WORK OF THE CLERGY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22422, 17 November 1934, Page 16

WORK OF THE CLERGY

PHYSICIANS OF THE SOUL DEAN INGE’S ADDRESS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, October 5. ' One of the last addresses delivered by Dean Inge before his retirement’from the position of Dean of St. Paul’s was at a ‘meeting of the Glergy Fellowship. He spoke on “ The Work of the Clergy in the New Age.’” . Too much of a clergyman s tune, he said, was now occupied by filling in forms, Facts and figures, , no doubt, were indispensable things; in the exact sciences and the management of business they were everything. But in proportion as the object of the work of the clergy became more spiritual the quantitative estimate of its results became less important and the qualitative became more important. In art, literature, and social life the significance of the imponderable as against the ponderable became overwhelming. As clergy their business was with the imponderables, and ttmm only. If that were, admitted it would oblige them to confess that much of what passed for professional success was irrelevant. A church could be filled by providing what were called bright services, by topical sermons, by politics in the pulpit, and by discreet advertising.— (Laughter.) But what mattered was whether tile congregation was brought nearer to God. Religion was caught, not taught. In that sphere the clergy could give nothing which they had not got themselves. He would have no one withdraw himself from human interests, but the most important thing was the care of their inner life. NO CROWD AT THE NARROW GATE. He supposed that he would nojt be wrong in thinking that there was a great deal of discouragement among the clergy, a sort of depressing feeling that churchgoing was not what it used to be. There was a kind of impression going about that Christianity had failed; Their churches were suffering very much from what he had called democratism; from the superstition that the clergy had_ failed unless they could get the majority of people, or a very large number of people, to'go to hear them. He doubted whether many of the clergy had quite realised how very strong were the warnings all through the New Testament against expecting anything like popularity or outward success. There was not a word in the New Testament to lead them to think that there was ever likely to be an inconvenient crowd gathered at the narrow gate.— (Laughter.) It was a great pity that they still went on thinking that unless they could attract the masses they had failed. Christ never talked about the masses, and never won them. They would never have crowds on their side. NO STANDARDISED ORTHODOXY. If they realised that, a great deal of their discouragement would disappear. The Gospel was a message of spiritual redemption, not primarily of social reform. . . Because of the unfortunate conviction of the early Christians that the world had only a short time to go on and that the Church was only a brief stopgap before the kingdom of God came, the Church had always been backward, he would not say in matter of political reform, for there were justifiable differences of opinion, but in encouraging movements which aimed at improving the environment and nature of the human race. He was thinking on the one side of wellconsidered social reforms, and on the other of those movements connected with eugenics. . . , ... Those who were inclined to base their teaching and faith entirely on tradition had to realise that new duties h:id been revealed in modern times by the progress of natural science and other branches of learning. By all means let those who thought that they had flDy* thing valuable to say say it. but they should not rush into rhetorical language, perhaps bringing accusations against whole classes, and exciting animosity. The clergy should ndt propound schemes ol sloppy Socialism and call them Christian politics and economics. . . , . What thev all needed was some kind ot bridge to take them from the seen to the unseen, through the world of facts to the world of values, from the natural to the spiritual. They really could not have a standardised orthodoxy to suit the learned professor and his kitchenmaid. A great deal of the trouble of the Church was caused by trying to have a standardised orthodoxy to suit everybody.

They ought to realise that they could not give quite the same lessons to everybody.

PHYSICIAN OP, THE SOUL. As to what ought to be the most important part of the clergyman’s work in the new age, he would sav his work as a physician of the soul. Had not the best work they had ever done been with individuals and not in church? The Church had neglected that important part of a clergyman’s duty. They ought to encourage more and more of their* people to come to them when they were in difficulty about their soul. - There was no subject more interesting than human nature. The clergy ought to know a good deal about certain branches of mental science, and in many parishes they might learn a 'good deal by talking frankly to ithe parish doctor, who saw the same troubles from a different angle. Most of the people who, came to him (Dr Inge) were in trouble about sex. .It was a subject which effirgy ought to study carefully. He had often found that clergy were curiously ignorant on the matter, and had heard" of bad advice being given. The clergy must not suppose that they would be able to command influence or respect unless they deserved it. They must have some real knowledge and power to help which other people had not got. . UNITY OF SPIRIT.

The Church of England ought to aim at being the Church of the English people, representing them on their best side, developing those good qualities which belonged to the nation. , , , „He was in favour of national churches. They need not think too much about the more external unity, but let there be unity of spirit. They should not care very much about being all united under one Government; it was far more important that they should all be of one spirit and one mind. He hoped that in the future they would be able to work more cordially with their separated brethren in this country, who surely were nearer to them than some Christians on the Continent. Without compromising in regard to what «they believed to be their prerogative, they might cultivate sympathy, helpfulness, and cooperation with those bodies, which, after all, were working with them against the evil agencies which were directed against every kind' of religious belief.