FOR HOLY ORDERS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11657, 23 October 1923, Page 6

FOR HOLY ORDERS

NEED OF THE CHURCH

“NEW ZEALAND -MUST LOOK TO HER OWN SONS.”

A DISAPPOINTED BISHOP. (Special to “New Zealand Times.”) AUCKLAND, October 22. An interesting discussion took place at the Anglican Synod, in the presence of a large number of visitors. The Bishop, Dr. Averill, presided. As the business on tho order paper for the day was cleared at the afternoon session, Archdeacon Mac Murray was asked to bring forward a series of resolutions following upon the report of the commission upon the shortage of candidates for Holy Orders. POSITION GRAVE. Archdeacon Mao Murray referred t< the great scarcity of mutable candidates for Holy Orders. He &aid the position was Teall.y grave. The living agents who carried the Gospel v were the cardinal need of the church. If these agents were not coming forward the position was serious. He did not think one young New Zealander was ordained during the past year. To a great extent the Church had in tlie past been supplied with ministers from the old land. What was wanted was a ministry of men bom in New Zealand. In Eng land alone there was a shortage of 2541 men for the ministry since tlie war. Thus the Church in New Zealand must look to her own sons for the clergy of the future. Archdeacon Mac Murray said the inadequate remuneration of the olergy caused some parents to consider the Church was not an attractive career for their &on 6. Young men must realise that the call to the ministry involved sacrifice. They did not want large emoluments for ministers, but it was the bounden duty of the Church to provide adequate stipends for the olergy. FINANCIAL ANXIETY. Archdeacon Mac Murray then moved a lengthy resolution to tlie effect “that it is the bounden duty of the Church to provide such maintenance of her clergy a 6 shall release them from the burdens of financial anxiety; that the attention of the laity should be drawn to the importance of remembering in their wills: the central and also the pension fund.”

The Archdeacon spoke on the great need for a spiritual revival to overcome the indifferentis-m of the present age. He added that while he did not see eye to eye with Mr Hickson, and had no part in the mission of healing, still he was profoundly impressed by the Bpirit of intercession that had prevailed. “I did not look for miracles,” said the speaker, “but I am sure many people gained spiritual benefit from these meetings.” In conclusion, Archdeacon Mac Murray said it .was of the utmost importance to secure a supply of suitable clergy. He was sure tlie young clergy could be got if they directed their energies to secure them. THE PERSONAL ELEMENT. Rev. W. Monckton, in seconding the motion, said the fact that there was no adequate superannuation fund for a clergyman no doubt, perhaps, prevented parents from turning the attention their sons to the ministry. He thought, however, there was something beyond things material to be considered in this matter. They did not sufficiently recognise there was a diversity of gifts. They did not recognise enough the difference* between life in New Zealand and England. They tried to mould education upon the English lines, and he was not sure it had proved a success. He was convinced they wanted more New Zealanders in the ministry of their Clhuroh. It was the personal element that counted in New Zealand. People did not care much for dogma or ceremonial in New Zealand. If they liked the minister they would accept his dogmas, also his ceremonials. If people did! not like the man they would not care for anything he taught. Some men had intellectual gifts that fitted them for the city, but would be useless in the country districts. Others had the personal toudh that fitted them for any position in i<ho Church. In his opinion it did not matter much whether a candidate for the ministry had passed the Latin examination, but it did matter whether he had studied his Bible.

Canon Percival James said if they trained their people in a desire to serve their Church they would get men for the ministry, but they must not increase the number of the clergy by lowering the standard. (Applause.) They should be careful not to fall into the idea (which he feared would develop by the Hickson mission) that people should come to Christ for what they could get. They should come to Christ to do His service.

Mr 0. Hudson said they did not want, to lower the standard of the ministry, but what was wanted in these days was more exposition of the Kiblo, which now seemed to be a lost art. Mr Norman Burton said they should carry on with too few men rather than ordain unsuitable men for the ministry. THE BISHOP DISAPPOINTED.

Bishop Averill said lie wa« rather disappointed with tho debate that had taken place that evening. It had not kept up to the high standard in which Archdeacon Mac Murray introduced the subject- “1 am disappointed with the debates,” said the Bishop. “I had toped for something on a higher level. Perhaps I had better say no more about that.” Dr. Averill added that ho never liked distinction being drawn between clergy from Home and clergy New Zealand born. He did not in the least agree with tho idea that men from England could not get on in the baokblocks. They sometimes got oi. better than men horn here. There had been references to the Hickson mission that evening. H© knew it had been a great joy to a number of l«eople. It wa9 not often ho made a. personal application to the Synod, but ne would ask members to kindly say nothing about it in ordinary debates.

Archdeacon Mac Murray said ho had learned there was one New Zealandborn candidate who had been admitted this year to serve as a. deacon. To th.i honour of his race he was one of their Maori brothers (ApplauseA The motion was then put and carried unanimously.