Taking Religion Earnestly.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 10011, 30 November 1908, Page 2

Taking Religion Earnestly.

(Pee Press Association.) Auckland. November 30: St. Paul's Anglican. Church was crowded on Sunday night,, when the Vicar, the Rev.' G\ A. B. Watson, ,in place of the. usual : sermon, spoke, at- .length. on the -subjects which have caused some dissension in the congregation. Regarding,finance, he:said '£6o was required to meet 'the current liabilities and' they required 30s to £2 weeklyadditional to keep things 'going.' On the : subjecit of the ritual and temperance, he said his views were well known when he was called to the paiish eight months ago, and 110 objection had been taken- till recently. He accepted the call under protest, because he feiired that his'views on these Gubjects were not in accord with those of a large section, of the parishioners, but he was pressed to accept the call,'and was request l ed to effect reforms. This he'had done gradually and as kindly asl possible. It had been said that he bowed, his head when passing the altar. He had done so for years as an act of reverence, and'nobody: hod hitherto objected, and he .had jnot asked anyone else to do so. It was ;i : thin; .one would naturally do if passing before the throne of King Edward, and ■how-could it be wrong to bow'before "that which was an earthly, representation ofthe Throne of. the Heavenly Father. ■■ He was there as. the minister of. the parish, and would serve them gladly: "But," he concluded, "Don't ask- me, as one called to teach, as one responsible not to the congregation or the vestry but to the-Bishop and God, not to speak out-my mind' or not to do what is wisest and best in my judgment." . ■'•"