ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.
To the Editor of the Wairakapa Daily.
Sir—Allow me to inform "Parishioner" whose letter appeared in your last Saturday's issue, that I agree with him that controversy should be avoided as much as possible, that public worship in church is the right thing, and that too many habitually neglect it, But when he, in effect, argues that, provided a minister is an " ordained clergyman," lie should be allowed to conduct all matters just as ho individually may think proper, and may say, do, or leave undone whatever he likes, I beg to differ from him emphatically, It has been stated that the church here is self-supporting. But can this be the case when its affairs are getting more and more into debt, and the minister's stipend is in constant arrear 1 And this after exhausting every conceivable plan but one for increasing the subscriptions. And yet there is a way (nothing to do with pew rents) by which harmony could easily be restored to the district, and which would without doubt soon result in a large accession to the funds.
Before concluding allow me to point out what appears to be a great fault in our system; and unless a remedy for it is found, the proposed scheme of a general diocesan fund will fail utterly. Some denominations move their ministers about frequently from place to place; in the Church of England there seems to be a cast-iron rule to the contrary. A middle course between the two would, in my opinion be preferable. Some provision should be made for clergymen occasionally interchanging districts. In this way dissatisfaction, from whatever cause it may arise, might be prevented from taking deep root in any one district. It should also be the rule that no newly-ordained deacon should be appointed to the charge of a district, and that clergymen, especially new arrivals from England, should be employed for a definite time in ministrations in different parts of the colony, and so have opportunities of acquiring the necessary experience before accepting such charge. I am. &c., Churchman No, 2,
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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 296, 22 October 1879, Page 2
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349ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 296, 22 October 1879, Page 2
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