HIGH CHURCHISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 172, 7 December 1912, Page 5

HIGH CHURCHISM.

QUESTIONS OF RITUAL. Auckland, December 4. i A conflict has 'arisen in St. Eaul's : Anglican Church between the vicar, : the Rev. C. A. B. Watson, and a portion. of the congregation over matters of ■ ritual, which, the dissentients, declare, j are leading towards High Churchism, \ if not towards Rome. Four ago * som opposition was raised' upon the introduction of, altar lights and the processional cross. After several -stormy ; parishioners'' meetings the. vicar had his ■; way, and this procession has since formed part af the regular service at St. •• Paul's. / • ' " "'•• i ■ \.: Next "the vicar intimated his desire i towear vestments at all celebrations of - the Eucharist, and so again came into j collision with, the members of the vestry, j Two special meetings of the vestry were : held, at which the vicar outlined the re- • forms he desired to introduce. These '. included the wearing of vestments, the ' substitution of wafers for bread at Communion, the burning of altar candles at evensong services, and the elimination of ladies from Jhe choir, Strenuous opposition was at once aroused, vestrymen with over thirty years' regular attendance in the church announcing that the flay vestments were used in St. Paul's would be the last on which they would enter the phurch portals.

A COMPROMISE. The vicar maintained that the use of Eucharistic vestments was ordered by the Book of Common Prayer, and as,a compromise suggested their use at celebrations of the Eucharist on two Sundays in the month. Ultimately the following resolution w;:s proposed, arid declared carried:

That this vestry strongly protests against the introduction of _ vestments in any shape or form in St.

Paul's Church. : Four members voted for the motion, three against, and three refrained from voting at all. It was further announced by the opposing vestrymen that if the use of vestments were insisted upon a huge, deputation of parishioner* to the Bishop would be organised.

THE VICAR PERSISTENT. The next phase of the trouble was the publication of an announcement in the St. Paul's Church Monthly Gazette, and the following important announcement was made by the vicar from the pulpit at;matins and evensong on Sunday:— Changes in the services at thiß church will bo made, commencing next Sundaiy (first Sunday in Advent). , . . (1) Choral celebrations of the Holy Eucharist will be, held on the first and th,Trd 'Sundays of the month at 11 o'clock, with matins at 10.15 a.m. (2) The altar lights will be lit at evensong every Sunday for the fu-

ture. '■• '•"-.- -. • C- .'•,, ..(3) The proper, Eu\diai-ist vestments ordered' by the Prayer Book will be worn in future at all early celebrations of the flbly'Euchariat. For the present they will not be worn at the. midday celebrations. The Rev. Mr. Watson to-day declined to make any 1 statements pending an announcement'which he intends to.make ■from. th£ pulpit on Sunday evening, December 15. ■" ' • j.