CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 785, 7 March 1871, Page 2

CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor of the Wedport Times and Charleston Argus J. Sir, —Seeing niy name in your issue of the 4th instant, as having been present at a meeting held at the parsonage, on the evening of the 3rd, and being asked by many of the congregation -why my name as the parish churchwarden is not on the list of the managing committee, I have to request that you will kindly give insertion to the following copy of a letter which I forwarded on Saturday to the Rev. Mr Soutar un the matter. « The action of appointing a Church Committee for any purpose without having the names of the Churchwardens first on its list of management is so gross a breach of church manage-

ment, and so insulting to those officers, one of whom is placed in office, not by the minister, but by the congregation, to represent and guard their interest, that an unmerited slight offered to that officer is offered to the congregation whom he represents. In the Committee which has been nominated (I cannot sa} r elected, being self-appointed, no ono being present to oppose), not one of them belongs to the English Church, but to the Seotoh, Wesleyan, Presbyterian and Methodist denominations. The Committee was chosen by the Rev. Mr Soutar, who, when I raised a question, claimed his right to have what Committee or Committees he chose, without consulting either his vestry or churchwardens. I would deny this right, and were Mr Soutar in a community where there were more Church of England members than in Westporr, he also would learn otherwise. Why place the management of a benefit for the Church of England entirely in the hands of four men, not one of whom belongs to the Church. This would not be done elsewhere, nor while I remain in office will it be done here unknown to those of the congregation whom I have the honor to represent. Had the numbers been equal, with the churchwardens, who are the proper persons, first on the list, it would have been right, but, as the following letter states, Mr Soutar had not even one of his vestry present. So, likewise, the letter will speak for the action of that vestry during the twelve months they have been in office. I am treating this entire action, not only as an indignity to myself and the vestry, but as an insult to every member of the Church of England in the district. Apologising for thus trespassing on your space, but remembering your own maxim of " Honor to whom honor is due," I will proceed with my letter. .Remaining yours very truly, James Abthubs Magtjibe, Parish Churchwarden. Westport, March 6. Copy of Letter from Mr Maguire to the Rev Mr Soutar. Rev. Sib, —I am surprised and sorry to see my name in to-day's paper, as one of a Committee which met at the Parsonage last evening. I had hoped that leaving the meeting as I did, particularly desiring of you that my name should not in any way be connected with that meeting, would have saved me from the duty of this correspondence. I have said duty, because such I consider it will be, for me now to let my fellow vestrymen and the congregation know the part which I took in a meeting called without the knowledge of any of them, and at which there was not even one of their number present —no, nor save myself, not member of the English Church.

A managing committee was also self-elected, there being no one present to oppose the nomination. Why was not the name of the churchwarden representing the congregation on that committee ? he is well known to be a genuine member of the Church of England, yet the managing committee consists of four members, not one of whom belongs either to the vestry or the Church of England. Having noticed progress thus far, and the insult offered to the churchwardens in excluding their names from the list of the managing committee, notwith standing the minister's churchwarden, (Mr Blacklock) voluntarily offering his ablest assistance, which was not accepted, I thought it high time that I should withdraw my name from the undertaking, and retire, which I have done, as I also purpose doing from the churchwardenship when the proper season arrives. In retiring, I especially desired that my name should in no manner be connected with the undertaking, adding that I entirely withdrew myself from it, and would have no part in it. I had resolved on taking no further notice of the matter, but in the report of the Westpoet Times, I am mentioned as if taking part with and supporting a Church Committee which has not the names of its church-wardens first on its list of managing committee. This is a new feature in our English Church—a managing committee for its benefit not one of whom is a member. But the committee, rev. sir, as you stated, were chosen and appointed by you, and not upon auy public notice. You also claimed your right—when I rai«L)d the question—to choose and appoint whom you liked, not only without the knowledge of your vestry, but without according to them the common courtesy of asking one of their number to be present —you have done so—and 1 would ask, rev. sir, if it is upou this principle you base your favorite maxim that—" if some chose to stop away others would be found to take their places." It is well known in "Westport and to His Lordship the Bishop of Nelson, the more than energy which has been exercised by the present vestry; coming into office as they did at a time when the church was not only in debt but seriously disunited —at a time when the only pew rented in the church was by me in which I held three sittings ; yet, fourteen days later there were fully forty let, and at the present time there is not one vacant pow in the church, nor more than six single sittings. The larger half of tho debt has also been paid, and there is at present

sufficient money in hand to pay **»o balance. Hitherto the pew rents were not laid by " where moth and rust doth corrupt," but were expended in paying off the debts of the church and the cost of building the said pews. Were this done now, the present vestry, though not sufficiently recognised to form part of your managing committee for the coming entertainment, could tell the congregation whom they represent, that notwithstanding their struggle at the outset against determined opposition; and nine weeks, including Christmas, without services in the church, they had, withiu their twelve months in office, paid fully forty pounds of old debts —clearing the entire debt on the Church of England in Westport; and finally wound up, as they have done, by increasing their minister's salary, from the date of his first taking charge, to £3OO per year ; or four pounds three shillings and four pence per month more than was paid to either of his predecessors, one of whom was twelve months, and the other longer in charge of this ministry, whilst you, rev. sir, are but two months. And this is the vestry and I the church warden whom you are now pleased to insult and ignore. Still, wishing you success, I remain, rev. sir, James Abthubs Maguibe, Parish Church Warden. Wesport, March 4.