THE PROPOSED CATHEDRAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12995, 9 June 1904, Page 8

THE PROPOSED CATHEDRAL.

TO TIIE KDITOB. Sin,—l ■ liavo just read over Mr J. J. North's signature a tirade against the Anglican community. The igiioraneo ho displays in regard to customs obtaining in tho Anglican .Church is ahout on a par with the narrow-minded uncharitablencss running all through his epistle, I am told this gentleman is a minister. If so, I would remind him of the great essential liecesfiary to a Christian—namely, charity, without which " we become as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal." Being only a poor layman, I do not claim to possess much of this virtue, but it cannot be denied that if many of those who in spiritual matters aro set over us would let charity be the mainspring and predominate all their actions more weight would attach td their teachings, and they would ho more conducive to unity, even to the extent of uniting ministers of roliigou, some of whom at present, alas! spend much unprofitable time searching for tho moat in their brother's eye without perceiving tho beam in their own. In conclusion, I would ask any fair, broad-minded persons who "liavo, carefully road tho Rev. Air Hcwitson's letter to tho Primate and reply to "Presbyterian" and tho Rev. J. j, North's letter of to-day where the Christian charity is to be found in them or anything designed to servo a good purpose or help forward the causa of Christianity. In all sincerity I commend to these gentlemen a careful anil most earnest study of Ist Corinthians sii, and may they liavo grace to grasp its true meaning, and follow out the great teaching litre set forth.—l am, etc., Oamcru, .Tuns 5. ANGLICAN. -

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I have no desire lo interfere between th© present combatants in this question, hut would rather !oo!: at the matter from another point of view. T would like to a-slc two question.?—viz.: (1) Is it not a /net that, in country districts especially, Anglican congregations have great difficulty in making ends meet, and that the clergy,men fully participate in this chronic shortago of fluids; and (5) Is it not a fact that tho Presbyterian Church Extension Fund :s similarly in a chronically impecunious condition? Xow, if Anglicans tiro very anxious to (lo something really worthy of the "glory of Clod," would it not bo well to raise a. £20,000 fund and let (ho interest go to augment tho salaries of clergymen with largo families and email salaries; while I'rcsbyterians Villi a pound or two a-ycar to spare might send an additional contribution to tho Church Extension Fund. It. seems to ma that these might bo better ways _of glorifying tl;o .Almighty than the orcotion of piles of buildings which will afterwords tako largo sums of money to keep them up—sums of money which ought to go to provide a "living wage" for the hardworked and underpaid country clergyman — I arn, etc., CxLOOliEii. P.S.—Anglicans would clo well to secure a copy of a local church magazine, and read and moditato on what is there printed on this subject.—o. TO TIIE KniTon. Sin,—lt takes many swallows lo make a summer, as i lie saying is, ■ and it will talto many more Presbyterians than have written against Sir Hcwitson to make up tho sentiment of Presbyterians in general on. the cathedral question. I have spoken to a good many—both Presbyterians and others— on tho subject, and I liavo bean invariably mot with u dcrisivo smile as soon as tho question was mooted. They must be weakkneed Presbyterians, soino of those who have written as they have, and I think tho sooner some of them join the Anglicans the hotter. I do not think Presbytorianiim would bo much tho poorer for the want of them, and I do not think the Anglicans would be much the better of them.

Wo aro told that when Knox Church and First Church were built Anglicans subscribed. .- Well, some of them may, through friendship to eomo of the members of these churches, have given subscriptions; but I liavo no hesitation ill saying tho sunn was infinitesimal, and of this I am sure, thcro was no 'public appeal mado to them, or to any ' outside the Presbyterian Church, as thcro has been in this case; neither war. thej'e any attempt to get it mado a public duty by getting the Mayor to presido in the Town Hall; neither wero there any public meetings held, as ha 3 been done in this easo. And these make all the difference. One writer told us tho exchange of pulpits had not boon a success. Why, the man was writing on a subject he knew nothing about. I can look back quite half a century, and when I remember the jealousy and ill-fooling which existed among tho Tarious sects (Evangclica!) I cannot but (hank God for tho great chango that has taken place. Then it would have boen quite impossible to form an alliance in Britain of the Evangelical Churches; but look at it to-day! And what a powor for .good it. lias proved in the Old Land!_ And yot he says the exchange of pulpits has net been a success. But I would like more especially to show your rcadors from Saturday's paper what kind of a cathedral tho Evangelical Churches in our midst aro asked to subscribe for. Bishop Nevill says "an Evangelical Cathedral." Lot us see. I will take his letter first. "Ono reason he docs not answer Mr Hcwitson why 13r Watt would not be allowed to preach in the cathedral "is, 'It would involvo a. discussion of tho somewhat abstract and technical subject of holy orders.' Then, in your account of tho mission beiug carried on by Mr Biddlo in St. Paul's Cathedral, you say: "He concluded a stirring and earnest address by urging those present to have faith in tho forgiveness of sins and tho sacraments of the Church, tho most astounding miracles of our day." Thcro is some ambiguity as to what he means by "tho forgiveness of sins," but this I know, an Anglican clergyman, in visiting an invalid, not so long ago, told him that he (tho clergyman) could pardon his (tho invalid's) sins. And these are the docirines to be taught, in this "Evangelical Cathedral "—holy orders, forgiveness of sins by the clergymen, and salvation through tho sacraments. Why, I do not hesitate to say that it will bo more tolerable for tho men of Sodom and Gomorrah in tho last day than for tho men who preach these soul-damning doctrines in ibis the twentieth century. No; if Bishop Nevill believed that it was an Evangelical cathedral that was to 1m built (as the word is understood at tho present day) he would rather put tlio money in th& firo than soo it greeted. As to tho plea that a cathedral ia a placo where wo can raise monuments to our great men, that is only another appeal of the spider to tho fly. No monument would bo allowed to lie erectedto aaiy man, however great or worthy, unices be were an Anglican, and to confine it to them would only be a burlesque to coming generations as to who were our great men. No; Presbyterian and other Churches have plenty of claims on t-liem without this, and as long as these claims exist unprovided for then they are traitors to thoir church who subscribe to such a fund. Besides, Councillor Tappc say 3 lie knows plenty of men who could give all the money required. Of course, ho can only bo referring to those of his own communion. Then wily usk outsiders to subscribe? —I am,, etc., BUKItSTOSE. Dunodin, .Tune 6.