THE ANGLICAN CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 6161, 9 December 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —It must bo with regret that the church people of Port Chalmers, Blueßkin, and Warrington read the letter of His Lordship the Bishop, published in the ' OtagoDaily Times' of Friday last. His Lordship says " that he has sorrowfully watched the growth of this estrangement from its commencement." Now, sir, I would like to ask what has His Lordship done to check the growth of this estrangement ? Has he done anything ? and if not, why has he not ! tried to prevent this wide-spread disaffection which has been going on for the last two years ? It must be evident to tho most obtuse that the ministrations of the Rev. Mr Platts are not acceptable to any part of his congregation, ! and what possible benefit can they derive j from a clergyman who has neither their respect nor sympathy "/ Without doubt a grave mistake was made by His Lordship in licensing Mr Platts; but I think, in the course which is now taken, a very great sin k committed by insisting that Mr Platts shall remain in charge of Port Chalmers and the surrounding districts, and that sin must lie at the door of His Lordship. Further, the major part of the several congregations have left their church, and either attend that of another denomination or stay at home. Parents of children refuse to allow Mr Platts to baptise, and of my own knowledge, in a case of sickness, the patient, though aware that she is dying, prefers to die without a visit from that gentleman rather than invite him to her home. Under these circumstances, which I make without fear of contradiction, is not the sin aggravated by the course pursued by His Lordship ? I wonder how the Bishop can reconcile hia determination with the fact of almost empty churches, and in one district no services whatever. The Warrington Church was closed for some three months this year. About one month before the meeting of the Synod Hia Lordship called a public meeting, presumably to arrange for the formation of a church committee, I think, to do away with a just cause of complaint to the Synod. His Lordship preached in his usual eloquent style, taking for his subject "charity." He impressed his hearers that it should come from the congregation, "the clergy being full to overflowing with that commodity." Y r et, even after such a sermon the stiff neck of the congregation would not bend, and they declined to elect a church committee to carry on the work as long as Mr Platts continued his connection with the district. Such a state of affairs would Boon be brought to a finality under any other denomination than that of the Anglican Church. It may gratify the vanity of His Lordship to be able in the face of such determined opposition to keep Mr Platts in charge; but it certainly is not very creditable to him, as the head of the Church, to allow such a state of affairs to exist. Will His Lordship closely and sorrowfully watch for the next move of the Port Chalmers congregation ? I am, etc, Oxe Greatly Interested. Blusskin, November 25.