TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1893.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 90, 18 April 1893, Page 4

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1893.

t • The controversy which has arisen in Wellington respecting the appointment of a successor to Bishop Hadfield will probably have the effect of directing the attention of the members of the Anglican com. munion generally to the claims of the colonial clergy for preferment. The difference of opinion shows the existence of two distinct parties in the church—one is desirous that when a seat becomes vacant a Bishop should be chosen from the ranks of the colonial ministry; the other, which comprises apparently a majority oi tne Synod representatives, would prefer to confer the mitre of Wellington upon a clergyman specially imported from England. It is now generally admitted on all hands that it is desirable when possible to fill the most important city parishes with incumbents who have already had some colonial experience, and that only under exceptional circumstances should recourse be had to England. But many who are quite willing to admit the principle of colonial selection so far, are of opinion that it should not extend to the appointment of bishops. It is argued that the office is one that forks efficient discharge requires a man of exceptional ability, and that within the narrow range of the colonial ecclesiastical circle it is difficult to find suitable candidates. In contrast to this it is affirmed that in England clergymen of high-class attainments abound, and that "the colonial church naturally gains by their appointments to her bishoprics. It is urged also that a prelate who comes out direct from England is free from the local prejudices, which might injuriously affect the action and impair the usefulness of a locally chosen man, who, in case of a struggle between the partisans of different competitors might be selected to the great satisfaction of one party, but to the intense disappointment of another. We admit there is some force in these and other arguments in favour of the English candidate for colonial episcopal honours. Their weight, however, has much diminished of late years, and will be still less felt with the increasing growth in the number of clergy in the colonies. Those who are most eager to apply to England on each occasion when a see becomes vacant, appear to assume that the best men in the mother church are available for colonial appointments. This is a fallacy, as the experience of the last few years has amply proved. In the early days of colonial history it was not difficult to get men-—who had every prospect of promotion if they remained in England — to undertake episcopal work in these colonies. In this connection the name of George Augustus Selwyn will occur to eveTy mind. The Australian colonies, too, were fortunate in obtaining for their first bishops men who> had not only gained academical honours, but who possessed administrative abilities in an unusual degree.

But, whether the colonies present a less'attractive field for first-class men now than when pieneer work was associated with adventure and romance, or whether it is owing to the enlarged sphere for usefulness in the mother church, the fact is undoubted that there is an increasing difficulty in obtaining men from England of more than mediocre ability to fill colonial sees. Nor is this only the case in connection with dioceses where the work is excessive and the stipend scanty. Only a few years ago the important see of Melbourne went begging, and was declined by one English clergyman after another. The Bishop of Sydney, who is also Primate, is provided with an episcopal residence and an income of ,£2,000 a year, but when Bishop Barry resigned, the diocese was for Borne time a drug in the English ecclesiastical market.

The difficulties experienced in obtaining suitable candidates in England and the large increase of late years in the numbers of colonial clergy—including in their ranks many men fitted for the highest offices in the gift of the church—have caused a strong revulsion of feeling. There is a growing opinion that, as a rule, any disadvantages that result from the selection of a local man are more than counter-balanced by his knowledge and experience of colonial work. The Australian Church authorities, acting on this principle, seem disposed lately to select bishops from their own clergy whenever possible. Within the last few months Canon Barlow was appointed to the diocese of North Queensland and Canon Chalmers to that of Goulburn. Neither of these clergymen possessed an academical degree, but each was a man of considerable attainments, of well-proved administrative ability, and thoroughly acquainted with the details of the work entrusted to him. In New Zealand.it cannot be said that the church authorities have shown very decided conservative tendencies. In various instances sees have been filled by colonial men. Bishop Hadfield himself spent many years in - missionary work before he donned the episcopal apron. The diocese of Christchurch, which in the matter of endowments is the wealthiest in this colony, is presided over by Dr. Julius, who at first won his spurs on this side ot the line; and the Nelson Synod, by selecting Archdeacon Mules, who for many years had laboured in the diocese, showed a determination to bestow the highest gift in its power upon one of its tried and proved members. With regard to the merits of the different candidates mentioned in connection with the Wellington bishopric, wv"s are not called upon to deal. The fielJ of selection should, in our opinion, be the widest possible. Its position as the seat of Government gives Wellington an importance that cannot be overlooked, and the aim of those entrusted with the selection of a Bishop should be to get the best man available. In a country where there is no State establishment, the episcopal functions are naturally discharged under very different conditions to those that prevail in England, but, from his social and ecclesiastical position, the chief pastor of an Anglican diocese, is enabled to exercise great influence upon the moral and religious interests otytbe community. It is to be hoped that the Synod, when it. meets, will rise above party prejudices and local considerations. If a suitable candidate can be found in the colonies, by all means let the preference be given to him, but it would be unworthy a branch of a great historical church to necessarily limit its choice either to our own colony or even to Australasia. While we believe the highest prizes should be open to the local clergy, it would be extremely injudicious for the Anglican communion in New Zealand to adopt a policy of isolation, and to act as if some unwritten law rendered the clergy in the mother country ineligible for appointments to bishoprics in this colony.