ARE THE CLERGY TO BLAME?

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 175, 18 April 1908, Page 2

ARE THE CLERGY TO BLAME?

REV. VI. BEATTY'S CRITICISM 0? ■ . ' BROTHER MINISTERS. ; A SPIRITED REPLY. (BY IWiSGIUPO —EPIXIAr,. rOBBESrONDENI.t / " Auckland, April 17. The criticisms of tho clergy ; in- coiiiwctioil with the alleged danger of-,paganism in New' * Zealan'd ; , whioh the- Rjov. Wv Beatty-uttered in,his sermon last Siiiiday, have arousal the ire, of-his' brother clergy.' ,One-,of themj the,, :. Rev. \V.; K. Gillatn, vicar of St. has, the fojlowing ■ indignant epistle' in ' this morning's ••'' Herald" : •• . v.. •

."■■Tho' Rev./W. Beatty's censure-on .his brother" ministers is entirely v uncalled "for,and savours of impertinence. His. calmas-' sumption .of" :, superiority ;..tb£. his : * clflfictj -.' . "brethren: is almost amusing..,,, Some of'ugliave accustomed to. smile at the ,'Beatty-'; infallibility,' but no Popo could- assume .'a . morelofty. attitudo than that taken.by:the -"of St. Mark's.' Bishops and f clergy; are all.-'wroug.'"; '• lio.is'tho one righteous,'porsoii ;• amongst , us"! He declares, ithat .ministers- in general make' no attempt: to; avail .themselves of the r opportunities afforded, under-.the seiit Education. Actj for ■ scriptural , ttacniiig ' outside school-'.hoursi ■ ■Mr'.--'Bcatty,,'has' sat" in mootiiigs; of; the Clergy AsMciation forJniany yearsi past, . and lio has heard : his -brethrenV discus's again arid again their efforts :to uso • ■ these 'opportunities.' He knows that there is. scarcely a, mhh amongst us.-'who has not ; made':eartiest. endeavours to;'teach' children , dutsjdo: schooWiousCs;' he knows th&V.com- 1 niittoes liave sometimes refused "us 1 permission. : to, use, schools; ho'kno'ws, that '-arhere permis-, ' sion, has ' lreen J granted", wo. ha.vo;. failed'-'to securtf i the?- attendance of : children v 'and lie' , knows the reasons of our failure. Wo could never ': get more than an''exceedingly -.small percentage of 'tlie scholars ■;before:school hours, and when we have : taken classes.after' > the day's teaching tho attendance has alwaya' been meagre j and the r cljildrcii'generally'too ■tired attention 'to '■.Scripture"! lessons.; 1 .: 'Mr. Beatty knows ythat :we -have , honestly, • tried to ' Use' the ■ ■ opportunities,' - kid have - failed -through. no fault of our pwn.- llr. Beatty seems", proud ;,of j his own .efforts 'to.: Rive religious instruction 'after school-hours.' He has very -l.itt.l.e';.to. .be - prt>ud of. : Can- he ' ' 'say-:.that' l lo,; pir;;;'ceni./of/tlie .State school children 111 hisrafycctabio and wealthv parish attendhisclai.ses;; ■ notvpthsfcanding J ail, the'■ . meahsioni'plby^H'attract . I (for ono - ': .resent the assumes. toward?.his, Jjr.etKren.: of • ,aIV ' nominations.,,/.,;. It', is..an iusulti;to . \at. as honest as himself to . tioiv.for the- introdiictibn .of. the\l3ibl-o' into schools. is. largely insincere andw-irtifibi&lj-: and;'. ..has little :honest,<earnest K)ttvictioii"a.bout ; it:' " His criticisms ofi miiiistCTs . candid and trenchant-"'-* I ventiire to'kiy'.that ■ . his.; criticisms • show.Vvery bad: taste,-egotism; presumption;. aM an-inexcusable, contempt for tho. men of his own., profession. Take hisclosing ill-tempered.snarl:lf .the' people' are becoming paeans;: it js the'; bishops aiid', clergy" - ..who are d»i%j: most to make them pagans.' I will not comment' upon his'foolish splenetic, ■: utterance. J\incy Mr. Beatty. playing to-tho gallery.in, this way." .>. ■ '