CHURCH AND CENSUS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13422, 8 July 1911, Page 3

CHURCH AND CENSUS.

AN ARCHDEACON’S PROTEST. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July (i. Some fiery words were spoken by mem hers of the Wellington Diocesan Syro i tliis evening, when discussing a wot ion brought forward by the Veil. Archdeacon Harper, Vicar of St. Peter’s, on the subject of certain census returns. The Archdeacon's motion was as follows: — “That this Pynod is of opinion that He clergy should not be instructed to supply to the census authorities information as to the ‘number of people usually atcmji'ig the principal .service’ in their churches, ns serving no useful purpose, and consul-v-i that if information of this character is demanded by the census authorities in the future some other form should be adopt: : 1 , as the present one is useless as a guise to the number of people who 'attend the services of the church.” “What conceivable purpose can this information 'serve.” lie asked, “except i:■ make it possible for those who want 1;> draw invidious comparisons between the work of the different religions to do sc.” He had put this question to the .Government Statistician, aqd also asked wlr.! good the Government thought it was doing by demanding the information. " e reply was that'thc Government wanted fo sec how religious work Wits progressing, but Ins (the Archdeacon’s) opinion was Unit this was the very worst way of estimating the work of any religious body, it was no guide at all. If he were to run a free picture show in Ins church on Sunday evenings ho would guarantee to get a bigger congregation than he usually did. He could not ace why the Government should ask for information that concerned flie internal working of voluntary associations such as the churches were. When the information was demanded in 1903 be refused to supply it, and nO notice was taken, ’out when he repeated his refusal this year he Was told he must till in lb; report :\S required; but all he could da was to give an estimate on the very vaguest lines. It was really no guide at all. He claimed that the Information was. unnecessary and useless, and that if U>. Government said it must be collected ii should be done on same systematic linos. The Dev. .1, G. Hartiott (WadcstowrA seconded the motion. Archdeacon Fanenurt agreed that Hr-' information asked for was absolutely useless as a guide to the number of people attending the services. “The State hallo control over ius as a church,” ho said. "Wo must make a protest. I would like to sec 15 or 20 of our ministers make up their minds and say, Hie won’t fill Hi; pan,or up.’ Then we would see what tin Government would do,” Ho considered the only purpose of the information v.-:> to create an unhealthy rivalry betwethe churches, and to encourage the making of comparisons that conjd not sc-v----any useful purpose. “Let us,” he “go and lay it before the Prime Minis; ■ Let him see that it is a grievance, an unreasonable thing,and from the moral po m of view an illegal thing to ask of ns." (Applause.) The proposal was generally supported various sneakers agreeing that it was folly to ark the ministers to till up sin’ returns. “I a monly sorry,” said the Rev. C. W. llond (Newtown), “that the Synod did !•<>< meet earlier, so that it could hare p-, strueted the clergy not to Jill up tin form.” (Hear, hear.) “That’s a very revolutionary proposal.’ said Mr Henderson (Karori). “Hrl I understand you to say that the clergy shoal have been instructed to defy the law lithe land?” “Yes," said Mr Bond. “Then it’s a von- extraordinary thru to say in a i-ociy like thin.’ v-joined . ili-adcr.-on. “One would thirl; e 1 : ' struck some revel:;tioiun— srci.ty. S>lo ■; as this is mi our Statute Hook it is onduty to o’o-y it, aad it wo disagree !H----if, then let us take legitimate means o' removing if,” (Hear, hear.) Care and constitutional procedure w;.; also advocated by the Rev. .11. G. l’o.-l,n (Palinoivdon North), who urged the Syne.to refrain from doing anything revel;; tionary. The motion was unanimously agreed to with the following addition; “That i; Bishop be requested to interview the Mi . ister in charge of the department, lakh; v, ith him any whom lie may please, am place before the .Minis!cr the opinion e the .Synod: and further, that the l!ish..p of the provinces be requested lo bring t'n matter before their eesnactive Synods.”