A PILGRIM’S PROTEST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15935, 22 May 1912, Page 6

A PILGRIM’S PROTEST.

TO TUE EDITOR. Sir, —1 have a responsibility which I am impelled to discharge, and I ask you kindly to give me your help in doing so. You will beliove mo when I say liow much I regret having to speak when marry T Ideally esteem are' concerned in the matter, but duty must bo obeyed, however painful it may be. With many other pilgrims, my father gave one pound an aero more for his land in order to assist in providing support for our Church. These endowments have now become, owing to the unearned increment, very valuable, and much of the money is now being diverted from the original designs of the Pilgrim Fathers through neglect in providing means in their Church constitution to prevent it being done. At tho present time we ha-ve three churches as near as possible following tho methods o-f Romanism ; only a. few more .steps and 1 hey will lie there; but although the wrong has been done legally, there still remains a right to protest. How much I wish I could recover my portion of the endowments, how gladly I would give it to the members who have now no Church, .but are wandering about- at a loss to know where to go to, unless-they-go back again. This they cannot do and he faithful to their Protestant vows.

Eight years ago a start with the now movement was made at St Luke’s, and a great many of the members at once left tho Church. I had much sympathy for them, and to help my relatives who were members 1 began to plead in your journal, but instead of giving up tlie non-essentials, the movement spread to St Michael's and porinission was given by his Lordship to practise it-. Again very large numbers of the members left the church. As it was now of no use to , protest any longer, I remained silent in your journal, but made one attempt to be heard in the.“ Church News.” I was, however, unsuccessful, for the paper had been given in charge of an editor who was in sympathy with the movement. However, ho assured me “that there was no cause to fear in the least it spreading in the diocese. The very way to hurry it on would be to put the more advanced clergy upon their mettle-by-public controversy.’" I was now disheartened, having a dread that even worso results would follow, so I kept quiet for eight months, content to advise my relations to take the higher position, that of viewing the weaknesses with patience, but attend to the essentials. Then came the climax, the late painful action at St. Albans East. This confirmed my belief that there were now risks to face which if not prepared for would give us all much concern. But enough lias already been said of this repetition of; the St. Michael’s trouble. : When Mr Godley was preparing his ideal for a model Christian settlement lie certainly did not expect that Homan ism would ever take possession. Protestantism pure was to be the Church. This was his conception; upon this principle his enthusiasm was fed, and it supported him through his arduous task. Ho assisted in placing before the notice of the residents of tho city permanent reminders to be faithful' Protestants. The squares were named after martyrs who loudly pretested against Romanism and hundreds of other tokens of. the simple faith of the Church were provided. But all are or no avail; the craving for these non-cssentiais must be gratified. The pity ot it! • . I have now discharged my responsibility by making this protest, and now I may rest, but let us remain true to our Protestant vows—strictly, no halfmeasures —and relief will come which will prevent the spreading of the movement. His first and greatest law forbids it, the law of love to our neighbour. For this purpose are the Churches instituted by Himself to preserve the principle in its greatest purity. Each* of ns will be required to answer for our own doings, not collectively, •aid if faithful to Him and our forel fathers, then on© more “decision ” will be given, the final on© which will gi ve t,eace to all.—l am, etc., peace JOHN DUREY.