PASTORAL LETTERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11044, 23 February 1898, Page 4

PASTORAL LETTERS.

■ ■■■'■' ■ •" ■■'-■'.; ''•' >f ' At the conclusion of the final session of the Anglican General Synod at Christofeurch the Primate read a pastoral letter, prepared by the bench of bishops. In this the bishopa, solemnly declaring that it isthe duty of every Christian to set forward to the \utmost of his power the education,of the.young in the fear'and love of God, and pointing, out that religious teaching is expressly excluded from the publics school courie, •,," commend to the faithful members of the church the following proposals, in the hope that there may be found in them some plan of action on which ; the Christian people of this country can unite, and that if apprpred they may be submitted .for the acceptance of the Legislature : — (1) That Government schools shall be opened every day with the Lord's Prayer.; . (2) thai; lesions shall be given by, the school teachers on pee of ; the first threa Gospeli, taken- consecutively for two half-hours during achoo! hours in each | week; (3) that in. any schboJ. iss which..the teacher or teachers are unwilling to give iuch instruction, or where, it is desired-by tea parents of the ■ children 'bejnf educated "therein that such instruction shall be given by the minister or accredited member of ' any recognised religious denomination, it shall be .lawful, for' such minister or persons to giVe sued religious instruction, subject only to such regulations as may be laid down-, by the school committee." The' bishops trust that these proposals _will command the hearty support, nob oHly of the members 'of their church, but also of all Christian people throughout tbe colony. Bishop Verdon,, in his Lentea pastoral to the clergy and laity of ths diocese of Duoedin, exhorts themfco the practice of penance and mortification, to which they should join prayer and alms deeds. With prayer" they should also unite the practice of good, useful reading. • Bad litera-ture-was one of the greatest; evils of our own times. The bad and immoral books: that were bow scattered, broadcast over'th& land were dangerous to all, but especially to the young. If parents were mindful of their responsibilities they would banish all such wretched literature from their houses.. But at the same time they must provide good, useful books for their children. It was his earnest desire to make such arrangements as would enable them to supply themselves with good, useful, ;arid interesting books at the lowest possible cost. In this connection the, work performed by the weekly journal of the denomination is commended by the bishop, who nest exhorts the brethren to abound in works of piety and charity. He asks them to bestow their Lenten alms principally .upon the orphanage at South Dunedio. ■ The main buildiDg of the orphanage had been erected at a cost of £1583, and a laundry and other necessary adjuncts would bring the total cost to about £2000. As the orphanage would not merely supply a local want, but was destined to afford relief to destitute children from every part of the diocese, it might be reasonably expected that all the Catholics of the diocese would contribute towards it. During the past years they were unwilling to allow buildings erected for religious purposes to remain encumbered by heavy debt;. Let them now unite in endeavouring to clear off the debt incurred in the erection of the orphanage, so that the devoted Sisters of Mercy, who had undertaken the charge of it, might commence- their arduous work unhampered by any previous obligation.