A Word in Defence of the Clergy

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1927, Page 9

A Word in Defence of the Clergy

TVHE attendance at a well-known -*■ church last Sunday evening was less than one hundred and it says much for the canon who preached that he put his whole heart and sou) into his sermon, despite the appalling poverty in the number of his congregation. Why should this state of things be? Surely some reason can be advanced Church music is perhaps the finest in the world and it certainly could not be claimed that there-was any lack of that, since no fewer than six hymns were sung, each being superlatively well known. Nor could the man who • is easily bored by orations find fault with the duration of the sermon. It is said that a lack of sympathy exists between the clergy and their congregations and a similar charge has been laid against churchgoers and nun-churchgoers; in a word, indiffer ence is more or less the true cause ot .our poorly-attended churches. Some time ago it was asserted that the clergy are too conscious of their social position and that for this rea son they have failed to win the hearts and to influence the lives, ot the lab ouring classes. It was claimed, fur cher, that the clergy should descend from their pedestal and live among j the working classes as their social I equals, choosing their wives from the ■ daughters of working men, bringing up their sons to manual labour and sending their daughters to domestic service. Thus would the country benefit greatly and the church hold so firm a place in the affections of the people that it would defy nil efforts to destroy its position or to interfere with jts welfare. It is desirable to offer a few obser vations on these statements. ! The clergy, as a rule, are accus j tonied to treat all classes of I heir I parishioners, ricli and poor, with friendliness and cordiality. ; In agricultural parishes the clergy man and the labouring classes live, in most cases, on the most friendly terms. It is a well-known fact that when trouble comes to a working man he- j goes to the rectory or the vicarage for advice and for help Moreover, thous ands of situations have been found for men out of work through the instru mentality of the clergy Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. And here and there, no doubt, there may be found a want ot friendliness between the vicarage and the parish, sometimes owing to a cul pable want of sympathy on the part of the swelters in the- vicarage, some times owing to wrong headed opinions on the part of the parishioners That the clergyman should choose nls wife from the labouring class would merely be putting that go >.t lady in a most uncomfortable positioi —a little thought will show the obvi ausness of this. The writer has bee: anxious to avoid any bitterness or un Kindness in these few remarks. He claims that the glergy are frequently most unfairly attacked and that they are doing their work, often disappoint ing and difficult, in . a kindly spirit The working man is not easy to deal with. Yet I am sure thousands ot them would defend the clergy from all imputation of want of friendliness or ‘starchiness.” Many indeed are tbe cases that without the parson's kindly sympathy and warm friendship, diffi culties, spiritual and otherwise, would be much worse than they are at present. The clergy needs the support of the working classes: the working classes needs the sympathy and help of the clergy; and it is to be fervently hoped that, as time goes on, prejudice and distrust will fade away and tha; mutual consideration and sympathy will take their place -P.M.