THE DEARTH OF CLERGY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14213, 14 May 1908, Page 2

THE DEARTH OF CLERGY.

THE REV. C. \V. OARRINGTON'Si VIEWS. WANT OF ENCOURAGEMENT. In the oourse of a rcccnt interview the Primate (Bishop Novill) suited 4hat young 1 moil were not taming forward in any' numbers to take positions as clergymen. 110 gave his views on the subject, stating that in all probability people were too prone nowadays to look upon wealth as tho source of all satisfaction. A Christohureh reporter who interviewed the Rev. C. W. Carrington gleaned some information of an interesting character. Mr Carrington is the principal of the Upper Department, of Christ's College, and is in charge of the theological students at College House. In discussing the question he spoke hopefully of tho work that was being done, and seemed thoroughly confident of the future. "The dearth," said Mr Carrington, "is partly in consequence of social changes in the last half century." In former days, he explained, the service of the Church was considered a creditable and not unlucrative calling for young men of the uppfer classes. Good livings and good seoiety were obtainable; but in England the value of the livings had becomo 60 Teduoed that that motivo had disappeared, and parents preferred to put their sons into business, which was now considered thoroughly respectable. Nobody would seek holy orders nowadays unless in real earnest, and that was', on the wholo, a very good thing. At the present time, Mr Carrington continued, tho number of earnest young men who did desire noly orders was becoming more and more encouraging, but the great -difficulty was one of finance. Tho public rightly looked for a highly-educated clergy, but they would not pay for its education, or support it properly when educated. Parents would not pay for a university education far a boy, and maintain him to tho age of 23, tho lowest ago for ordination, with the prospect of a starvation career at the hands of parishioners, when they might put him into a lucrative business when ho reached 18. And it needed a good deal of devotion in a lad to tackle a job with so little prospect to cncourago him. In an average vicarage tho parson was expccted to keep up his social standing, keep a horse or horses, and probably groom t'liem himself—keep his clerical work going and keep his temper on a fixed income, whioh he could not possibly increase, of, say, £200 a year. The people preferred him to lxi married. Thoy could starve him out if they- did not like "him. Their profits or wages rose in prosperous times. His income was stationary when perhaps the cost of living had increased. The parson did not wish to bo rich, but lie did want to lie free from anxiety if his work was to be demo properly. Mr Carrington added that if. the laity would make it clear not only that they wanted a well-educated and efficient clergy, but that they were prepared to assist in their education and maintain them in a ■ secure and honourable position aftew&rds, theie would be htlle difficulty in obtaining j men oHhe right stamp. "For there is no wo tlf'lm If ." in Wllich a ,nan ' n'r ieHm. r °f!' g , am , greater influence, : or letter realise the highest ideal."