LIFE VOWS TAKEN

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1931, Page 14

LIFE VOWS TAKEN

j A CLERGYMAN’S TRAGEDY. PLEDGE OF POVERTY. Sydney, Sept. 4. The sequel has just been revealed of one of the most pathetic tragedies re’ corded in the history of New South Wales. In the early hours of the morning of October 12, 1928, the Rev. J. Benson, then rector of Bodalla, on ths south coast, was driving home in his car with his wife and children as passengers. They had been on a joyous camping holiday. Mr. and Mrs. Benson were seated in the front, and their three children were asleep on the rear seat. Approaching the northern bank of the Clyde River, at Bateman’s Bay, ata point where it was necessary to take a punt for the crossing, Mr. Benson mistook a red light' at the side of the road for a light similar to many he had passed. That light was actually a warning of approach to the punt. The punt happened to be on the other side of the river, and the result was that the car plunged into the deep stream. Mr. Beuson was the only survivor. Naturally Mr. Benson was brokenhearted, and to all but his intimate friends his whereabouts became a mystery. The tragedy was recalled only the other day when a Sydney suburban council received a letter from Mr. Benson in reference to a block of land owned by him, and on which rates were overdue. He asked that the land should bo 'sold by the council and the amount owing taken from the proceeds. If there was any surplus it could be devoted to any cause which the council thought fit. “Please refrain from any other communication in the matter,” ran the letter. “I am a monk pledged, and vowed to a life of poverty. I have no money, nor ever shall.” It transpires that when Mr. Benson renounced all his worldly treasures he entered the Community of the Ascension, an Anglican monastery at Goulburn, in New South Wales. Members of this community, consisting of priests and laymen, devote themselves to intercession, study, and manual labour such as is associated with the needs of the institution. According to the Bishop of Goulburn they are really a ‘‘powerhouse of devotion and intercession for the benefit of the whole Church. They have been of untold benefit to us all. The council has agreed to dispose of the land in accordance with the instructions it received, and will not communicate further with Mr. Benson.