BISHOP WALLIS'S STATE. MENTS.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 130, 30 November 1906, Page 2

BISHOP WALLIS'S STATE. MENTS.

TWO VERSIONS. Melbourne files are useless to anyone desiring details about Bishop Wallis' s statements on heathenism and popular clergy. The Age and the Argus are at variance in the matter; their reports are as unsatisfactory as they ure brief. The two versions of his Lordship's speech are ii'teresting enough by contrast to quote in full. THE ARGUS. Bishop Wallis, of Wellington, said that in New Zealand there was no religious instruction in the State schools, and they were developing a nation of heathens. One of the chief obstacles was the desire of congregations for a popular clergyman. (Applause.) If a man were doing his work faithfully and well he was sure to become unpopular In other churches the clergy were not appointed at the wil] of the congregation. They must fight against the trouble. In his diocese they had fought against it by making a rule that no man was allowed to reoeive a farthing of stipend from his congregation. He was paid out of the diocesan fund. (Applause.) THE AGE. The Bishop of Wellington said that one obstacle to religion in New Zealand was that there was no religious instruction in State schools. They w;ere in danger of developing a nation of heathens. (Hear, hear.) j Dealing with the avoidance of popularity minting and dependence on parish favour .the bishop said that in New Zealand t^ey had a rule that no man receive a farthing of his sti?end from the congregation. (Cheers.) he money was paid into a diocesan fund, but the clergyman was never the debtor of the parish. )Hear, hear.) THE CABLEGRAM. The cable dispatcher took his text from a leading article in the Sydney Morning Herald of Saturday, reviewing all the doings of the congress, and the editor's language was based on the Argus report, which appeared on Wednesday, 21st November. Probably New Zealanders will have to await Dr. Wallis's return, in about a fortnight's time, to learn definitely what his Lordship laid.