THE PARSONS' CADGE.

NZ Truth, Issue 103, 8 June 1907, Page 4

THE PARSONS' CADGE.

— o The branch of holy deception of which J. J. North is an expert'advertiser m Wellington, is frank and unashamed m its cadging;. H. H. Driver, chairman of the Baptist Conference at Oanuru, pleaded thus for an incrwaaittK plewt/i fulness of the nimble thrummei- :— "There are, we venture to tfoinK, vn^xpectoA resources of liberality airionfcst our people. This statement may be received with a shrug of 'incredulity, lor ftcceriiag to tligic uuuton »»d

their means our people have already given remarkably well. Appeals for financial assistance are by no means unfrequ'ent among, them, and are •never made m vain'; and our foreign work has been liberally supported, and our aggressive work at home has commanded Widespread sympathy, but is there not further room for teaching on tlie question of giving to God ? Many church members fail to see that systematic, proportionate, and conscientious giving is a jqones'tion of grace to foe cultivated and exercised. They would be dismayed if they were to compare what they p;Lve to 1 God and what they spend on personal adornment, and m .personal indulgence." Now, dear, brethren, we 'will take up a collection. There must be an entire absence of the sense of humour amongst the Baptist pastorate when this form of mwdicaincy is publicly encouraged. The unparalleled presumption of the Driver' parson who acknowledges that he has wirunK the lajst' traiy-bit from an unwilling congregation, yet howls for more, is reminiscent of S'hyloclc and. his pound of flesh. The really mischievous part of th' 3 cadging lies m the fact that the cadgers are not satisfied the ccntributions which, I keep them m easy opulence to abuse [other and better sections 'of the community, but they must needs send ] hard-earnetfi cash out of the country to assist some Mspjoir-ta-mins , mission fad, which is usually the pioneer . buffer of the bopdlef, who, under cover of relia;ion, deprives, the simple aboriginals of their possesr sions. There is surely suffloient scope, for mission work at home, but apparently these operations are of the "aggressive" kind, such as were employed by J. J. North m his hatred of "Truth." Behold aliso, the bamboozled simpletons do not give to the parsons— they give to the deity. In the hereafter, probably, <bhe Supreme Being* Ayill demand' a Ml- i anoe-shjeet, and will compel.:>i>]|^|ilaspliemers to work out the m stoking operations. ,In the' worifis' of the poet :— We know you've given freely of your . best, But your wife comes m sadly overdrest • ' So for our work aggressive Give us something' not excessive ; Help our pastors North, South, East and West. Not forgetting holy buster Driver, : Who as Baptist takes the name of "Diver." v . ' Sadden not before the rod, You aire giving- 'it to God; Ante* up another bloomin' fiver ! Also, don't forget the naked, nigpier ; . Give him aprons, ties, but nothing bigger ;: VV ' For the climate's Very hot, the wife of ancient I<ot, And a blouse would spoil the lady's figger. . ■'.'/■■'.•■■