WAIKATO ANGLICAN CHURCH AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 191, 15 May 1928, Page 11

WAIKATO ANGLICAN CHURCH AFFAIRS

Sir,—The letter of the Rev. W. Tye, of Wanganui, which recently appeared in the columns of your paper, has voiced the thoughts , and wishes of great numbers in the diocese of Waikato and Taranaki, viz., “If the Bishop and some of his clergy arc so fascinated by Rome (a fascination I cannot understand), why don't they join that Church and leave their people under the care of someone who does not regard the Reformation as a mistake and a blot?” If such men are enamoured of Rome, to Rome let them go, and one has no further quarrel with them; but the mentality of clergy who receive pay to teach one thing and do the exact opposite is hard to understand! When one sees the terrible state of affairs to which Anglo-Catholicism has brought the Church of England in the Old Country one heartily wishes to exclude it from New Zealand. —I am, etc.. GEORGE FOX. New Plymouth, May 8.

Sir, —May I be spared space in which to comment upon the attitude of “Lay Anglican” in The Dominion of May 10 Your correspondent states that the Waikato people require only a Protestant type of Anglicanism, as also do the majority of New Zealand Church people. Well, I doubt if they will ever find it, and I venture to deny his statement, for there are sufficient Anglo-Catholic-minded people to fill three-quarters of New Zealand Anglican churches if only all the vicars were able and supremely spiritually-minded leaders for Christ’s extension of His kingdom. The "Waikato Diocese is talked about at present, for the head of the See is a leader who commands authority and as such combats the Protestant idea that the revised Prayer Book is being compiled because the Bishops cannot maintain law and order with their clergy. All that the Waikato Diocese has had introduced by the Bishop has had the written approval of all the priests, and no priest has been compelled to do nor introduce immediately into his church that what he did not wish to have. The head is chosen, and therefore all must agree with him for working purposes, for if you arc in an employ you do not expect to be kept in position if you are always growling at what does not suit you. Men do not disrupt organisations because the chief organiser has not the same views as they, but sink their differences as a means of unity, for trouble causes only contempt of the body—not of the man. If you have broken glass to be replaced it is not customary to engage the plumber, nor if broken furniture to hire the tinsmith —therefore why bring in outside men to heal your soul when the Bishop, priests, and deacons are 7 your spiritual leaders? ... ' New Plymouth’s attitude is not an anti-bishop crusade, but merely a vote dealing with a partciular Canon. The uncharitable Claudelands agitators are few in number, for it is only a few who have had a grievance ever since the Bishop arrived in the diocese. Such men as “Lay Anglican” tell us only of the trouble in the Church up north; but what about the comfort and great joy brought by the Bishop to wounded souls amongst the working people of both town and country? Bishop Cherrington had been a missionary for long on the Island of Mauritius, and learned much of men’s wants, and having received the call from the Waikato people themselves, came as first Bishop of that newly-formed missionary diocese of Waikato, which includes all classes of men—those of coal districts, native races, poor men, and the rich. , All alike are the samd in Christ’s eyes, and", so they are with the Noble of the Waikato See. Let the agitators sink their differences of class and. then they will realise the benefits receivable from the services rendered to the greater glory of God —in devotion, : in love of Gpd, and love- for ' fellow man. The - Holy Eucharist as ordained by Christ Himself has become the chief service of St. Peter’s Cathedral. Hamilton. All is said to have originated in the last IS months, but it may be said that the Venerable Archdeacon Cowie prepared people for this coming several years ago, but he (single-handed) could not have been expected to officiate, during each Sunday morning, in so many churches of the parish at once, as can now be done by the Bishop and his available staff of clergy.—l am, etc., “ANGLICAN,” Wellington, May 10. :c.

Sir, —May I heartily endorse the views expressed by the Rev. W. Tye and also “Lay Anglican” in your columns. They express exactly my sentiments and those of thousands of other Protestants - who hate to see Romish practices introduced into our simple, beautiful church services. —I am, etc., A MERE WOMAN. May 12.