THE NEW CATHEDRAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2771, 24 April 1907, Page 17

THE NEW CATHEDRAL.

ADDRESS BY THE PRIMATE

A meeting of ladies, convened for the 16tb inst. to consider ways and means of increasing tho fund for the new Anglican Cathedral, was well attended, there being in addition a number of clergy present, together with other prominent supporters. Several apologies were received for unavoidable absence en the part of citizens, a-11 of whom took occasion to express their entire sympathy with the proposal. Tho Primate (B.shop Xcviil) presided.

The Primate said that, as most of those present were aware, he had been asked by the New Cathedral Board to undertake this step, as it was felt that tho time had j arrived when thoy should S2C if they could not stimulate the promotion of this, their great object. The meeting had been called, of course, primarily to create more interest in tho matter, and ho hoped they would achieie a step further in the formation of some organisation which might be instrumental in carrying their wishes into effect. 1 hero was no necessity to set forth the great importance of the object, but when he informed them that with the population • of the diocesn— between 50,000 and 60,000— tho sum of about £7500 had boen raised by some 400 people, of whom 200 only were resident in the city, he felt sure they would feel with him that they had not clone all that they might have. There must be a ' very great number of others quite willing J to assist — indeed, he knew there were quite \ a number who, if approached in some way, j would bo agreeable to add their mite to J the fund. A scheme was required by which i all members of the community might be approached, and hence the necessity for some organisation which would permeate through all classes and give everyone an opportunity to be able to say thty had a brick in the now cathedral when it was erected. He would be greatly disappointed if the interest generated in the movement , •was not warmer th«in had been previously, shown. Tli is was not due to apathy, but simply becau-o m^ans had net been do\ise<l to roach tho different elapses 1 . One of hie mo t cherished ideals had been for many years ihp accomplishment of something like thr beginning 1 , at an> '"ate, of a cathedral, and lm i,ow felt ralhT disheartened to meet with what ho might venture to call lack of s\nifa f 'i> — the statement that he put forth -omtwhat largo schemes for the ' .•idianccmont of th-o uiccr=c. However, he hoped to ..oc that the energetic and devout work of tly> clergy v.ould be instrumental in introducing into people's minds some lusher i'l-^aU and the realisation of the immon'o importance of th" worl^ with which they wctv chained. He thought it w.ib wroiiß for people to argue that it wa.% a gixat wjslc, and improper to spend such a largo =vun of moiu y on an oxpensue building, hut v. it'i ih'n- lofty ideals they niu-t put befoie the mine's r >t tho people c omo objoit which would lllustra'" 6ublimitj — something ir.licuivo of a higher thoucht and Wlnis; Ih'!ii tho mere commonplace' things of the day. The '-Queen of Ar; B "— auhitr cturo— united ro th"ir religion pave th'-m an educational influence of the hi«rh<.,t importance to every individual in tlio community. — (Applause.) He hopo'l all would f"cl wnh him that they po'ucs'ftl a <?rainl opportunity, and it was a noble thing- for" them to emancipate the inches from all „mall matters, and grapple with a question of this kind. At tho >amc time he did not wi=h any of | the memb-MS of the ernallor parishes to t'nink that their ow n paiochial requirements would suffer. They mu^t remember tha^ in the pursuit of this object, which involwd the e\ppn<l:tur" of =o much money, they had something which made not only for the adornmen. of the city of which they were so proud, but al,o to prove to tho world at largo that tho Christian faith was still a pon<?r to act on the hearts and minds of nvn, and to illuotiato the truth that eacii and all of them de-ired ac= their highest object to «et forth the great di;rnit\ of 'he Great Eeing they all re\ered.— (Applause.) A scheme would bo propounded to ihc meeting- by tho Rev. Mr Curzon-Sipgers with the obi<ct of raiding funds and' the suggestion had aUo been made that in a year or two'a time a larsc La/.aar -hould be hfld, in connection with which theie he exhibits and othor attractions, which would diaw people into ihe city fuun a con«ideiablc di-staiice outside.—(Applause ) _ Tho R-"v. \V. C'urzon-Si!?gprs laid his erheme of canva-s'np before the meeting, and explained in detail the methods to he adopted if the propefiition. found favour.

Dr Hocken moved — " That a committed, be appointed to carry into effect the schema, proposed for promoting the erection at an early dato of tho chancel of the new cathedral ; tho committee to consist of all th^, ladies and gentlemen present and others, with Mr Curzon-Siggers as president." Dr( Hocken said he considered it very necessary to have the chancel erected a 6 soon ear possible. This would give the workers greater interest in the progress of the scheme, and, further, it would at least be a mark of respect to the unceasing efforts^ of the Primate. Ho hoped the movement? would spread throughout the diocese.— « (Applause.) The Rev. Mr Snow, who seconded th-e* proposal pro forma, did not think th« scheme was comprehensive enough, merely, gathering in the city and suburbs as it did, and leaving out of the question the large number of people scattered over tho diccese. It 6oemed to him to be necessary to make a great and public appeal to all tho Church people in the diocese. — (Applaus?.) To emphasise the movement a« once, Mr Snow thought a " Cathedral Day" might be held for collections throughoub , tho diocc.se.

After slight discussion the motion was put to tno meeting and carried unani-^ mously.