“NO – COMPROMISE” CRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 430, 11 August 1928, Page 1

“NO - COMPROMISE” CRY

Waikato Dean and Chapter Again at Loggerheads

RITUAL OR ANIMUS?

(From Our Otm Correspondent) HAMILTON, To-day TIIIC hope expressed by Anglicans that with the settling <>t differences between the two factors at the recent synod, would end the trouble in the Waikato dioeese. is evidently not to be realised, as the chapter of i>t. Peter's Cathedral, owing to difference with Dean G. R. Barnett, decided at a meeting last evening to resign. Mr. F. A. Snell, a member of the chapter, says the trouble is entirely due to a question of doctrine, and Dean Barnett says it is due to a question of the legality of vestments, and alleges personal animus.

The chapter held a meeting on Monday evening, and it was unanimously decided that it should resign, and that, owing to the existing circumstances, the parishioners should be given an opportunity of electing a new chapter. When the motion was put at this evening’s meeting only one member voted against it. Both meetings were attended by a large majority of the members. The following were elected to the chapter in April:—Messrs. L. V. Judd, O. R. Farrer, C. Norris, W. H. Blakeaway, H. M. Hammond, J. T. Reid, E. V, Stace, F. Vickery, C. Morris and F. A. Snell. The seven last-named issued a declaration of their views, in which they stated that if elected their efforts would be directed toward restoring harmony in the church, resisting the introduction or continuance of ritualistic or Anglo-Catholic practices in the church, and the readjustment of services in the cathedral by reinstating mattins at the 11 o’clock service on certain Sundays each month. Constant variance of a majority of the members with the views of Dean G. R. Barnett, chairman of the chapter, in connection with the services and the use of vestments resulted in a deadlock. A rearrangement of the services was announced by the dean in a sermon on July 8. CERTAIN PERSONAL ANIMUS ‘‘The difference of opinion which has existed between myself and chapter members is due mainly to a question of legality of vestments,” said Dean Barnett, discussing, with a Sun man this morning, the renewal of the Waikato diocesan dissension. “This has been made more acute by a certain personal animus,” he added. The dean said the reason the chapter was elected was because only a small section of the parishioners could exercise the vote, as all those on the roli cannot vote until August 31. A member of chapter had said that the vestments were illegal, basing his contentions on the last declaration on the matter, when the Privy Council of England declared their illegality. It was over 50 years ago since then, and the Church has realised the absurdity of this test case, and leading churchmen in the world have declared that

vestments are legal in the communion service. The clean said that even if 90 pt i cent of the parishioners asked him tresign, they could not compel him to do so. He had full power to appoint or alter forms of service, and the chap ter and laymen generally had no nj in tho matter. Asked what he would do if the same chapter were re-elected, the dean said he would be determined hv future events, and could not predict what policy ho would adopt then. DEADLOCK REACHED Mr. P. A. Snell, a member of the chapter, who has been strongly opposed to ritualistic forms of worship, seen by a “Sun” man to-day, said th** whole position was that a deadlock had been reached. The dispute was entirely over a matter of doctrine. Chapter members had made up their minds to resist the present procedure at the cathedral, and it would appear that Bishop Cherrington and Dean Barnett were determined to carry on as they deemed fit, despite the wishes of the chapter, and the people. IS CHURCH REFORMED? Mr. Snell said the whole question was: “Is the Church reformed or not?’ “If it is we should adhere to the principles of reformation; if it is not reformed then let it bo definitely stated so and we will know where we are. I must say definitely that things are being done at tho cathedral which ar« illegal, that is, in the opinion of tho chapter.” NO HALF-WAY LINE “The matter is one over which there can bo no compromise,” added Mr. Snell. “There is no half-way line. It is no use one side or the other saying we will concede something if you will do likewise.” Questioned as to what the next st»-p would be, Mr. Snell said the dean would call a general meeting of parishioners and both sides of the question would be presented. The present chapte: would again offer themselves for reelection and if they were returned thi* would be a clear vote of no-confidenv in the clergy. HINT OF OTHER MEASURES

If the chapter was not returned Mr Snell said other measures, which he could not disclose, would be taken.