WHICH CHURCH?

Southland Times, Issue 18824, 18 May 1920, Page 7

WHICH CHURCH?

ST. ANDREW’S OR ST. JOHN’S.

ATTENDANCE OF COLLEGE GIRLS

The dispute which has arisen over the attendance of boarders from Queen Margaret College at Pt. John’s Church in Wellington was further referred to at the meeting of the Wellington Presbytery on Monday. The Moderator (the Rev. W. Dayi, in submitting the report of the committee (comprising the Revs. W. Comric, .1. A. M’Kenzie. and himself) set up by Presbytery to report on the matter, stated that the dispute had advanced a stage, and it was possible that a satisfactory conclusion might now be arrived at. The committee was instructed to endeavour to bring about an amicable settlement between the parties, with a request that it should meet the committee, but the committee was informed in reply that there could be no such meeting unless the committee had some definite proposals to bring before Pt. Andrew's session. The committee, however, had no proposals to make its mission being tirst of all one of inquiry. The committee was toll! that when it had something definite to say it could come forward again, and meet p£. Andrew’s session. The comni'.itee then took steps to interview Miss Budd. the principal of the college. It was not to their surprise that Mias Budd would not agree to that; she did nor feel called upon to meet a deputation from the Presbytery unless directed to do so by the College Board of Governors. But she was kind enough lo make a sort of brie!, though general, statement as to her position in the matti-r. He was not going to read her letter, because it was given by Miss Budd privately and as a favour, bur in the course of it she cleared up one point deltuitely. wire's was an exceedingly important one, indeed of the first importance. fie put the question in plain terms to Miss Budd: "Did anyone in Wellington, minister or elder, influence you 33 to where you should send the children to worship I" To that question Miss Budd gave an emphatic "No.” Phe stated that she had acted entirely on her own initiative, no pressure was brought to bear on her from any quarter. Phe went to worship at Pt. .Mm’s herself, took some of the children them herself, end sent tire rest to Pi. Andrew's. Phe understood in coming here then -he had an entirely free hand. The commit icc frit it had to stop when it. pot as far a- that. To go further it could only have gone to the Board of Governors. The a!li;ie:e of the Board of Governors was obviously one of approval of the action of Miss Budd, so that the committee understood their attitude in connection with the matter. Thr- committee had arrived at a con-elusion in the form of a motion which it hoped would be passed by the Presbyiery that night, and thereby bring the dispute to an. end —the only possible end to which it could bo brought. The Rev. P. Orr had put it that Pt. Andrew's demanded justice from the Presbytery, which meant that they wore to say that ail the children should g° to Sr. Andrew's Church because the college, was in that- parish; but they would see that they were up again, -t tremendous difficulti*»s —in fact, that they could not do it. lie moved the following morion: That- the Presbytery is of opinion that, it is generally desirable that, subject to the wishes of parent:-, the boarders in our church colleges should attend the church which is in the neighbourhood of the college, and to this extent, it sympathises v. ith the session of St. .An-1 raw's Church in i h-ir complaint that girls of Qu-'en Margaret College -cere being taken past Pi. Andrew's Church to St. .John’s. in vi.-w of tile statement by the Principal j th -he w;is nut influenced by any of the college governors, and of the fact ; that a majority of the girls are now attending hr. Andrew's Church, the Presbytery feels that no good purpose can be served by further discussion of this mat- ;

ffr. The Rev. \V. ,T, Comne secomied Ihe motion ; ro K-niia. re.-erN :ng h;.' right to rpeak Inter. j Mr Day urged that, there should be a j free diseusum. Its reply ro a question, he stated rhu: rh- terms of the motion had not Ween communicated to any of the , part:e,' concerned. As no members ->i tin- Pre.-hyrery wished to .-peak, tin- motion tv as then put and . same i unanimouMy.