A DISTURBING SERMON.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1920, Page 4

A DISTURBING SERMON.

LEADS TO MINISTER RESIGNING CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INCIDENT, By Telecraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Following on the delivery of a sermon ..dealing with chureh reform the vost,ry of St. Sepulchre's, Auckland, recently risked for the resignation of the assistant curate, the Rev. Jasper Calder, and the reverend gentleman, while declining to relinquish the position by Easter, as required, preached, his farewell sermon last evening. Subsequent to the service, it is stated, a petition was drawn up by a number of mem hers of the congregation protesting against the dismissal of the assistant curate, but this 1 was withdrawn at the request of Mr. Caldcr, who preferred to regard the incident as closed. Mr. Caldcr, who, it will be remembered, left St. Matthew's a few months ago, after a petition had been sent to the Bishop praying that he should be made the successor to the late vicar, took Up the engagement nfe assistant curate of St. Sepulchre's in December. At the invitation of reporters, Mr. Calder explained the circumstances leading lip to last night's farewell sermon as follows:—"I was engaged to go to St. Sepulchre's as assistant curate at a salary of £5 n week from early Decernber until April, when it was' contemplated that I would go to America. Everything went well until the Sunday just before Lent, when I preached a sermon urging that the laitv should take their congregations into their confidence in the matter of church reform. On that occasion I delivered a straightout and earnest address. A few day* nftev this I was informed by the vicar the Rev. W. A. Keay, that the vestrv hnrt dewdpd to dispense with my services. The matter was referred to the Bishop, and both of these gentlemen informed me that I must leave at once. I declined, and pointed out that the veßtry had no power to discharge me, at the same time strenuously denying any disloyalty to the Church of England. "* discussion the Bishop decided that the vestry had no power to dismiss me, and incidentally, he admitted that the principles of my sermon were sound, »".t he said that the criticism should have been voiced in the Synod, instead of in the pulpit." .