ANGLICANS REPROVED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 437, 20 August 1928, Page 14

ANGLICANS REPROVED

“BEHAVE LIKE CHRISTIANS” WAIKATO BISHOP SPEAKS OUT (From Our Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, To-day. "Get rid of the little trifles and difficulties and behave like Christtian men and women,” declared Bishop Cherrington in concluding a sermon in St. Peter’s Cathedral last evening, in which he spoke very plainly on church affairs in the Waikato diocese. Taking for his text the story of the Pharisee and the publican, the bishop said he thought it was time that, as bishop of the diocese and head of the cathedral chapter, he broke his silence. He had not much patience at any time, but he thought that during the last few months he had been very patient. Anyone in his position would have been disturbed by the statement, j circulated all over New Zealand, that \ the Hamilton Anglicans were quarrelling again. He now spoke because | his name had been brought into it. The bishop said the trouble had never been officially brought before him. He held that a bishop was not to interfere in a parish unless his advice was sought or a formal complaint was made to him through the official channels. INTENDS TO HAVE A SAY On December 12, 1926, the people of Hamilton had asked him to make St. Peter’s Church his cathedral, and he had done so. If the people did not not like it and preferred that the cathedral chair should be removed, they had only to say so and he would ask some other parish to have the chair placed in its church. But, while the chair was where it was, he intended to have a say in the conduct of the cathedral. FORCED TO TAKE ACTION After dealing with various events in the diocese the bishop said that last week an extraordinary phenomenon occurred when a portion of the chapter resigned from the office to which it had been elected. It was a most extraordinary event, and he was forced, as bishop of the diocese, and head of the chapter, to take action. Now, as far as he was aware, the trouble concerned two points olny—namely, the wearing of vestments at Holy Communion, and the order of service. Vestments were in use long before he came to the diocese. If the worship-

pers did not lilt© the coloured vestments _he had presented to the cathedral in 1927, they could be handed back. Vestments had been in use in ten churches of the diocese long before he came to New Zealand, and not one was asked by him to use them. WILL MEET PARISHIONERS The bishop dealt with the case of vestments and the order of service in the Cathedral and answed for greater support of the choir. He said the form of service he had mentioned appeared to be a good arrangement, but he was willing to receive any suggest tions that might be helpful. * To that end he invited the congreation to meet him in the Alexandra Hail on Wednesday evening, August 29, at eight o clock, so that he could take counsel with them. In conclusion. Bishop Cherrington appealed to the people to get rid of the little trifles and petty difficulties and to behave like Christian men and women.