ANGLICANS AT VARIANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 314, 27 March 1928, Page 13

ANGLICANS AT VARIANCE

HAMILTON CONTROVERSY DEAN BARNETT’S REPLY SERVICES NOT ALTERED (From Our Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, To-day. TU econtroversy regarding Anglican services at Hamilton is dealt with in a statement by Dean Barnett, of Hamilton. He says, in the course of a long statement, that Bishop Cherrington offered the vestry of St. Peter's in February, 1927, two beautiful sets of coloured vestments. They were accepted, and forthwith used. Archdeacon Cowie resigned the charge of St. Peter’s parish on April 30, 1927. The sung Eucharists became the main service each Sunday morning from May 1. No alterations in the service were made, except separating the mattins and the sung Eucharist on Sunday morning. The dean, continuing, said that the sung Eucharist is simple and dignified, and an act of worship increasingly appreciated by a considerable congregation. The dean did not change his vestments during the Eucharist or any other service. The wafer bread complained of was ordered by the treasurer because he could secure it on better terms than other wafers. The clergy wgre not concerned in it. Most ungenerous and ungentlemanly comment had been passed on the arrangement between himself and the committee at the Claudeiands meeting of parishioners at Claudeiands, but this could not be construed into being a meeting of protest against the present order in- the parish. The meeting referred to as promised by him, but cancelled, was an offer made by him to the chapter for each member to invite six other men to the meeting, in which he would explain his ideals of worship. Considering the feeling manifested by one member at the meeting of the Claudeiands committee, he (the dean), after consultation with two church wardens and several other members of the chapter, postponed the suggested meetings. He said the collections had been well maintained, though naturally there had been a falling-off compared with last year, when the parish was keen about the coming of the bishop. In conclusion, he said that under no circumstances whatever would he be drawn into a religious controversy through the Press.