ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, AUCKLAND.

New Zealander, Volume I, Issue 10, 9 August 1845, Page 3

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, AUCKLAND.

To the Editor of the New Zealandei . Sir, — It was promulgated it{ your first number, thai your columns would wot be made the medium oi polemical diicussioii ni religious controversy:—and in that judicious detei initiation, I most cordially coincide, l)iu presuming ou your subsequent avowal, " that to support the religious and moral character of sockty, thtougbout tlie colony, would be your nnxious study," — 1 must draw your attention to the silly custom in this settlement, ot attempting to assume a false Riadein society, by xhepew pos.tion in the meti opohtciu Chut eh of bt. Paul's. Although not an early settler, 1 can well remember the management and /i>ie»'At' in obtaining " the higher keats of ilie syuagonue," when the election lor seats iv that ehurcn was announced, and persons were to luive piionty of choice, accordiu,; to the amount subscribed, and how well it was managed that the then Surveyor General, was located behind the Governor, auddllotlKr officials in corresponding; conspicuous stations. Now Sir, to every pious aud reflecting mind, t:ns must be moat disgusting, as it is utteily contemptible. | Thai such iidiculous feelings had passed away with the ej hemeiai persons who commenced the practice, 1 had certainly hoped and anticipated ; Out on ldot bunday, I was witness to a scene, iv that Church, which although the parties theiiHC'ivi> 3 , at least those who weie so grossly insulted, might wish to pass! unnoticed, it cer ainly shall not uu so, with your permiss.ou. Names, I need not mention, but merely facts.— Long before the commencement of Divine Service, the w.fe and children of a most respectable gen. lcinau

approached a seat possessed by them, ever since tteh c bu.lding had been erected, and found it pre-occupied by some other person, who apparently to me, very rudely refused to relinquish the seat, and consequently the former had to endure, rather than create confusion, and excite observation, the mortification of passing down the aisle again, and leave the church altogether. Now Sir, I would first remark that the gentleman whose family were thus grossly insulted, was one among the very first who were actively instrumental and most liberally subscribed towards the erection of this same edifice as a place of worship. In the next place, 1 would observe, that the envied sitting which he and his family occupied, was, on account of his choice, that to which bis subscription entitled him. And I would further enquire, by whom, and by what authority, any sittings are now taken from the actual occupauts, and disposed of to other parties ? When the Church was built, there were five Trustees appointed, who with the Clergyman, were to manage the rental and letting of the pews, &c. These were Mr. Shortland, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Mathew, Major Richmond, and Mr. Cooper. .All of these, excepting the two hitter, ate out of the Colony ; and Major Richmond, cannot act, owing to distance. It is said that Captain Rough takes upon himself to act for Major Richmond ; but I can scarcely believe that ho would so inconsideratelycommit himself, and become thus responsible, in such unwarrantable interference with the management of the Church. If such, however, be the tact, I would ask, whether any Trustee can delegate another to act for him ? For I have always understood, that if a Trustee, by absence, or from any other cause, is precluded from acting, another Trustee must be elected, anil in this case, most certainly, as before, by the subscribers. Having thus drawn your attention to the. facts, T would request your insertion of them, and likewise of your opinion, as to the present position of the Trustees of the Church.

I am, Sir, Your's &c. ERASMUS [We give place to this letter, inasmuch as we are fully aware of the pharasaical conduct, pursued within those sacred walls, from its earliest days. Sycophancy prevails, not only during the week, but even the Sabbath is- desecrated by it; every one fancying themselves basking in, or aspiring to the favor of the Representative of Royalty, must have an upper seat, and those aho, who consider themselves, (happy infatuation,) superior to all others, or rather, that all otlu'is are beneath them, —cannot oner up their prayers with humility, in a quiet unobtrusive seat. As to the question of Trustrees delegating their power,—the acting of Captain Rough, on behalf of Major Richmond, we think he knows too well the courtesies and bearing due between gentlemen to act otherwise than with proper authority 5 and this leads us to observe that the subscribers and parishioners of St. Paul's, ought to call a meeting, and elect new Trustees, for all those nominally existing, are defacto, without power. —Ed.]