ST. MATTHEW'S BELL FUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11163, 8 September 1899, Page 3

ST. MATTHEW'S BELL FUND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— ill you allow me to draw attention to this mattes ? In view of the interest taken in the alleged perversion of this trust, it is now of public interest. Whateve. affects tho morality of churches affects tho morality of the community at large. Some years ago the vestry of St. Matthew's appropriated to parochial purposes the money supposed to bo held in trust for the bell fund. On. an appeal being made to the Diocesan Synod to inquire into this "perversion," it was ordered that the vestry should pay back the money wrongfully appropriated. This decision of the Synod was made some two years ago, but not oiio penny has been returned so far. If thn parish were too poor to raise the money there might bo some excuse foi the vestry. But, aa a matter of fact, the parish is in a better financial position than any parish in the diocese—if not in the colony. At tho last annual meeting, tho vicar reported that after meeting all current expenses, the churchwardens had a credit balance of £71. I know of no other parish that has been able to show such a result at the end of a year's work. It proves that St. Matthew's is not by any means a poor parish. Why was not this credit balance devoted to the boll fund ? Sir, it has been admitted that tliero was a perversion of trust. How can tho church teach morality when it makes nc effort to honestly discharge its obligations ?—I am, etc., An Aggrieved Pabishioseb-