CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 261, 4 November 1890, Page 2

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l was glad to see that the members ! of the Anglican Synod of the Auckland dioceae have had an earnest and thoughtful discussion of the question of church membership. In my opinion no more important question can just now engage their atten-, tion. The evils of our present system can scarcely be exaggerated, ,aa the following will show: —A gentleman of #ood education, brought up in the English Church, came to this colony some years ago, fell into bad company, left the church, and was generally regarded by his neighbours as an infidel. This popular opinion was confirmed by the fact thafc I found in the homes of some of my parishioners nearly a dozen pamphlets of various phases of unbelief, some of them the most blasphemous of Ingersoll'a lectures, all of which boar the autograph of the above-mentioned churchman. These pamphlets had been introduced and lent in the parish by this gentleman, whose name stood on the church roll. He put in his appearance usually ab the annual meeting of parishioners, and used hisposibion to supply bo a hostile paper a highly coloured reporb of proceedings. _ 1 wae powerless to protecb myself and the church from the injury thus inflicbed,—l am, etc., « w An. Anglig an .Clergyman from the Sousb.