The Portland daily press., 1871-04-20


large and spirited meeting of the congregation
of St. Luke's Parish was held on Tuesday
evening at the Cathedral, the Senior w arden,
Mr. George e. B. Jackson, presiding. w. H.
Clifford, Esq, from committee previously
appointed, reported the plan of organization
for a Cathedral Association open to all
members of the congregation, the primary OBJ
ject of which should be the payment of all
present indebtedness and the completion and
conservation of this noble church. A Consti-
tuition for the Association was subsequently
reported, and its provisions adopted seriatin,,
with sundry amendments, and after very full
discussion.
Besides its work of creating fund for the
completion of the cathedral this guild orlsociety
will tend to promote still more important OBJ
ect,-of drawing the members of the parish
more closely together in a common work, and
affordng to occasional attendants at the ca
thedral-Of which the number IS very large-a
means of identifying themselves more closely
with its interests. At a late hour the meeting
was adjourned until Monday evening next,
when the Cathedral Association" will be fully
organized by the reception of members and
election Of its officers, who are to be chosen as
far as possible from those not members of the
legal corporation, e., the Rector, Wardens
bers and 70 judge by their attendance and in
tersst thus far, will do their full part in the
work.
Some very interesting statements were made
by the Bishop and others at this and former
meeting, in regard to the condition and work
of the Parish since the occupation of the Ca
thedral. Of the 100000 which the church
and gcOunds Gncluding the Bishops house)
have cost thus far, some $40, 900 (not $4,000 as
the PRESS gave Hast week. remains to be
paid, and the cancel)ing of this debt, as above
mentioned, is to be the primary object of this
association. The remainder has been freely
given, no pecuniary interest or exclusive priv
ilege having been acquired by any subscription.
Freewll offering Sunday by Sunday furnish the
entire revenue of the parish, which amounted
during the year just closed to nearly isix thous
and dollars; sum more than sufficient for all
expenses, aside from interest on debt, and con-
siderably larger than could have been raised by
auy system of pew rents. The poorer classes,
especially, and those in moderate Circumstance
es, who make up large proportion of this con-
gregation, have contributed with great regu-
larity, and in many cases with great liberality
and lf-sacrifice.
The discussions of the evening drew forth
some very forcible remarks from Judge Shep-
ley and the Hon. James L. McCobb on the inn
PORTAGE of giving greater prominence to the
fact of tie entire and unreserved freedom of
all sttings 10 the Church; a feature in which
the Cathedral stands nearly alone, we believe
among the permanent churches OF the City,
With the exception of st. Paul's. 1t was
strongly urged that the regular attendants
shonid not even avail themselves of their priv
i iiege, though one Of courtesy merely. of o.cu.
plying ordinarily me same seass The Sn subject
General principle of free church, supported
by freewiIl offerings, and the determination tc
cs s II tnlIy into practice, there is the most
entire agreement in that Parish. The expert
ence of the past two years has removed al
doubt of its propriety and its practicai adVan
taoes