THE ANGLICAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15132, 24 October 1912, Page 4

THE ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Sir, — Onlooker " has made severe, almost bitter, remarks about the Anglican Synod and clergy. But even if what be says be true, is it helpful? He must not forget that the truth that builds up is better than tho truth that breaks down, the truth that heals than the truth that hurts. The surgeon who merely probes a wound,' ana. goes away without .caro or cure, leaves t|ie sore worse than it was." ' :

There is another side— 1. The clergy are blamed for taking *Wraselves and their Order : too seriously. Thay assume; this attitude, not so much through any exalted views of their : own as from the influence of history and the : peculiarity of their position. Their lives at the present time are for many reasons rather apart, and people who live much alone are, according to their temperament, apt to lose heart, or to magnify their importance' and power. Any assumption on their part has more excuse and less arrogance than the: dicta of many students of natural science.; Perhaps Darwin sometimes wished to be saved from Darwinians. •-,-*-:-■' ;; 2- "Their -work sits but lightly on them." Why? ;Do the laity-take sufficient interest in spiritual things to encourage the, clergy in sustained.,'' earnestness? It ■ requires very very strong men to work without sympathy. ■3. .-•; The ; methods iof ; teaching theological students are^ so inefficient that they woulc be amusing were they i not so saddening." &re the laymen blamelss in this? St. jTolm's Cbllege is the greatest scholastic institution sf the Church, and yet but few laymen take any lintorest in it.i If its condition is nol satisfactory, it "rests with the laymen Its nake its shorfcotnings. knoTira, and; see 'thai bey rectified. [■■■■■:;.

4. "We are pressed on many sides by difficult problems." ■ Why should the - clergy be Jeft atone to solve them? The majority of the clergy have their time fully occupied, in attending to scattered country parishes; Even if they had time for,regular study, they have not the means of possessing, or consulting, large libraries. Many "prominent,| laymen .have access to libraries, and :■ have I time: for travel and observation. "Why should they not try to raise the tone of the; Syflod? • Have they nothing to : savaaboutt t secularism, about different forms'of Chris- ']< tianity, about spiritual influence and life "in the countries they have visited? Were they to-do something of.this kind the clergy who have opportunities : for ■ study : -would ;be stimulated to give the Synod the benefit of their labours. '% Perhaps the -work ]of another profession will illustrate this ' point. ';■ __ Some | years .ago doctors were; jhostlv occupied :in treating individual diseases, till '■'; the nation became alive to the need of preventing disease. Tf the nation had not encouraged the profession, would public health problems have the attention they command to-day? ,•■.•'- BISTANPEB. :i