CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 786, 9 March 1871, Page 2

CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE.

(To tlie Editor of tlie Westport Times and Charleston Argus J. Sir, —Mr Maguire has used my name so as to make people believe that I think with him about the Committee for ge. ting up a Concert, and that I feel insulted at not being put on it as churchwarden. I wish to say that this is not right, and that I approve of all Mr Soutar has done about tlie committee, and that what Mr Maguire says about the Church debt being paid is not true, instead of the debt being paid, we owe for the building to £ s. d. Bull and Bond . . 14 5 0 Field 4 G 10 Stitt 2 12 0 Paid for pressing debts out of the pew rents and collections, which will have to be paid back 10 3 6 Owing to the Rev Mr Lewis 10 0 0 The money in the Bank Mr Maguire speaks of is from pew rents, and goes to pay the minister's stipend and for cleaning the Church, I wish Mr Maguire would say what has been done with the £4O he says the vestry has paid of the debt ? I don't know anything about it ? The vestry said that something was to be done, and asked Mr Soutar to take a share in the work by getting up a Concert. He said he would, and after that I don't think think the vestry had anything to do with it more than any other Church member. Both Mr Maguire and I went to the meeting on Friday, so it is not true that he was the only English Churchman present. Mr Soutar chose a Com-

mittee from the choir, without asking what religion they were brought up in, and I neither expected nor wished to be on a Committee to do what I knew nothing about. I offered to do all I could to help them, and so I hope to do still. The vestry know very well how much the Presbyterians and Wesleyaus have done to help and keep up the Church here, and I think it is a pity that Mr Maguire should quarrel about the religion of people who are trying to get the only Protestant Church in the Buller out of debt. Mr Maguire boasts about what he and the vestry have done, and takes great credit to himself for filling the Church, but everybody knows how the Church has been filled, and the money got. I am not a great letter writer, but I think, Mr Eoito.', that the Church people should know that I don't agree with Mr Maguire about Mr Soutar and the Committee, and that the debt is not paid as he says. This is all 1 am going to say about this matter. J. M. Blacklock, Minister's Churchwarden. Westport, 7th March, 1871.

(To tlie Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus.) Sir, —A considerable space of your paper was this morning occupied by the correspondence of Mr James Arthurs Maguire, the sum of which was that he, after all his labor, liberality and consistency, as a member of the Church of England, and Warden of St. John's, Westport, had not been accorded that honor which he modestly considered his due, but had been ignored and insulted by not having been put upon a Committee, recently formed to raise funds to pay off longstanding and pressing liabilities against the Church. This exhibition of virtuous indignation on the part of Mr J. A. M. must be considered the greatest burlesque on the Christian character and religious consistency ever tried to be forced upon an intelligent community. How careful he is to maintain the sanctity of his religious professions, and the dignity of his wardenship! This affected anxiety is like the action of a man, who, having nothing else to commend him to the good opinion ot his fellows, desires the public to know, and remember, that he was once a champion of the Church—a warden of St. John's. I will not offend the good taste or discretion of your readers, nor Hatter the vanity of Mr J. A. M. by attempting to follow him through the letter, intended as a protest on behalf of thos6 of the congregation whom he has the honor to represent, but refer your readers to the merits of the case. Why was Mr James Arthurs Maguire not put upou the Concert Committee? I was present at the meeting held at the parsonage last Friday evening, and the first reason I apprehend was, because he came in too late, was evidently prepossessed against the action proposed to betaken, behaved himself in a most unreasonable and arrogant manner, was known to be an individual with whom few people could act, and was therefore very wisely, 1 think, left out. Solely out of respect to Mr J. A. M.'s sensitive nature, Mr Blacklock, the other churchwarden, who would have been an acquisition to the Committee, was also omitted from the list.

I connot pretend to the same knowledge of the constitution of the English Church government as Mr J. A. M., and therefore am unable to say whether or not the voluntary action of a few gentlemen to raise money to wipe off the disgrace of the Church —its debt —would be contrary to the laws made and provided. But I consider the assistance thus offered to the clergyman of this district (which district is nothing more than a foreign missionary station under the care of the Bishop of .Nelson) is a very commendable act indeed, and one evidently beyond the scope of Mr J. A. M.'s religious ambition or philanthrophy. Your readers must have observed the frequency with which Mr J. A. M. uses the expression " insulted." Not ouly has the parson insulted him, but the formation of this Committee has insulted both him and the constituents " whom he represents." I do hope the constituency is small, and that Mr J. A. M.'s martyrdom may be brief, although he seems to glory in his martyrdo*n. The only consolation left to his friends aud the Concert Committee is that, in all human probability, Easter Monday, the annual election day for churchwardens, will put an end to his persecutions in the Church. Mr Maguire is very eloquent in the newspaper, especially in that passage where he denies the right of Mr Soutar to seek the services of the members ot his Choir to organise a Concert in aid of the Church funds, but the look of subdued resignation which he assumed at the meeting on Eriday evening, when Mr Soutar checked the exuberance of his spirits, was really something to remember. Ho looked uncomfortable and left apparently at peace with all men —but hastily. I must not forget to notice the character which he has given to the members comprising the Concert Committee, of which I have the honor to be one —Scotch, Wesleyan, Presbyterian, and Methodist—this summary shows the low cunning highly characteristicof this Christian Churchwarden. The circumstances of the Rev. Mr Soutar's appointment to this district are well known, and if there could be an insinuation more insidious than another against the person and ministry of Mr Soutar, itj is this one,

raising a hue and cry that he favors dissenters of whatever denomination. But I very much misunderstand the temperament and discernment of the «. hurch-going people of Westport if the vaporings of this indignant "Parish Churchwarden" will have much effect upon them, while I am] sure the ministry of Mr Soutar, by the liberality of his Christian opinions, and the warm, affectionate, evangelical tone of his preaching, has commended] itself to all parties in this place who value the ordinances of the Church, or the continuance of Christian habits and customs amongst ua as a comm unity. Such, Mr Editor, are the facts con-! nected with the formation and the objects of this Committee, which hasl given so much offence to Mr J. A. M.,! and I am sure the names of the Com-! mittee-men will be considered by your readers as a pledge of good faith. 11 submit that had Mr Maguire's reli-l gious principles and practice been as) genuine as bis pharisaical pretensions,! he would have paused before rushing into print on church matters, exposing; his own weaknesses and causing me to: trouble you with this very unpleasant 1 letter. J. M. Westport, March 7.