The Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1871.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1120, 19 September 1871, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1871.

!7ss Bishop of the Diocese has called * meeting of the subscribers to the Cathedral Fund, to be held to-morrow .afternoon at the Literary Institute, 3» the purpose of electing six persons ■&& act on the Commission in conjuncSk>n with those already elected by the Diocesan Synod. We trust that the meeting will be attended, and that six earnest, energetic men will be chosen 4» act with those already elected by is>D Synod. It is to be hoped, how•mer, that the matter will not be al&>wed to rest there, but that an effort — energetic, persevering, and conakiaous — will at once be simultaneously «*ra&menced, throughout the whole of Ske Diocese, to raise the necessary fends, not merely to erect a portion of: ■&* building, but sufficient to raise a afcracture worthy to be called the Moose of God. "We know that to do j ■$bb will probably be the work of j&ssb, that it will mainly rest with the j aawsabers of the Church of England,! &ai it is a work in which they might' ■■»jsis feel it an honour to be em-! gfiojed ; a work which will bring down & blessing on each one employed in it ;' a Messing on every giver. To do this saaj require at first some act of apjp&?©nt self-denial — the giving up of aosae little luxury or pleasure — but we fesi assured that not one who contrifoaies cheerfully and willingly to the Cathedral Fund will ever in affcer3 ssrs regret what he or aha hai done.

We are aware that we shall be met at the outset by the statement — " Be just before you are generouß." We admit the full force of this axiom — for a self-evident truth it is — we wish no man to be unjust ; but for this purpose we wish the members of the Church of England amongst us to exercise a little self-denial, so as to be generous as well as just. The great mart of modern commerce — the Koyal Exchange — bears upon its front the inscription, " The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof," and it would be well for all those to whom an appeal may be made to assist in building a people's church, to remember the inscription raised by the greatest of commercial nations over a building specially erected for commercial purposes. If the words there inscribed have any meaning, it must be this, that wealth is not given to be hoarded up, to be used solely for the purpose of self-gratification, of personal or family aggrandisement, but in promoting the glory of God and the happiness of his creatures. The truth is, however, that the mem*, bers of the Church of England require to be educated in the art of giving. They have so long been accustomed to trust to endowments, and in the Old Country to the union of the Church with the State, that they do not seem to possess that cheerful liberality which is a distinguishing characteristic of other branches of the Christian Church. We do not say, for a moment, that such a spirit does not exist here, we believe that it does, but it requires constant exercise in order to increase its force, and bring it forth into vigorous, healthy life. We make these remarks in no captious, cavilling spirit, but with the view of inciting the members of the Church of England in Canterbury to commence immediately the work in right earnest ; a work which, when completed will result in the erection of a structure worthy to be used for the worship of God, and which will be an ornament to the principal square of the city. Now that it has been decided to make an effort to build the Cathedral on the original site, we trust that every member of the Church, of England will enter upon this work heartily|and perseveringly. If they do this, if they let the public see that they are in earnest, they may rely on it that other denominations of Christians, nay, the general public, will gladly help them therein.