Indignant Parishioners Resent Curate’s Treatment

Northern Advocate, 16 March 1939, Page 11

Indignant Parishioners Resent Curate’s Treatment

iSpecial to “Northern Advocate ”] TE AWAMUTU, This Day. Deep indignation at the treatment received at the hands of the Arch-

bishop and the Bishop of Waikato, Bishop Cherrington, with reference to the non-licensing of the Rev. J. B. Rushworh, of Auckland, a son of Mr H. M. Rushworth, formerly M.P. for Bay of Islands, to the positon of curate at St. John’s, Te Awamutu, was expressed at a meeting of approximately 100 parishioners last evening. In a resolution expressing the indignation of the meeting, it was alleged that the statements made by the two bishops with reference to the proceedings in connection with the proposal were at variance, and that no attempt had been made to justify the various statements; in face of the fact that both had been kept fully advised of the statements made by each. ■

Purpose of Meeting.

The meeting was called to consider the difficulties experienced over the suggested appointment of Mr Rushworth to work in the parish, which it w.as ultimately proposed to divide. Meantime negotiations for purchasing a house for the new curate were imperilled, it was stated. Neither the Archbishop nor the Bishop of Waikato would give a reason for withholding the license of Mr Rushworth, yet both stated definJtrly that) there was nothing against that gentleman.

The J. Sullivan, Vicar of St. John’s, said that the Archbishop had repeatedly assured him . that he had nothing whatever against Mr Rushworth either as regards morals or character. There was nothing whatever to prevent the Bishop of Waikato granting, him a licehse. . House To Be Purchased. Further discussion took place on the position, and the meeting expressed itself overwhelmingly in approval of the completion of the purchase of a house, and £45 was given before the conclusion of the meeting. The Bishop of Waikato’s reply to a letter from the vestry was that Mr Rushworth had accepted work in Auckland. He would have been willing to license Mr Rushworth if he had been satisfied himself, and received the wholehearted approval of the archbishop and his vicars. Neither by letter nor by conversation, did the archbishop give that assurance, The bishop’s letter also dealt with

experience and the question of stipend, and stated that he was much more in favour of amalgamating

parishes than dividing them

No Comment to Make

Asked this morning to comment on the Te Awamutu parshioners’ meeting and the resolutions criticising Archbishop Averili and Bishop Cherrington. the latter stated that ho had no comment to make on the matter. “Mr Rushworth is in the archbishop’s diocese, and has now taken up an appointment at Warkworth,” he added.

Mr Rushworth, when communicated with by telephone, also staled that ho had no comment to make, adding that he would take up the appointment at Warkworth at the end of the month.