CLERGYMEN'S STIPENDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2902, 27 October 1909, Page 32

CLERGYMEN'S STIPENDS.

APPEAL TO PEOPLE SUGGESTED. THE PRIMATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. " I would &ay, on this topic, that while ; it is not very likely that many would seek . to ©nter the clerical profession as a means of livelihood, yet it is a profession and I have recson to fear that there are some who possess many qualifications for the clerical office who shrink from pursuing it because it would mean to them a great | renunciation." 1 It was thus that the Primate (Bishop Nevill) concluded his remarks when, during his address to the Anglican Synod on the 25th, he referred to the subject of the stipends paid to tha clergymen of his church. It 13 known thct in certain parishes removed from the chief centres of population, Anglican clergymen are much underpaid, and the question of how to rsmedy matters has formed the subject of frequent debates at various Synods in New Zealand. "The Synod" last year,""said the' Bishop, " remitted this very important subject to the consideration of tho Standing Committee in the hops that it might be able to Tormulate some practicable scheme for improving jlhe position of the clergy in the poorer districts. A cub-committee of the Standing Committae. was apponted for this pujpose, which gave much earnest thought to the question, as did also the Standing Commitoeo itself. In the end, however, it was considered '..hat as we have no source from which an increase of stipends can be obtained, other then tha voluntary contributions of our people, perhaps little more could bo done than for the Synod to make a very strong appeal to our people to subscribe much more generally and liberally to t'na General Church " Fund, which is e-ssntially a clergy maintenance fund since four-fifths of its resources are applied to that end. " What I have said will appear in the report of the Standing Committee, but I have thought it well to include these 'remarks in my address, because it is probable that my words may raach many who would not see that report, and also because I wish to add that there may be some districts in which a more systelnatio canvas.s of tin residents woul<? increase the stipend without drawing more largely upon the General Church Fund. " There aro some cphc:*e< of work which must, from the nature of the case, remain for some time more missionary districts than ssttled cures. We ought to be in a. position to treat ihese as special cases and lo make, for a- limited time, much larger grants than . the ordinary ones in their support.". ,'

The Clea-r Spring, Gun Club, "of No'rtTirnipton County, P?., has grounds to the extent of 16 acre's, togalher with an 1 hotel, vhic-h is own-:d by the 187 members, an<J (sav-s the Amo'-ican Field) two ministers Ci ,tho Gospel have been admitted to the Giv°p-vill.e (0.) Gun Club, which is pretty, jooij evidence that the clubs of. the country, rrn!" w oil hi tho "©sfimation -of the com-l-unity. The Columbus Gun. Club shoots e\riy day in the year, except Sundays.