CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10273, 15 February 1894, Page 6

CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Church Mission Society was held in the exhibitionroom of the Art Gallery last evening. Thera was a very good attendance, and the chair was occupied by tbe Rev Walter Harper, who was supported by the Bishop of Christchurch-

The Chairman said that they had come together to meet an old friend with a new ] name, for the society had been formerly known ag the Clergy Stipend Fund. He had always welcomed Church Mission Sunday, which had given an opportunity of bringing the objects o£ the society before his congregation, and had also given him. an opportunity of endeavouring to counteract what hs might term eelfishness in church work. One of the objects of the society was to provide the exclusive services of a chaplain to public institutions which were outside the scope of religious denominational work. Many more men were wanted for the work of the Church. Only one of the city churches had, up to the present, been able to support an assistant curate, whereas several of the city churches and many of the parochial churches required assistant curates. There were now nine young men at Christ’s College training for holy orders, but when they were ordained, although there was plenty of work for them, there was great difficulty in finding positions for them, and it should be part, of the duty of this society to provide funds for such a purpose. The Eev J. F. Teakle, organising secretary, read the report, which stated that the Association really did nob start work until November, 1892, and the report dealt with the work done up to last November. Difficulty had bean experienced at first in obtaining sufficient collectors to work the whole district, and the work had really been confined to the parishes of St Luke’s and St John’s. The funds collected had amounted to .£B7 3s, and they were grateful to the' collectors for even this small start, and hoped that it would be increased next year. During last year the amount received from all sources was £ll6O, and a small sum for interest on .£IOOO. The grants paid during the year amounted to £SBI 2s 3d, and the amount promised next year was quite .£958. Mr Knowles had informed him that the amount required up to six week’s hence would be £6OO, but as about £2OO might come in from offertories, if the Society’s collectors would gather £4OO by the end of March, it might prove sufficient, and he hoped that subscribers would bear this in mind and respond liberally. The Eev W. A. Pasooe spoke of the necessity of the chaplaincy for the public institutions, which in times past had been neglected. Now that every care was being taken of the bodies of the poor and suffering by the State, it was but right that the Church should minister to their spiritual wants. .The necessity of a chaplain at the hospital must be apparent to those who visit there, and a great deal could be done at the lunatic asylum. He also referred to the good that might be done to the inmates of the gaols. He concluded by urging upon all to assist the fund which would enable a class of persons to be reached which could be reached in no other ' manner. Sister Edith read a paper on “Almsgiving,” maintaining that it was the duty of Christians to give alms systematically, and not from the impulse of the moment, or spasmodically. , The Bishop referred to the fact that the world made heavier claims in the present day, and in this respect the poor and suffering, were not singular; for they had !greatly' increased and now - called for more -■ assistance. It was no’ use to pray for the extension of the ■ Church if they did , not work- for it. They , were >now able to relieve the , Mission Fund of some portion of its expense, for the sum of £2OO was now available from the Bishopric fund. The bulk of the fund was now spent in clergy stipends. He would prefer that the larger portion of the stipends should come from a central fund, and that the clergy should not bo so dependent upon their parishes, and the fund would tend in this direction. The paying of stipends from a central fund was the greatest enemy to parochialism, and would make it impossible for any parish to starve its pastor out for plain speaking. Ho would be glad to have a couple of unmarried priests ab his disposal to send to the further portions of the diocese, bub funds would not permit of this. He would sooner have larger parishes with several clergymen in each than these small parishes with poorly paid priests. When he came into the diocese there was only one assistant curate, but now there were five. He urged the necessity of Sunday . School work, which he regarded as one of the most important branches of Church work. The time had come when they could no longer depend upon large subscriptions from a few wealthy persons, and they had to depend upon small amounts gathered from a very large number of .subscribers. There r were clergy her8 r l.who were miserably paid, and there was a largo, amount of work, in hand to do .which could not bo done for;want of ’funds. , ..Ho urged all to do Something towards "the cause 'which was dear to him. ’ / Mr Charlewood thought- this' work should commend itself to the laity. A comparative list of the stipends in the diocese last year showed that the clergy were miserably paid. He looked upon the present parochial system as a very undesirable importation, and pointed out that it was almost impossible for a clergyman to do his duty while he was dependent upon his parishioners for hia salary. He hoped that the Church Mission Fund would in time develop into a clergy susbentation fund. The meeting was closed with the Benediction.