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Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 230, 13 January 1855, Page 6

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. r Sm,' —I perceive that the subject of a provision for the clerjry is occupyingl the attention of others as well as of myself," aml I need hardly observe that the question is one most deeply affecting the future well being of the Settlement. That Canterbury contains within itself the elements of temporal prosperity appears to be generally admitted—that it also possesses materials for moral and religious progress, may be iairly inferred as well from the regularity of attendance at the Holy Communion, and the nuirber and deportment of the communicants, as from the amount of the proceeds of the Offertory both at Lyttelton and Christchurch I cannot believe that the Canterbury Colonists are disposed to deny that it is the*right of those who " preach the Gospel to live of the (xospel or that they would not gladly avail themselves of any legitimate mode of testifying their desire that their clergy should be saved from the necessity at present imposed upon them of devoiing much of their time to secular pursuits. It is idle to complain of this as if hey were to blame for choosing ;i course which s heaitily deplored by themselves, but which they are forced to adopt. How are men with families and wuhout income to devote themselves unreservedly to their sacred calling without neglecting " to provide for those of "their own house and thereby incurring the condemnation of an Apostle whose zeal is sometimes reSfl/™** I di»P»»S»'ff contrast to that of Ins successors here. But I must not allow myself to be led away from tue immediate object of this letter by my desire to refute a charge which is disproved l,v a fact we 1 known to us ail-that our churches have hitherto been and still are occupied by ministers must of whom perform-the services Lome's **" PIUCC' S diStUIU fr°m their °™ I believe there is a growing feeling amount the Laity that surf, , state of things^,^ n^

to be allowed to continue. It appears to me that instead of raising funds by pew rents (which are at variance with the spirit of our church system, and are the source of many temptations both to ministers and people), at stated periods, say on the first Surday of each month, and on the great Festivals, the proceeds of the Offertory (which are at present more than sufficient for the ordinary demands upon them for paying Sexton, lighting church, &c.,) might be paid over to the Church Trustees to form a pastoral aid fund for the clergy generally throughout the Diocese. By this arrangement the preacher, when bringing the subject before his congregation, as he would probably feel bound to do occasionally, would be relieved from the embarrassing consciousness that he was pleading his individual cause. If a portion of the proceeds of the Offertory were thus applied, I believe that many would embrace the opportunity, recurring periodically in so unexceptionable a form, of recording in their own memories the regular as well as special mercies received during the preceding month; many a grateful heart would thus testify to the thankfulness with which some beloved object had been received back almost from the grave ; and those who already know from experience that "it is move blessed to give than to receive," would give of such things as they have, that the enjoyment of the remainder might be sanctified. It would be too much to exnect that the contributors to the Pastoral aid fund would be sufficient to afford even moderate remuneration to the working clergy of the Settlement. I propoFe therefore that the deficiency should be supplied by a Diocesan fund to be formed by the contributors of the friends of the church, to be also received and dispensed by the Church Trustees. Tt would be for them to consider the practical details of the plan which I believe may be made the means of much usefulness both to the Settlement and to ourselves individually. In England the poor supply the natural channel for receiving that portion of his substance which every Christian feels bound to devote to God, but here we have no poor to remind us that we are but stewards of the portion of worldly goods entrusted to us; and we are therefore in danger of forgetting that the wealth which we are so eagerly pursuing-, if not sanctified by a dedication of the first fruits to God, may become cankered, and prove a witness against us at the last day. We may hope that in a few years the property of the church in this Settlement will be less disproportioned to the demands upon it; but in the meantime it is our duty as well as privilege to provide for the maintenance of God's ministers amongst us, and, so far as lies in the power of each of us, to keep the fire in God's altar burning in this the land of our adoption. Trus'ing that the importance of the subject will furnish an excuse for the length of this letter, I am, Sir, your obedient servant, A Layman.