HOUSING AND CHURCHES.

Evening Star, Issue 18999, 22 July 1925, Page 12

HOUSING AND CHURCHES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I quite understand why “Churchman ” is not prepared to enter into a controversy upon the above question. The conditions under which, our clergy live and the enormous sums of money tied up in useless church buildings in this country are so at variance with Christ’s teaching and example that. “ Churchman ” can bo forgiven if ho avoids trying to justify such things. My attack on the clergy was not of a “ malicious ” nature at all, but only an effort to emphasise the commonlyhejd opinion regarding the clergy and churches. In the first place, “ Churchman ” docs not make a very good showing in defence of the clergy when he says that there are few of our clergy who could not have earned more and have lived under better conditions had they devoted their abilities to comnfercial pursuits. This high opinion of tho clergy is hardly borne out by our personal experience, since it is a wellknown fact that a goodly proportion of these . gentlemen make a very poor showing preaching sermons, etc., let alone competing in the hard world of business, where, intellect and initiative are nndisputahle. “ Churchman ” says self-interest ended when these men became clergymen. Hero, again, facts do not bear out your correspondent’s statements. The average clergyman is in receipt of a higher salary and allowed much greater aid in the way of ' free houses and sometimes coal,- etc., than is enjoyed by those in commercial' pursuits. In addition to these things, the clergyman does not have to remove his coat, and certainly does not earn his bread and butter 1 by the sweat of his brow. A commercial man holds his , position only so long as he can show j returns to justify his retention. Were ! this rule applied t-o the clergy there ; would he a general exodus of our rever- : end gentlemen from easy positions to I make 1 their way in the hard world. It j is precisely the self-interest which ■ “Churchman” says the clergy left he- I hind . when 1 entering the "profession I which causes them to retain their sc-J cure and comfortable positions! When ! we see our church leaders going out! into the highways and byways,' “ taking j no thought for the morrow,” depending i on the worth of their message to cany ■ conviction, one will he inclined to he- I lieve that self-interest has indeed ended I in our clergy. I Regarding the statement that trades- 1 men possess tools which few clergy fan afford to buy. one is forced to conclude either that “Churchman ” is ignorant of the salaries received by ministers or i

is not stating what he knows to be the truth. The_ average tradesman has to acquire a kit oi : tools during the time he is serving his apprenticeship and receiving about £2 a week, liven if bo j gets his tools when helms finished Ins ) apprenticeship, and is in receipt of full ! wages and full-time employment—the | clergyman does not need to fear unemploment—be is then getting only about or JC4 10s per week. He has

to pay rent, etc., which the clergy do not do; and so whichever way R is taken it becomes plain that the minister of religion is much better placed. Why it is necessary to have “respectable ” clothes (whatever that may mean) to preach God’s message is a mystery. I am of the opinion that it could he oreadied just as earnestlv and just as effectively in one’s shirt sleeves or a faded coat as in “respectable” attire.

My criticism of churches and churchmen could bo extended to greater length, hut the foregoing null, I trust, servo to show how impossible it is to justify the actions of our clergymen. I am still waiting for “ Church man,” ,or anyone else, to reconcile Christ’s instructions to “Sell that thou hast and give alms.” and “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none,” with the action of our clergy. “Ho that hath none” is to be found in onr crowded slum dwellers described in Saturday’s ‘ Star,’ and “he that hath ” is to be seen in our clergy and wealthy churches. The question is; When will these gentlemen practise what they preach?—l am, etc., July 22. E.W.F.