ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 282, 6 October 1879, Page 2

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

To the, Editor of the Wairabapa Daily. Masterton, Oct. 3,1879. Sir,—As a rule I refrain from noticing any anonymous correspondence in the columns of a newspaper, but when a letter like" Churchman's," in your issue of today, deals with matters of fact and principles, and not personalities, one's objection to such correspondence is diminished. And " Churchman's" criticism demands an answer, because it is a direct contradiction, supported apparently by facts, to the statement in the report, viz., "that while last year's report mentioned that the annual subscriptions in the Masterton sub-district had greatly decreased, we have to report that the revenue from this source of income has increased more than one hundred per cent, in that sub-dis-trict and "although the offertories have not equalled anticipations, there has beon no falling off, except at Tinui." lam not surprised at " Churchman's" conclusion. The two statements are conflicting, though I need hardly say that the Churchwardens' report contains the true facts. The cause of 11 Churchman's" confusion is this : The balance sheet presented a year ago comprised subscriptions and pew rents for three half years past, and subscriptions for a half year m advance from most of the Tinui contributors. Consequently, the last balance sheet chronicled only the amounts due and contributed during the year, which did not include all that was promised. As regards the offertories, those collected in St. Matthew's Church, which was alone affected by the change, exceeded those of the previous year. Despite the withdrawal of the subscriptions " several prominent members,'' the subscriptions of last year exceeded the sum of the subscriptions and pew rents of tho preceding year, and what, pray, would this sum have been last year had no change been made'? The annual subscriptions were getting year by year " small by .degrees and beautifully less," due to two causes—(l) subscribers leaving the district, and (2) new pew-holders not becoming subscribers, There were but two exceptions to the latter fact during three years, " Churchman" 'seems to he unaware that the Church is self-supporting, and has been so for upwards of four years, for nut one penny has during that time been received ill aid of the ordinary expenditure from outside the district—a fact on which, I believe, no other Parochial Diocese can congratulate itself.

Considering the financial depression and the conduct of" several prominent members," the advocates for making the House of God accessible to all alike may " go oil their way rejoicing"—sorrowful only that " prominent membership" could so easily identify itself with the line of conduct pursued by undisguised infidelity. It is devoutly " to be hoped that a re-action will take place," that the elder brother's wrath has spent itself, and that, for his own sake, he will no longer refuse to " come in" to his Father's House, simply because his younger brother has been received, to the great joy of'those who wish to see all in their proper home.—l am, &c., J. F. Teakle.