Church Society.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume I, Issue 1, 1 July 1910, Page 9

Church Society.

First of all, might we not have a more expressive name? "Church Society " is certainly vague, and might be said to cover every pos* sible Society within the limits of the Church ; there is nothing m the name to indicate what is the particular nature or function of the fund so designated. Why should it not be called "The Diocesan Home Mission Fund?" There cannot be any question as to what is intended by a Diocesan Home Mission Fund. So much for its name. The importance of such a fund cannot be overestimated, for it supplies the " sinews of war " for the progressive work of the Diocese. The Diocese cannot possibly do its work without the assistance of its Home Mission Fund. In a Diocese like our own, where the country m many parts is being developed and settled, and where new districts are being opened up, it is absolutely necessary for the Church generally to help m the erection of buildings for public worship and m providing a stipend for the clergyman. The motto of such a society or fund is : "Bear ye one anothers' Furdens;" if there, is one burden which Church people m settled districts ought to bear, it is surely that of helping to provide for the ministrations of religion m the newly-settled districts m the country. It is not the purpose of this fund to perpetually endow a district, but to assist it financially until such time as it can stand alone ; it should be regarded as a point of honour with every district so helped to do without this Diocesan assistance as soon as possible. The purpose of the fund is Church Extension, and there are several places m the Diocese where a grant, at the present time, from this source would very materially assist the progress of Church work. The usefulness of this fund would be considerably increased if it could be put on rather a different basis, and if there could be associated with it a "Loans Without Interest " Fund ! In other Dioceses and m other religious bodies such funds exist, and are of the greatest possible benefit. If we had a capital sum of say £3000, or even less, we should be able to make loans without interest to parishes for the building of Churches, schoolrooms, or vicarages, aud arrange for the repayment of the same m regular instalments spread over

such a term of years as the Standing Committee should decide. At the present time, a new district has probably to wait for years before it can raise sufficient funds to think even of putting up a building, and then may be, some, at any rate, of our Church people have settled down m other folds, and are lost to us. By giving such assistance towards the erection of a Church, we are also putting the people m a more favourable position for raising the necessary funds. It would be a great blessing to many a struggling district m this Diocese, if such a fund existed. But to come back to our present "Church Society." Are we supporting that as liberally and systematically as we ought ? It is quite inadequate at present for the requirements of the Diocese and needs much more real support. At the present time, the offertory on one Sunday m the year is given to the fund, and that is probably all that we can expect from this source. There are also m a few parishes, collectors for the fund and a few subscribers. Might it not be possible m some parishes to make this work part of the parochial organisation and to get a much larger number of annual subscriptions ? The Eev. Canon Eccles is acting as Organising Secretary for the Diocese, and is at present engaged m seeking to stir up interest m our Home Mission Work. It was very gratifying to receive the other day from a Maori district m the Bay of Plenty a cheque for the fund for nearly £5, the offerings of the Maoris at services held during my recent visit. The Standing Committee made a grant of £25 per annum towards the stipend of a Lay Missioner to workamongst the men engaged on the construction of the railway line between Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty; when the railway between Tauranga and Te Puke is started, it may be necessary to make another similar call upon the fund. I fully realise our duty to evangelise the heathen, but I fully realise also that we have no right to neglect the spiritual needs of our own fellow countrymen who are crying out m so many ways " Come over and help us." There is a very great need for real missionaries m our own country if ever it is to be worthy of the name of " God's Own Country." A. W. WAIAPU.