CLAUDELANDS "ANGLICANS!"

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17586, 15 December 1928, Page 9

CLAUDELANDS "ANGLICANS!"

(To the Editor.) Si r The little coterie of so-called churchmen of Claudelands that has been the fons et origo of all the diocesan dissension in the past and made the Church of England here a by-word and lauging-stock throughout and beyond New Zealandemulating the tailors of Tooley Street who styled themselves We the People of England"—imagine that they are the representatives and exponents of Anglicanism, when, as a matter of fact, they do not know the first thing about it, Assuming your report of the meeting at Claudelands last Wednesday night to be correct, from the nature of their remarks it is clear that they are neither loyal churchmen nor true Christians, in that they demonstrated that they arc not actuated by any desire to promote the glory of God or the welfare of the church, but rather by a spirit of vindictiveness towards a man who is head and shoulders above them in culture, intellect, erudition, courage and experience—the Bishop of Waikato. Being hide-bound by their own narrowminded puritanism, they are not game to face the Bishop in person and amicable conference with open minds, but prefer to Indulge in fatuous ebullitions

of "envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness." I hold no brief for the Bishop, with whom I do not see eye to eye in many things, but as an Englishman, I like fair play and detest this persistent hitting below the belt. It was a lady (Mrs Valder) who made the only sensible speech at the meeting, in' which she deprecated the gratuitous criticism of the Bishop.—l am, etc., JOHN W. WARREN. Hamilton, Dec. 14.