of authority also as to the conduct of the Sunday school and, as the superintendent and at least one teacher was judged by the rector to be acting in a manner disloyal to himself, he eixercised the powers which he claimed were his as rector and dispensed with their services. They declined to accept dismissal, and the situation became so acute that the Sunday school was transferred to the church, under the superintendency of the rector. It is alleged that systematic attempts havie been made to steal the hearts of non-partisan parishioners away from the rector and that as a consequence, there have been a number of resignations and disaffections. The worst manifestation ot feeling in the feud came last Sunday evening week, when during the pro gress of divine service some persons unseen and unknown, bombarded tin church roof with stones and thre/ crackers into tie building.

Mr Kellett says that the attitude •of officials, in determining to cling to office after their services have been dispensed with is without precedent in his experience, and he had no option but to take charge of the Sunday school himself. He believes that a section of the parishioners is trying to drive him out. Not Inclined to Get Out. "They were disappointed in not getting another clergyman appointed to the parish and appear to think that if they could get rid of me, that other clergyman might be secured. But," said Mr Kellett. "I am not inclined to get out. A lot of clearingup needs to be done in this parish and it falls to me to bear the brunt of the unpleasantness." In confirmation of Mr Kellett's statement that the trouble in the parish arose before his advent, several parishioners have testified that a meeting of parishioners, held prior to Mr Kellett's appointment, was of susji an unseemly character that it could be described only as "a howling mob”. It is known that Archbishop Wright concurred in Mr Kellett's action wheD declining to allow the school hall to he used any longer for dancing and Mr Kellett expressed himself as satisfied that he has the support and sympathy of a large number of What he terms "the best type of parishlo.ners.”

Asked as to his future course ot action, Mr Kellett said: "If anything is to be done it rests with the higher authorities of the church. The archbishop, I understand, is arranging a meeting of those principally concerned, at which either he or his representative will preside, to try and straighten things out In the meantime I am not taking any action, one way or the other."