The Trustees and the Stone Church.

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1195, 23 November 1901, Page 2

The Trustees and the Stone Church.

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH is the scene and subject just now of a little comedy that might easily supply all the essential elements of a modern comic opera. The people of St. Matthews want a stone church. They have the means with which to build a stone church. But, unfortunately for them, the money is vested in two trustees, who have a decided objection to paying it over, and who have hitherto managed to evade the wishes of the vicar and the fcople of St. Matthews, and oen the orders of the Judge of the Supreme Court. 4 ••• ••• .*. It is new something like fifteen years sinre the people of St. Mutthews, after repeated ineffective agitations, made a determined effort to get possession of the stone church fund* in order that they might utilize it. The late Mr W. R. Waddel, when Mayor of Auckland, was elected to the vestry in order that he might take the matter to the Supreme Court and fight it. But, unfortunately, he died soon , afterwards. Then the Rev. W. Tebbs, who had inaugurated the movement, resigned the charge Since that time, there have been several vicars of St. Matthew's, and they have all given up the fight with the trustees in despair. Messrs Burtt and Cochrane admitted that the money was for n stone church, and were satisfied that a stone church should be built, but it must be when tbey were willing and not when the people of St. Matthew's thought they required it. •*».*. .». Then tho Rev. Mr Gillam came, and it must bo admit tori that he ho* proved himself the most resolute and valiant fighter of all the vicars that St. Matthew's Las seen. Several times, the Supreme Cpurt has been approached, and each time successfully. Only Ifcsi week, the trustees appeared in Court to oppose the acceptance of tenders on the ground that a building without a tower could not be a church. The Judge, how•vei, ordered otherwise, and authorised the acceptance of tenders. But he would not accede to the wish of the committee that £2000 of thi money should be set apart as a fund for the maintenance of tho church when it is completed. And in this he was quite right, , In any case, the people of 1 S j. . Matthew's don't deserve a handsome and costly stone church if they ar« not prepared to face the liability for its maintenance after it has be'en erected. ••• ■ •••.••• Now, a fresh crisis has arison through the resignation of the vicar. A meeting was called for Monday, to consider the questions

ft stone and tenders, but tW' [trustees would not attend. Whor* upon, Mr Whitehead said he waft satisfied th* trustees did not *vant t«. proceed with the erection of the Qhitrch, whil,} the Rev. Mr Gillam, complaihiur that the parishioiiers ba<j been thwarted at every mm, said he did not feel inclined to continue the contest any longer, and subsequently forwarded his resignation to th-j Primate. There the ru.iiter stands now. The trustees am masters of the situation, t\nd with the present St. Matthew's Church falling so rapidly into disrepair that it will not be possible to hold service there much longer, th-j position of affairs is becoming 1 a public scundal. — +. +. What the general public cannot understand is th, ; hostility of the trustees to the erection of the Ktone church. Is the administration of th:i, large trust of £30,^0 or thereabouts a source of profit to them ? It' so, their hostility may bi easily understood. Of course, it this money is lent on mortgages, and these mortgages are occasionally falling in and being rep'ftced, thert must be a considernb:<; income from procuration fees. Lc the trustees draw- these fsss ? Aibc. if co, should they be allowed to continup to hold this money for their own advantage in the face of the fact that a new church for Ft. Matthew's is an imperative necessity and that the people ate anxious to proceed with the erection cl a stone church. AYe think not. At the prpsont moment, when some decided stops have boon taken towards the. accomplishment of the desire of the parishioners, the resignation of the Rev. Mr Gillim is to be regretted. His cause is a good and just one. He is a vaan ot considerable backbone, and howevoi- discouraging the hostility he has met ' with may have been, it ought to stimulate him to renewed determination to accomplish the wisl of tb,j people rather than to cause him to give up the fight in despair. The issue just now is a plain one. The people of St. Matthew's require a new church, and the Supreme Court has authorised i) cm. to use the money. They should prcceed with the work, either in O.K. or Te Kuiti stone, an i on the present or modified plants, as their judgment directs tl-em, without further regard to the trustees. But, with their' necessity s" strong and pressing, thtre should be no backing down.