A PESSIMISTIC MEETING

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1930, Page 11

A PESSIMISTIC MEETING

trouble at cathedral

TEW NOMINATIONS FOR CHAPTER.

INCOME SHOWS SERIOUS DROP.

(By Wire. —Special to News). Hamilton, Last Night. Although there was an attendance of over 100 people at the annual meeting of parishioners of St. Peters CaLicdial parish last evening, there were on y three nominations for the chapter, requiring ten members. Dean Barnett s frequent appeals for nominations- me. with silence, and gradually the attendance thinned. As chaiman the Dean was obliged to adjourn the meeting and intimated that he would investigate the Icwal bearing of a situation which is unique in the' history of the Church m the diocese, -•, ■ . .. _ After the election of wardens Dean Barnett called for nominations for the chapter of ten. Several gentlemen who were nominated declined, and the Dean then advised the meeting to. consult people before nominating them ni order to save time. After several pauses of lengthy duration the Dean expressed disappointment at the tack of interest displayed in the chapter, which had to administer the church and solve the financial problem. •‘This is a sad state of affairs,” said Mr. H. M. Hammond, a retiring member of the chapter, after another lengthy silence. “We have reached a deadlock, and in my opinion it must be a reflex of the chaotic state of the affairs of the Church of England at Home. It must be taken as an indication of Die writing on the wall of what is going to happen in the Chinch m this dio,cese. Whether "anything can be done I do not know.”

There was another long silence, after which the Dean, rose and remarked that the meeting had opened quite promisingly, hut would apparently close pcssrmistieally. In normal times an attendance of over 100 parishioners would be taken as an indication of interest in the church. He felt that the old members of the chapter were interpreting the silence as evidence that their services had not been appreciated. “It is amazing and has .given me something of a shock,” added the Dean. He continued that whatever the attitude of adults was it could be taken as a hopeful sign that he was preparing 14-9 young people for confirmation.

TEN SEATS; THREE CANDIDATES.

There were three nominations only for the chapter, Messrs. H. Innes-Jones, F. T. dark and L. V. Judd. It was suggested that the three gentlemen nominated could bo elected. With the Dean and Mr. Reid (people’s warden) they would make a quorum, which could carry on, and they could be empowered to add to their numbers. Mr. A. B. Whyte (diocesan secretary) doubted whether' such a course would be epnstitutipnaL .. .. The bean said lie would seek legal advice as to the position and advise the ■parishioners in due course. The finances of the cathedral parish • are anything but satisfactory, and the question whether the duplex envelope system should be continued was considered at length. Dean Barnett said it was obvious that the parrshi-mm’s as a whole were not pulling their full weight. It had been hoped that the duplex envelope system would -. have strengthened the finances, but, whatever the promise, the results were most disappointing. The collecting plate had been discontinued at the cathedral services with the unfortunate result that after a time the amount given through the boxes had fallen considerably. Me was forced to the conclusion tl> i c the people attending services were giving less through the boxes than the. plates. This was a most disquieting -act.

“I strongly disapprove of and shall use my influence,” he said, “to bring to an end what I call the disgrace of members of the chapter having to go round cap in hand and beg■ parishioners to give. It is most tinw >rtl>y .* f the church. If parishioners do not sufficiently believe in their ehnrch to give without resorting to such unworthy moans it is a pity and we would ■•. Either, do without their help. Such pa/i -hancis .ar© often the loudest in their armchair criticism and would be the first to cornplain if the church refused her ministrations when they were sought.”

Th© balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £55 9s Id on the year’s workings. The Dean estimated the expenditure for the year as follows: —maintenance £509, stipends to vicar and assistant £7OO, organist and treasurer £127; total, £1327. The income would amount to £327, which meant that the parish would have to find £l6OO, or £29 a week. The average weekly collections at present were not more than £lO.

BOXES OR ALMS BAGS.

Ma H. 8. Innes-Jones congrlercd the Idea of a box for. envelopes at the church door repugnant and favoured a return to alms bags. Th© opinion that peopl.r who would not give without having tn© plate pushed under their noses were not worth considering was expressed by Mrs. 11. V alder. The Dean said the chapter's financial record might appear saf’sfaetbry, but it was due to decreased expenditure rather than increased dir/w. Money bad been saved by dispensing with the services of assistant priests, “Why have we got into this state?’’ asked Mr. F. A. Snell. The speaker said ho had been a member if St. Peters for 28 years and there was never financial trouble 15 or 20 years ago. Something was wrong, and ho ventured to suggest that people were not supportring the church because of the teaching. Children had been told that if they attended holy communion at 8 a.m. they had done their duty to their church. That was not his idea of duty io the Church. The Dean: You have never heard me teach that. “There is too much sacramental theology about the church nowadays,’ 5 continued Mr. Snell. “It is that which has brought us where we are. For months past St. Peter’s has been only one-third full, whereas it should be overflowing. Wo must realise where we are driftz tog* ’ Mr. H. M. Hammond contended that . "the failure of the envelope system had due to Unfulfilled promises, and MO

organisation could survive with that drawback. They must get <h© spirit of confidence and goodwill emulating among the parishioners. There was no goodwill at present, and until it was obtained matters would not improve. (Applause).

A motion that it be a recommendation to the chapter that the plate bo reinstated and used in conjunction with the duplex system was declared lost, the Dean stating that ha trusted the chapter would use every effort to secure the progress of the duplex syeem.