AUCKLAND CHURCH MATIERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14380, 25 November 1908, Page 7

AUCKLAND CHURCH MATIERS.

■A DIVIDED XX)NGRESATIO|C ff« Uhitxd Pms's Association.),. .AUCKLAND, November' 24. • An unfortunate situation has arisen in connection with the parishof St Paul's, ' Symonds street. The vestrymen have i resigned .owihg to the divergence of their views ; on certain matters from those' of - the Re.v, ; C..A.'B. Watson. ' ±ne mam points a t issue concern the question, of ritual or ceremonial: Prior to commg to St. Paul's, Mr Watson'was the Anglican clergyman at Stratford! and it; was known that he had what he termed high church-tendencies in his conduct-of theaffairs of St. Paul's. It is felt by a certain section of; the. congregation 'with leanings the other way that the vicar has perhaps gone to undesirable lengths in ' this direction. Another factor in the resignation of at least one of. the vestrvmen referred to has been Mr WatsoriY views-on the temperance question, but ; this appears to be only a side issue.' The : matters of ritual and church finance form ' the graver'aspect of the present situation. mmvm made to-day amongst members' of the church elicited the fact that-objec-tion is taken, in some quarters to the vicars practice of having a processional cross carried by the sacristan at the head of processions during baptismal and chil- ' dren s' services. This is not done at ordinary matins or evertsong, but only at the services named. It appears, however, to be the practical cause of.objec- • tion. Another ceremonial to whichjsome of the congregation take exception is that' at early,communion services two candles are lit at the altar. This praoice also is not in vogue at ordinary services; '.Another cause of objection on the part of' some parishioners is the custom of bowing to the altar. Owing to a very general reticence on the part of those interested, ■ - it did not transpire what the minor complaints of the objectors are. One gentleman stated his opinion that the Rev. Mr Watson was showing too muchtendency towards high church practices, * 'and he and some others thought:- that sort .of. thing should be "nipped in tho' : bud," From another source it 1 was learned that in addition to the vestry- ' men who have already resigned, two'more are expected'to resign, whilst certain members of the congregation have threat-' ened.to leave the church. "A lot of us think that the vicar is going too far," said one parishioner. "When'he came up here he promised he would not do anything startling. It seems principally . the older parishioners who object to the vicar's alleged ritualistic practices; It was ascertained that another section of the congregation holds. Mr Watson invery high; esteem.: It is asserted that ' he has brought about a great, spiritual re- . vival in the parish, As to his ceremonials, one of his supporters' said: "They are quite.in order, and are done in England every day." There is no question whatever about Mr Watson's deep earnestness and sincerity, He has done a wonderful amount of good for the ; church, and through him a number of young men attend who never 3id so before.