MEN NOT MORTAR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 13

MEN NOT MORTAR.

DOES AUCKLAND NEED A GREAT .CATHEDRAL? (By Tclesraph — Special Correspondent.) Auckland, May 5. On his return to Christcliurch after having attended tho ceremony iu Auckland of tho consecration and enthronement of Bishop Crossley, Bishop Julius stated to a press representative that such occasions made ono feel the necessity for a great cathedral church, one fit for the mother dioceso of New Zealand. Several of the Church dignitaries and officers were interviewed by a "Star" reporter on the point. Archdeacon Calder stated that St. Mary's, the present Cathedral Church, waq largo enough for all ordinary occasions, and it had also been found to have sufficient accommodation for tho people really affected on the recent occasion of Bishop Crossley's enthronement. If a largo cathedral church were to ho built, tho question would arise whero was it to bo? At the moment the most central site was that of St. Matthew's, but the trend of population was westward, and in twenty years the originally-selected site at l'arncll would probably be the centre of population again. The Parnell site was leased in long terras, and was not at present available for buildirg on. Tho Rev. Canon MaeMurray (St. Mary's) gave a pithy, but pungent, summary of the position. "Tho population of , tho Church at tho present timo in Auckland," he said, "is not big enough to warrant the building of n cathedral worthy of what the city is and will be. Tlicro is a big population flowing into the country parts, and tho Church deems it more important to put her money into men who will preach tho Gospel than into mortar, in tho shape of a lily cathedral. We know cities whero big cathedrals aro not so helpful as might bo to the spiritual life of tho place."