ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 6491, 7 January 1884, Page 4

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

TO THE MDITOB. Sib,—Blind prejudice is yet alive, and "Nemo," "Alkalis," and Co. are fair representatives of the fact. When the Bishop announced his intentions as to the conduct of the service in the future, any unprejudiced person could have seen at once hi 3 desire to disarm opposition. If, in his mind's eye, he could have seen two or three members of the congregation getting up on the Sunday morning coming to church ostensibly to worship God, but in reality fully bent on picking a bishop to bits, he would, it seems to me, have saved himself the trouble of making any announcement. As to turning to the east, although per fectly harmless in itself, having nothing whatever to do with Romanism, for the same reason as above it would have been better let alone. Yet we must remember the Bishop has individuality as well as " Nemo/' and whilst he retains charge of St. Matthew s has a perfect right to conduct the services in accordance therewith. It is the choir who have made the mistake in not acting in concert either one way or the other. No commands were laid on them, yet evidently the majority were quite ready for the change. On the iinancH part of' he subjec. yjur correapondont3 it.ro completely asliay. A church overburdened with debt, possibly even led into it by "Nemo" and uthers, should eertaiulv, first of all, be placed on a decentfooting 'before giving even to ,aoh a worthy object as the Benevolent Institution; and if your correspondents tuok with them on Christmas morning a L 5 note each, and, under the circumstances, could not see thenway to put it into the plate, I have no doubt by this time the Institution have received the money instead. _ It seems to me conclusive that prejudice has quite prevented your correspondents from seeing clearly on the subjects they are writing about, but show clearly enough why St. Matthew's is in such a bankrupt state, to which condition Bit-hop Nevill has certainly not been the cause of bringing it; whilst the bitter personalities of "Nemo and others can only help to prolong tue wretched situation. —I am, etc., O-NE OF Till'. CilOllt. Dunediu, January 5.