The Press. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1901. THE BISHOP'S ADDRESS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11103, 23 October 1901, Page 6

The Press. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1901. THE BISHOP'S ADDRESS.

The address delivered by the Bishop of Christchurch to the Diocesan Synod yesterday was somewhat pessimistic in its tone. His Lordship evidently feels that the Ghurch of Englaad in this diocese is not fulfilling her mission to the extent that her most zealous well-wishers would desire. She is not gaining so great aa influence on the masses of the people as she might, and she fails to retain in active work and communion more than a proportion of those who have passed through, her Sunday schools and received confirmation from the Bishop. We do not think that these facts, admitted with such obvious regret by Dr. Julius, will be seriously disputed, although there may be some conflict of opinion as to the causes which have led to such results. It is, perhaps, presumptuous far a lay paper to offer an opinion on this subject, but we venture to think ibat the want of sufficient clergy of the right stamp is largely responsible for what ha* happened. What Demo*.

theses said of oratory—"Action !! —action U!" applies to success in nearly, every walk in life. Even in religious work there must" be abundance of energy if there is .to be success. ~ It would j be unfair to expect more of the over- j wrorked and underpaid .clergy than they, are doing at present. Indeed, it would | be, humanly speaking, - impossible for many of them to 3d more than they are now doing. Y«t they themselves would be the first to admit that, much more remains to be done. The Church will not fulfil her mission by holding services at stated Intervals and expecting people to come to them. The Bishop says that the clergy should not only be preachers, but teachers of the people. We venture to think that if they really want to obtain >au influence over the masses they must constitute themselves the friends of the people as well. This can be done by visiting them in their homes—not merely making formal calls, but gaining their confid•ence and helping them in the mental and moral difficulties -which perplex their everyday life. It is in this way, we believe, that the clergy can most effectively fulfil their function as the teachers of the people. But this means not only that the numbers of the clergy must be increased, but that •they must be of a high l stamp—men of warm sympathies and ready tact, as well as men of education. Again, if the young people who have passed through, confirmation classes are to be kept in active communion with the Church it will be necessary to increase their opportunities of religious usefulness and to adopt other means to keep alive their interest in its work. This may be done to some extent by means of guilds and other organisations of the kind referred to by the Bishop. Here, again, the need of more clergy of the right stamp becomes manifest. As to the style of preaching which is required to win the more educated portion of the community, we thoroughly agree with the remarks made by the Bishop. , On the one hand the clergy should not take too much for granted and* so preach over the heads of the congregation,' but, on the other band, they ought not to ignore the real problems which perplex the more thoughtful of their hearers. If they are not able to solve them they should frankly admit it, and at any rate give those who listen to them the advantage of knowing what the leaders of thought in the religious world haye had to say on the subject. There are many difficult ques- I tions which never can be solved to demonstration in this life, but it is sometimes a' consolation to know that others , have felt their perplexities and yet their ' faith has remained' unshaken. Altogether, although iheje is a pessimistic tone, as we have said, running through the Bishop's address, he does not give himself, over to despair, and if by pointing out the weaknesses at present existing in the Church he should stimulate her members, both lay and clerical, into a serious effort to strengthen her , organisation -uid methods where strength is most required, his Lordship will have accomplished a gieut werk.