ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 6417, 10 October 1883, Page 2

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

A meeting of the members of the City Episcopal Churches was held at the Chamber of Commerce last evening, to hear the proposals of Bishop Nevill in reference to St. Matthew's Church. Mr James Rattray occupied the chair, and about 100 people wero present. His Lordship said the meeting was the outcome of a private one, at which he received such general acquiescence in his proposals that it seemed right he should address himself more at large on them to the people of the dicceso, and particularly the parishioners of St. Matthew's. At the meeting referred to the following resolution had been carried: " That the following gentlemen be associated with the Bishop for the purpose of bringing the scheme propounded by the Bishop before the parishioners of St. Matthew's and the diocese: Messrs Joachim, Rattray, Ritchie, Russell, Sprent, Wallis, J»mes Smith, and Hazlett, with power to add to their number." At a meeting of this Committee it was resolved that ax of the gentlemen named should bo appointed to become trustees for the church, and to promote a *cheme for removing the debt at present on it—towards the promotion of which scheme certain steps had since been taken. He now desired to lay his scheme before the public, but would first give certain information regarding tho position of St. Matthew's parish, and afterwards solicit cooperation in a scheme which strongly commended itself to his mind. He desired, however, to say that he did not put forth his cathedral schome solely as a remedy for tho difficulties of St. Matthew's Church and parish, though he believed it would ba the solution of those difficulties. He even thought that if St. Matthew's wero not in difficulties at all, the arguments he would adduce relative to the advantages of a cathedral would be sufficiently with all earnest-minded Church people, but he must allow that the position of affairs at St. Matthew's was the reason why ho brought the subject forward at tho present time. He was bound to confess that the position of St. Matthew's Church was a very grave one. First of all, it was encumbered with a debt of L 5,500, and the worst part of it was that it was constantly increasing, in spite of the faot that St Matthew's Church had 1 engaged the services for some time of a clergyman who had exerted himself to the utmost, and who had produced—if he might use the term — offer tories, Then there would almost immediately be the incumbency of the church vacant, the Rev. Mr Byng having sent in his resignation, diiven thereto by the financial position of the parish, The third point was that the Vestry of the parish did not feel themselves in a position to take the first step in order that a new incumbent might be appointed, as thoy were unable to name any salary whatever for a successor, and until that was done the Bishop could not call upon the Board of Nominators to elect an incumbent for the parish. Another point was that St. Matthew's Church was not really the property of the diocese, but was in the absolute possession of certain gentlemen who became guarantors, and it might be disposed of to outside buyers at any time. A still further complication was that not only was there no church of St. Matthew's belonging to the diocese, but owing to informalities and irregularities at the time the resolutions were passed to constitute the parish of St. Matthew'.", there was no parish of St. Matthew'?, it was quite possible to reconstitute the parish of St. Matthew's, and the Church might bo carried on a3 at presont if the necessary funds could be raised. Certain gentlemen had kindly guaranteed the interest on tho debt for three years, and some portion of the debt might be paid off. Assuming that was dono, and that the parish had an Income of LI.OCO per year, the expenses of tho parish being LIOO, the sum of L6OO would be left as the stipend of one clergyman In a parish with two churches—St. Matthew's and St. Mary's (Mornington)—and there would be a debt of L 4.400 to be paid off within three yews, or interest to bo paid on it after that time. Tho proposition he wished to place before them was that; instead of steps being taken to restore St. Matthew's to a parochial footing, the Synod should be recommended by the parishioners of St. Matthew's and tho Church people generally to constitute St. Matthew's a cathedral church for the diocese. If that were done ho thought they might reasonably assume that tho offertories would be larger, as there would be three clergymen in the place of one, and the services would be more numerous. Bat, assuming that the income from St. Matthew's was the same, he considered that as St. Mary's would bo worked in with it, at least Ll5O per annum would be forthcoming from that church, and he would feel justified in directing that the interest of a sum of money raised by himself when in England towards the endowment of a theological tutorship should be devoted to the stipend of clergymen attached to the cathedral, bocause it would be the function of one of the clergymen to educate any young men who might bo forthcoming as candidates for holy orders. The sum to bo devoted to tho support of tho clorgy attached to the cathedral would therefore be LOCO. The district and church would have tho benefit of the ministrations of three clergymen ; he (the Bishop) would have their assistance, and many diocesan institutions that were languishing for want of such help could be revived. Tho cathedral system might be adopted, not only without any extra expense, but with the advantage of being able to support in the diocese three clergymen Instead of ono. One very excellent and most desirable young clergyman had offered his services for a nominal stipend, and ho believed lie could get others who would not dteam of going to a parish church. According to the comparison he had made, tho cathedral Bystom would not cost the diocese an extra shilling ; but ho believed that a large majority of the most conscientious Church people woxikl bo willing to nee » cathedral in Dunedin, if ii- should cost a few pounds more than a paiish church. —(Applause.) Ho was not at all disposed to go into any expensive mode of conducting the cathedral or its services, and did not contemplate having a paid choir or any of the adjuncts which an endowed diocese mighi; freely enjoy. Under the en thodral system there would be more services, because there would bo more clorgy ; and it he were successful, as he believed he would be, in getting tho services of very well qualified clorgy, occupying high social positions, and having many other advantages of experience and life, he felt certain these clergy would ally with themselves a very large body of lay workers, and they would be abl-3, probably without any additional expense to the diocese, to have evening prayers every night of the week. His Lordship then procoeded at some length to relate the advantages connected with the establishment of a cathedral, and avgued that without a cathedral the church system was not fully

developed, and had not the proper moans at hand for carrying on work, In conclusion he expressed the gratification ho felt at having the support of the clergy generally in hia proposition.

The Ven. Archdeacon EnWABDS expressed hia entire approval of tli3 Bishop's proposition, and moved—"That this meeting approves of the proposal of tho Bishop to constitute the parish church of St. Matthew's the cathedral ohuich of the diocese, and recommends it to the earnest consideration of ilie Synod."

Mr Joachim said that the Committee referred to by the Bishop had obtained promises of subscriptions amounting to Lf>so towards paying off the ahurch debt, and leu gentlemen ware willing to guarantee the payment of L 145 per annum as interest for three years, but before handing the money over they must be assured that other money would be added sufficient to pull the churoh out of its difficulties. Mr O. F. Black seconded the motion.

Mr Wallis, in order to tent the feeling of tho meeting, proposed as an amendment—"That a committee be appointed to canvass the parishioners of St. Matthew's and Churchmen generally to ascertain if it k more desirable to carry on St. Matthew's pariah chu.ch, and to what extent th-.y are individually willing to give it monetary support." Mr Thomson seconded tho amendment. Mr T. Austin, the .Rev. \V. Konaldson, and others spoke in support of the motion. In answer to a question put by the Ven. Arcl> deacon Edwards, iih< Loumshii' taid he would most decidedly like to ,;co all scats free in the church if it weie made a cathedra!; but the came time, should there be any difficulty connected with this matter—and a great many parishioners of St, Matthew's wero found to hold a strong opinion on the point -ho would not carry out his idea for some time.

The amendment was lost, only four hands being held up in favor of it. Tho motion was then carried unanimously. On the motion of the Bishop a vote of thanks was accorded the chairman.