DR. BORGHETTI AND THE CLERGY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 16 October 1911, Page 3

DR. BORGHETTI AND THE CLERGY.

Sir,—lt is surprising that a man like Dr. Borghetti should commit himself to tho opinions expressed in his letler, which appeared in Tin-; Dominion" of October It, regarding the alleged waning influence ot tho Christian Church. JIo declares that "Christianity is dying in Anglo-Saxondom because the parson has become insensible to tho hardships of a suffering humanity." As illustrations of what he means, he states that no parson was present at a recent meeting at Brooklyn to take steps to help a bereft family, and that no clergyman took the lead in raising funds to assist a family at Hataitai, Tendered destitute by a fire. Tho use of these two illustrations shows, in the first place, that Dr. Borghetti has fallen into tho mischievous fallacy of believing that the clergy are tho Church, whereas the Church consists of clergy and laitv, the latter forming the vast majority. The Church was represented at the Brooklyn meeting by every Christian man or woman who was present in obedicnce to an unselfish desiro to help an unfortunate i'el-low-crcature, and the Church was also acting in -tho person of each one of its members who rendered assistance to tho family at Hataitai. These matters should, as a matter of fact, be left as far as possible to laymen, and in cases such as those quoted by Dr. Borghetti, whero public sympathy has been aroused, t'nero is all the less reason for the clergy (o interfere. But there are in a city like Wellington hundreds cf other cases "f acute distre" which the general public never lyiw.f. .im! 11 rrj-a' •:<•« Hio timr >{ lii.-.v f.M.p,. .r i!,fin.'l.milv. "l.nr with."•lvir.illf.ii or IM .- ~ui>!i,. aiiwi li-'ns'iii ..r .• -si fhini;'-. An-I «r >■••••" 'hi, j,jt.. Mork .'■! ..'lu.nty winch 1 1, • i::y l! !• i< i i.'.■ 11 !'il»"illh'. f ). i i lint r.v I'.r si:,- trl.-a*- r |nrr M l.ity ... ;• n;! V".'iy I- U-inj? !„• tli" i l l'■ ■. I,ui; it the P ; |, H.| w i.' !«• 'hu'i !i \rniy and Ji[.|. \:iir;iii i li.i"it:il'll' institutions; look at the great ('harital)lo foundations connected with _ tho Ko'man Catholic Church. which compel (lie admiration of the world; lcok at the magnilio-'iit. efforts of (ho Salvation Army: anil the Presbyterians and other religious bodies havo their own chaxitable institutions, and also do much to support those carriwl on by others. It must also be borne, in mind that tho C'bristiaa uksu smil women ulio sujjDoit

all llieso institutions nro also among tho first to come forward as citizens to meet tho special calls lor help, such as those mentioned by Dr. Jjorghetti. It mav be true, as Dr. J>nrL'hetti «ivs, that tho paeons are not the leading lights of the Eugenics Society, but as I have not. yet myself joined alt tho three pages or so of excellent societies mentioned in tho directory, 1 am not in a position to throw stones at them on that; account, .is a layman, liowever, I strongly obje;t to being presided oyer by a parson wherever I go, and to imply that the laity should have no initiative in good works, and that: anything done on their own account is unchristian, is a most pernicious form of "Clericalism." Dr. Borghetti also blames the clergy for not making 'public protest when the prices of bread and butter go up. Surely this' is a matter for the commercial experts, anl for those who havo made a 'ifelong study of economic questions. Tho clergy cannot be experts in everything, and we hear more than enough foolishness 'spjken by well-meaning people six days in the week on these matters without having the same sort :;t' thing repeated from tho pulpits oil Sundays. Moreovo", as Bishop Hprott stated recently, minister; of religion are yielding to "Clericalism" when they imagine that, just because they are ministers, end apart from any qualificatio.is of serious study and competent knowledge, they are entitled magisterially to decide what is tho right. <1 nd what the wrong solution of complicated social and political problems. There nre some people who ,-eeni to think that a clergyman should mind everybody's business but their own. After all, "Man does not live by broad alone," and the special work of the clergy is to take the lead in developing the spiritual faculties and religious life of the community. This is indeed a high calling, and is well worthy of nil Uie time and thought that can he given to it. Personally I do not think the influence of Christianity is waning, but if it is, it certainly is not because the clergy are insensible to the hardships of suffering liumanitv.—l am, etc., LAYMAN.