ST. MATTHEW'S PARISH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11824, 29 November 1901, Page 6

ST. MATTHEW'S PARISH.

THE VICAR'S RESIGNATION.

HE IS URGED TO WITHDRAW.

The tribulations St. Matthew's parishioners have passed through in coming' into their inheritance of a new stone church seem to have banded them together more strongly than ever. They held a largely-attended and enthusiastic meeting in the schoolroom, Hob-son-street, last flight, when they rallied round their vicar and earnestly urged him to reconsider his decision to resign his incumbency. Their goodwill towards Mr. Gillam took a very practical form, for before the meeting terminated some £100 was promised towards a fund to provide a muchneeded curate to lighten the vicar's growing duties. Mr. H. J. Ryder presided, and in the course of some introductory remarks, explained that the object of the meeting was to express gratification at the commencement of their new church, and also to endeavour to get their vicar to reconsider his decision to resign from the charge of the parish. He mentioned that it was the desire of Mr. Gillam that nothing might be said that would rako up the past. Dr. Hooper said the vicar had found his health impaired by the worries attendant upon the arrangements for the commencement of their new ohuroh. He considered it was an open secret that that was the main reason for the vicar's resignation. They owed him a deep debt of gratitude tor the manly way in which he had carried' the scheme to a climax. Everyone would agree with him (Dr. Hooper) that Mr. Gillam had been an excellent parish minister, an excellent preacher, and it would be a; serious loss, not only to St. Matthew's, but | to Auckland, if the parish lost him. Therefore he considered they should do all in their power to induce him to reconsider his decision. Dr. Hooper then moved, "That this meeting of parishioners and members of the congregation of St. Matthew's, having heard with sincere regret of the resignation of the vicar, earnestly prays that he will consent to withdraw the same, as we consider it would be a serious loss, not only to the parish, but to the whole of Auckland, for him to retire from the incumbency of St. Matthew's, where his ministrations have been so universally appreciated." Mr. Cole seconded, and Mr. McClusky supported the resolution. The Chairman at this stage read a letter from Mr. A. M. Myers, who, as a citizen of Auckland, coming occasionally into contact with, and knowing the sterling qualities of, their vicar, expressed the hope that he would be able to see his way to continue as such. Mr. Ryder also read a letter from the headmaster of the Chapel school, who. although not a parishioner, had intended to be present at the meeting. He knew something about Mr. Gillam's work, and his kindliness had endeared him to all in that parish. It was also announced by the Chairman that a deputation from the council of the Sailors' Home had waited upon the vieaj to assure him of the help he had been in placing the home upon a satisfactory basis, and to urge him to reconsider his decision.

The motion was adopted with applause. Mr. Ralph Potter moved, "That this meeting expresses extreme gratification at the commencement of the stone church, and begs to tender its warmest thanks to the vicar for his untiring: exertions in bringing about such a happy settlement of the whole Blatter." In doing so, Mr. Potter spoke warmly of the vicar's work in this connection. Mr. F. G. Woods seconded, and this motion was carried with similar expressions of approval to thosa which greeted the first resolution. The Chairman gave the meeting a practical turn by moving, "That as an earnest of our good feeling and deep sympathy with the vicar on account of the anxiety and worry he has of late gone through, this meeting pledges itself to at once take steps to recure a curate to assist in the work of the parish." The mover reminded his fellow parishioners that it was no use talking unless they did something practical. The vestry had been discussing this question for a good while, and their difficulty had always been where to get the money to provide ways and means. He felt sure that if everyone of the parishioners would only give half-a-orown a month there would be no difficulty in raising the necessary £150 a year for his stipend. Mr. Ryder gave instances of the large amount of work the vicar had to do in the parish, and__urged the congregation to show their appreciation of the vicar by securing for him the much-needed assistance of a curate.

Mr. E. Langley, who seconded the motion, said it was absolutely necessary in the interests of the largest parish of tho diocese that a curate a good one at that— should be appointed. Mr. Peake cordially supported the proposal, on behalf of the non-parishioners. He felt it was impossible for the vicar during the past two years to have done all the visiting he would have wished to do if he had had the time. It was the duty of the parish to secure this neoeßsary help for him. The motion was carried with applause. Mr. Towsey remarked that it was easy enough to vote for the motion,. but he thought it was the proper time for parishioners to put down their names if they were willing to subscribe towards a curate fund. He was willing to put his name down. A canvass was made, and it is satisfactory to know that at last night's meeting no less than £100 was promised towards the stipend of a curate.

The vicar, who had been sent for, arrived at this stage, and received an ovation as he walked through the hall. The resolutions were read to him, and he said he neod hardly say that they gratified him very much. He was at a loss for words to express his thankfulness for the kindness, loyalty, and sincere goodwill shown by the people of the parish. (Applause.) He was perfectly well aware that he had the hearty loyalty of the people connected with the church, but it had come as a great surprise to him to know that a great part of the community, not connected with the church, had also shown a great deal of kindness and goodwill towards him. He had been very much touched during the week by a number of letters he had received from individuals saying that he had been somewhat helpful to them in their spiritual life while he had been in this present neighbourhood. That had touched him, he thought, even more than the resolutions that had just been passed. Of course if he remained in the parish he would have to study his very hardest to show himself worthy of the goodwill the parishioners had shown, and also of the esteem in which h,e seemed to be held in the community. .He put it in that tentative way because, of course, there were contingencies. The Bishop had accepted his resignation, and he (Mr. Gillam) understood that there was some difficulty in the way of whether the Bishop could legally accept a withdrawal of that resignation. However it was very much in the hands of the parishioners, and if they wanted him to stay, and if he wished to stay it would be a very easy matter for the nominators to nominate him foi the incumbency of St. Matthew's. (Applause.) His experience had not been altogether a bed of roses since he came to St. Matthew's. He came to do God's work, and not fight with the limbs of the law. That had been a great trouble to him. At the same time he wanted to emphatically state that St. Matthew's had not been a quarrelsome people. Since he came there had not been a quarrel among the parishioners. They had had difficulties with outsiders, but not with parishionors. They had been a happy family. (Applause.) He was very sorry that the idea had got abroad that there had been some misunderstandings in the parish. With all the earnestness ho could he repelled the aspersion. While the trouble about the stone church had been going on they hud not i got much " forrarder" in their church work, but that was all over now, he hoped. He wondered if Dr. Bakewell was in the building. He would like to thank the doctor for so accurately describing their old church. The doctor's letter in the Herald was one of the cleverest he had ever read, and it was one which helped them very much in their crisis. While they had been much handicapped he might say with modesty that they had clone something. It was something tc pay one's debts, and they wore paying theirs off at the rate of about £3 pel week. The debt which they had taken over from the daughter church of St. Thomas' would be wiped out next February. The vicar paid a tribute to the loyal support he had received in connection with the stone church from Mr. Whitehead, who had stuck to him all the way through. (Applause.) Reverting tc the question of his i resignation, the vicar remarked that some thought he had handed it in out of pique, or that he did so in haste. That was not so. He had resigned after the utmost deliberation. He traced the history of the efforts to get the new church started. . A man could only stand a certain amount of strain, and he felt he could not go on, so ho resigned. Eventually they carried their point at the last moment. Ho thought they were very much obliged to the Herald for the way in which it had championed their cause, and also to those friends from outside who wanted to see a fine church. The vicar hoped his parishioners would not think him unkind if he did not give them an emphatic answer that night, but he had to consider the attitude of the Bishop in the matter. He (the vicar) would announce his decision next Sunday morning. After Mr. Whitehead had made a few remarks, refreshments were handed "ound and the formal part of the meeting ccn- , eluded.