THE EPISCOPALIAN CHURCH IN PATEA.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1060, 16 July 1883, Page 2

THE EPISCOPALIAN CHURCH IN PATEA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Much has been written and ably written about the state of the socalled Church of New Zealand in Patea, with a view to its improvement, but generally with barren results. In my opinion the root of the evil has been but slightly touched. I have been all but a member of the congregation, and have contributed to its support, and am, moreover, closely connected, one of my parents having belonged to that church. Now, has not any Protestant a reasonable excuse for commenting on this subject when we behold the spectacle of this church without a pastor. It is notorious that the congregation were frustrated in their efforts to import new blood by changing their minister some two years back, and that a derangement of the finances was the result. I believe that a request was made to the supreme clergy at Wellington for the privilege of appointing a pastor , with the consent of the Bishop, but was refused. From Wanganui to Hawera there is no minister of the Episcopalian Church, while a ll other denominations are well represented and in a tolerably flourishing Condition. Now how does it happen that the Episcopalian Church, whose members form the wealthiest and most numerous body in the district is in such a languishing condition ? As a fellowProte&tant I say without bigotry that I feel ashamed when I see the beautiful Roman' Catholic Chapel raised alongside Jthat ricketty old building. The question now arises : Who is to blame for all this ? I fear that the evil is deep rooted and will not be easily eradicated, and that it will require all the manly courage of this insulted congregation to bring about a reform. It is very easy to talk of clerical despotism in a complacent Protestant manner about a certain church ; but I ask : Is it not in the power of any unscrupulous prelate in a church situated as this is to inflict again and again some creature upon them, mayhap as a reward for performing God knows what offices? I am afraid, however, that the whole fabric in the colony is unsuited to its wants. The granting of a free constitution to New Zealand was a success, but the attempt to establish a New Zealand Church has resulted in a complete failure, in spite of many favours and endowments. Is it too much to ask at tho time of downfall of our Upper House, in many respects a useful and respectable body for a reform in the Episcopal Church ? I say again that it will be by a mere chance if we get a clergyman who will suit, and. that it is not unlikely that the parish will again have to resort to the disgraceful expedient of buttoning their pockets, the only resource left to a free Briton under the circumstances. I mention these things because I know that the evil lies deeper, and that the Episcopal Church as at present consti tuted is nnsuited to the requirements of this colony. The prelates seem to do just as they please, and I believe scruple not to say so : fine language indeed to a laity to whom they are indebted for their alms. In fact the institution is a miserable parody on the grand old. English Church ! We see a body of ecclesiastics who. profess to do in most matters appertaining to Chnrch affairs as they please, and we also see a laity indisposed to pay them. Witness

the abrogation of the title of “ my lord,” certainly and illegal an arrogant assumption, for the Governor of the colony dare not assume it. If we have no live temporal peers among ns, we certainly are happy blest in a few spiritual ones. My ideas are that there should be a complete reform, otherwise it will perish from inanition. The Episcopalian Church in N.Z. should be formed on the model of the disestablished Irish Church, whose laity have a voice in the election of their minister. lam aware that the prelates, with the instincts of their order, dissented from this : but a portion of the laity threatened to join other denominations as Wesleyaus and Presbyters. The Irish prelates were, however, a dignified, learned, and I will add, a gallant body, and they gave way gracefully. I do not mean to infer that the reform should emanate from Patea; but it would not,'l think, be going out of their latitude if a strong remonstrance was framed • and submitted to the Synod setting forth the manner in which they have been treated, together with a delicate hint to tnat body that there is something rotten in the State of Denmark, Such a remonstrance going to the public would perhaps fire the first shot for freedom in the Church af N.Z. We should then see the Church of N.Z. standing on the same respectable footing with the other religious bodies, viz., the support and respect of the body of the laity who at present know that they are required to pay, and it would seem that it is all that they are required to know of clerical matters. Who will deny that there is apathy? The new-comer, fresh from England, enquires for his Church, but he soon finds he is not in England : so he catches the contagion and troubles himself no more. Are the days of priestcraft drawing to a close ? Are your readers aware that certain priests—some of whom are yet living and in leading positions—tried to take possession of the colony. They represented to the English Government that the country was taken possession of for the protection and preservation of the Natives, and for a time succeeded in influencing the Home Government, until the news of a bloody repulse of the troops opened their eyes. -As to the purpose that this party had in view, the liberal-minded may ponder. They have been for many years waiting on Providence, They are not in unison wtih the laity. It is time that that body should take the initiative, if a preservation of an image of their old Church be to them a matter of concern, or if they don’t wish to remain the victims of clerical despotism. Our aspirations in New Zealand are republican, and the change pending in the Upper House proves it, and it must be now evident that the hopes of setting up an establishment with endowments by Government are in vain. It would seem that the high priest clings with a desperate tenacity to what he imagines to be the privilege of his order, and that perish the whole fabric, rather than fall in with the views of the laity, seems to be his motto.—Yours, &c,, Hunter Shaw. Whenuakura.