PAUCITY OF CANDIDATES

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 246, 17 October 1922, Page 10

PAUCITY OF CANDIDATES

FOR HOLY ORDERS. THE SYNOD EXERCISED. The urgent need of means being devised by the Church to create in .the minds of young churchmen a fuller appreciation of the claim of and call to the ministry was stressed by Archdeacon Mat-Murray ycterdny at the session of the Diocesan Synod, when he moved a motion expressing the Synod's satisfaction that Bishop Averill lmd drawn attention to thisumatter. and proposing that a committee be appointed to consider what stops might be taken to further the subject, the committee to consist of the mover, Archdeacon Hawkins, Canons Tisdall, Williams, and Jamee. and Mr. C. J. funks. A CALL TO ADVENTURE.

Archdeacon Mac Murray. in moving the motion, said he thought the Churoh had neglected to make a call to the young men in the proper way. Too often the Church failed to appreciate the fact that the average boy lowd fair play and adventure, romance, and stirring things.

"In every boy's soul there is implanted a love of high adventure," he continued.

"and if you let that boy see that the call of Christ is tlip call to high adventure you will win the boy for the ministry. I do believe that if the call of Christ ie made to be a call to courage we shall get men to respond. When a nation calls to its sons for assistance in time of war the call is to courage, and if the Church makes her call in that way we shall not want for young men." (Applause.)

PARENTAL IXFLUENCE. Rev. K. 11. Strong said it was not quite fair to blame th« manner in which the appeal was made. Many a lad had decided to take holy orders, but his father had refused, saying in el'.ect: "I have kept you at school long enough. It i« high time you got into an office nnd relieved mc of some of the responsibility.'" The schools of the Church were not altogether blamable for the dearth of candidates.

LACK Or' RECOGNITION. Canon Ilaselden spoke with some emphasis on the matter of members of the clergy being overlooked and unfairly treated. It was not the thought of hard work in every week of every year that deterred young men from coming forward for ordination; it was the knowledge that there had been men who had been put aside, and that others loss worthy had been placed ill positions above them. This was a matter for serious consideration.

Rev. J. Napier also spoke in this connection, urging fair treatment to all. Too many men were relegated to country districts, mid became thereafter

"country bumpkins" of whom nobody took any notice, and who were out of sight of recognition.

Rev. S. Jacks said he felt quite sure that a very large number of men, of about 23 or 24 years of age, who were engaged in professional or business callings, could be found who were eager to take holy orders if they were assisted in obtaining the requisite educational training.

SACRIFICE—THE CLERGY'S LOT. Rev. C. 11. Grant Cowen deprecated the reference to "country bumpkins."' A man could do the most valuable work in the back-blocks if he felt his call wae to work there. The men who were wanted were those who would go where they were sent, and who would give their lives if necessary in furthering the Kingdom of Christ(Applause-)

Rev. G. K. r.arnett asked: "Is not our system of small isolated theological colleges a mistaken one:'' The solution of the problem of attracting young men to the ministry lay in the "making of a proper appeal, the provision of proper and adequate training, and the establishment of a strong pension scheme.

At this stage the discussion was adjourned.