CHURCH TROUBLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21546, 18 July 1933, Page 10

CHURCH TROUBLES

PARISH OF CAMBRIDGE VICAR LEAVES MEETING PAST ACTIONS DEFENDED FERTILISERS FOR FARMERS [BY TELEGRAPH; —OWN CORRESPONDENT] CAMBRIDGE. Monday The troubles of St. Andrew's parish, Cambridge, during the past year or so were referred to at a meeting of parishioners held at Cambridge this evening. The meeting ended abruptly owing to the vicar, the Rev. Gordon 8011, leaving the room when a member of the okl vestry, Mr. W. Sands, challenged some of the statements tho ricar had made. There was an attendance of 120 parishioners. In describing tho recent developments in the parish, Mr. Hell said the treasurer and the vestry resigned before the end of March last, and the parish was then left without lay officers. Ho was not in a position to prepare the statement of accounts himself. A meeting of parishioners was hold on May 3, and a vestry was elected. Arrangements were immediately made by this vestry to prepare the statement of accounts, but these arrangements collapsed. The bishop was asked for his advice, «nd after some time, a letter was received from tho Diocesan office stating that the bishop did not wish to receive any further communication from the speaker. Another effort was made by the vestry to preparo tho annual reports and statement of accounts, but for somo reason this effort camo to nothing.

Not Upon His Trial It seemed, said the speaker, that every attempt made had been wasted, and that the powers that be in the diocese did not wish the annual meeting of St. Andrew's parishioners to be held. He did not regard himself as on trial, for he felt that the blame for all the trouble was not due to any fault of the speaker or of the parish. Mr. Bell said he came to Cambridge early in 1930 at the very earnest request of the Bishop of Waikato. He had been repeatedly asked by tho bishop to como to Waikato, and help him. The bishop said he wanted him to become vicar of Cambridge, archdeacon of Waikato, and vicar general. The bishop told him he had no one he could leave his work to while he was at the Lambeth Conference, that his health was causing him anxiety, and that ho needed a holiday. "Political" Activities Mr. Bell said he felt it would be cowardly to refuse, so he accepted the offer. The bishop went away and tho speaker carried on in the Waikato diocese from early in 1930. At that time it became borne upon tho speaker that the farmers of New Zealand were in a very critical position, and rightly or wrongly, he felt it was his duty to agitate with a view to obtaining an easement of their lot. He Avrote to three fertiliser firms asking them what they could do in the matter. He interviewed tho Prime Minister, lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, other Ministers, and financial authorities. He formed himself a self-appointed deputation of ono on behalf of the farmers.

The bishop told him that he did nob like these activities, as they were of a political nature. Mr. Bell said he disagreed with the bishop. Ho had been intensely loyal to tho bishop and defended him repeatedly against those who had criticised him. The speaker described his first dash with the bishop and as an outcome he wrote out his resignation as archdeacon. The bishop tisked him to reconsider the matter. Ho then had another dispute with tho bishop. These troubles had to some extent blown over, and ho was still active in connection with his campaign on behalf of the farmers. He felt tired, but he enjoyed the work. Departure lor England

Sir. Bell said he consulted a doctor Ivho told him that while he was physically fit he needed a rest. The bishop treated him in a very kindly way tind suggested he should go to England. Mr. Bell said he learned that his activities on behalf of the farmer had brought him into conflict with tho financial authorities. When he left for England no trace of enmity toward him was in evidence, either on tho part of tho bishop or tho parishioners. He went away, and on June 17, 1932, ho received a cablegram from the vestry suggesting that he should regard his living at Cambridge as vacant. He was later advised by the bishop that ho supported tho Vestry in its view that ho should not ireturn. Statements Challenged

At this point, Sir. W. Sands, a former vestryman, challenged Mr. Bell's statement that the vestry had in any way been influenced by tho bishop. Mr. Sands was going on to discuss other statements made by Sir. Bell, when tho latter ordered him to sit down. Sir. Sands continued to stand, and the vicar said he had no alternative, as his ruling had been disobeyed, but to leave the chair. He then withdrew. Sir. H. D. Dallimore, a former treasurer of the vestry, said he had made four offers to the vicar to prepare the parish accounts for audit, and had invited investigation into them. These offers had not been accepted. Tho services of two Hamilton accountants had been suggested, and tho speaker had agreed to co-operate with either of these. Tho accounts had been balanced to a penny. Sir. H. Windsor, a member of tho new vestry, said the suggestion had not been made that there was anything wrong with the accounts, but tho new vestry had stipulated that no reference should bo made to tho business prior to the year 1932-33, and for this reason tho offers had not been accepted. After Sir. A. N. "Willis had spoken in vindication of the vicar tho meeting dispersed.