HELPING MISSIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21844, 5 July 1934, Page 8

HELPING MISSIONS

THE WAIKATO QUOTA BISHOP GHERFtINGTON'S VIEW "SHOULD PAY DEBTS FIRST" [from ox:r own correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday "We should he just bofore we arc generous," said Bishop Cherrington at the AVaikato Diocesan Synod yesterday, when the question of tho missionary effort of the diocese was being discussed. The Rev. F. C. Long, secretary of the New Zealand Board of Missions, had addressed svuod and had appealed to members to ilo their utmost to see that their parishes contributed as much as possible to missions. Mr. Long said lie was much distressed to learn that synod had decided to ask for a reduction of the diocese quota for the Melanesian Mission. Last year the diocese had contributed £436. compared with its quota of £IOSS. So far this year £432 had been received. Hope 'of Special Effort Mr. D. Hay, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Long, expressed the hope that the people of the diocese would make a special effort to the missions. The Rev. K. J. McFarland said the Stratford parish desired that its quota should be raised from £56 to £75. The Rev. R. J. Boyt (Frankton) eaid he felt it a disgrace that synod should have passed a resolution asking that the diocese's quota for the Melanesian Mission should be reduced from £IOBS- to £6OO. He wanted Mr. Long to kuow that synod was not unanimous in asking for the reduction* Many felt that the resolution should be rescinded. Bishop Cherrington said that the AVaikato Diocese was a missionary and not a pastoral district as were the other dioceses in New Zealand. Every year it contributed £ISOO or £I6OO to the Home Missions, the Maori Mission, and to foreign missions. The Board of Missions did not understand that the AVaikato Diocese had missionary work to do within its own borders. Justice Before Generosity For years he had maintained that the AVaikato Diocese should not contribute heavily to foreign missions, continued the bishop. The parishes should be just before they were generous, and they should pay their debts before they gave a penny to outside missions. They got the reputation for generosity which they did not deserve. There were parishes in the diocese which were 'Unable to pay the clergy the meagre stipends they had undertaken to pay. Others had to be assisted with grants. The parishes were not to blame 'when tho low priC'3 of butter-fat was considered. It was easy to get an impression of wealth from the motor-cars in the main street of Hamilton, but if one could s<?e inside the farmers' homes a different impression would be gained. AVhen butter-fat reached Is a pound it would be possible to be generous to missions, but it was of no use trying to reach an unattainable fi oal ri b ? hx " ing the Melanesian quota at £IOBS. At any rate, concluded the bishop, it did not matter what synod asked for. The Board of Missions would take no notice of any resolutions it passed. Tho motion thanking Mr. Long was carried with acclamation.