CHOIR ON STRIKE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 18 September 1916, Page 2

CHOIR ON STRIKE.

OVER BEATING ARRANGEMENTS

AUCKLAND, Sept. 13. A peculiar situation has risen in connection will the choir at St. Sepulchre's Anglican Church, and a climax was reached on Sunday last, when the male members did not appear in their usual places at either the morning or evening services. It would appear that a difference of opinion has existed

or some time past between the vicar

(the Rev A. Richards) and the choir mi regard to the seating arrangements. Hitherto the men and boys have been seated in the chancel of the church, and the ladies in the nave, just outside the chancel rails.

Owing to changes in the personnel of the choir the members came to the

conclusion that a different grouping of the voices was desirable, and the vicar's permission was asked. The scheme of re-arrangement involved the seating of the ladies in the chancel,, and to this the vicar would not agree, maintaining that it was against ecclesiastical custom. Members pointed out that in years gone by the ladies had been accustomed.. to sitting in the chancel of St. Sepulchre's, and that all the other large 'Anglican churches in Auckland adopted the same practice. As indicated above, the male mom-

bcrs of the choir have apparently formed a decision not to resume' their choral detics until a satisfactory settlement is arrived at. On the other hand, the vicar informed a reporter this morning that, while he was not prepared to make a statement, seeing that the cas-_ was "subjudiee," the ""tier would be carried forward, and -ould not be dropped until a settlement had been reached. Reference to the "New Zealand Di-

•c-t. of Ecclesiastical Law'-' (marginal lumber 330) shows that: "The formaion and management of the choir, and he selection and practice of church •insic shall be subject to the control of the minister of the-parish. In case of a disagreement between the minis- ' er and the parishioners an appeal may ">e mad' to the Standing Committee, whose decision shall be final. Provided always that nothing herein con-

ained shall be held to interfere with Vhe r<rhts and powers of the Bishop of the Diocese."