RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1681, 22 February 1913, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

♦ ■ THE BISHOP OF CARLISLE'S PASTORAL. ' BITING CRITICISM OF SOME OF HIS CLUKGY. Tlio Bishop of Carlisle, in bis New Yoar pastoral, says of tlio progress of tho dieoQso that ho is able to testily, unreservedly and gratefully, to tho general prevalence of much strong, sober spiritual work, accomplished at times under (Treat difficulties, and with heroic patience. "But thcro are," ho regrets to 6ay, "exceptions:" "Two or thrco ol' .tlio clergy aro approaching the brink of exposure for ijicir liabdts. Others seem, afflicted with incurable indolence. The less they have to do tlio worse; they do it. Others are' dull and listless. They dwell in their parishes, but nothing specially good happens. or stirs from their dwelling there. If ovor they had a senso of vocation it is no longer quick, but dead.. They get through Sunday, .but. Sunday' doe3„,J!Pt shine through them. They- hurry or mumble through' tlio prayers. Tlioy never really preach, .although they statedly week by week ocoupy tlio pulpit. Their ministry j'of'tlio Word and .Sacraments is not a ministry but a mechanism. They do,not visit. sympathetically. They tako little loving interest in their people; and consequently their peoplo take little loving interest, in, them, except to, write to mo when vacanoies occur and say how dearly, tlidy- would' liko to' seo" 'them:; promoted; They'give .scanty lime or thought to their schools, sometimes being absent even , oil tlio occasion of tlio diocesan inspection. Their, churches' aro. shut from: Sunday, to Sunday, nnd on Sundays tliev are empty. .They do not. obscrvo tlio ordered days of tlio, ChriKtian'year, for, yet' there. remain some. instances in;, which .there are; no special services ?Tven oil such grandlnnd glorious festivals as that which .commemorates the Ascension of our Lord.-All-have harvest festivals onWhich to thank God especially for the bread of their bodies) it is sirango, therefore, not, to liavo Aseensioil'festivals'on .v'hich'to bless God, mora especially still for tho saltation-' ana sustenance-of tlmir ■ souls, •' ' ;.' "I am not indulging in the dishonourable pleasure of an ovenvrouglit sketch; I--know with certainly of tho instanccß of which I speak. I. am .thankful they , are very few, very few indeed; but. 1 am grieved there should bo any at all.'" Soinolimcs tlio clergy complain to pie that their people do not attend church, the churchwardens occasionally being conspicuous absentees, and when I mako inquiries the sad answor comes, 'No,-wo-don't'go,'W cause .wo get no good !)}' going,' and;/eel better' at home.' -Not n sufficient but verily ii, significant' answer..Unleis peoplo feel they aro'brought,nearer to (3od by going to church, then will they- in-the end-, most'probably stay away. A. clergj'mait himself , filled with the fullness of Ckd is not likely long,, oven in-a small parish', to have a church practically empty,. When .Christ is lifted, up- Ho draws men unto Him. He draws men also to' those who' lift Him up.',. The Magnetism of the gospel- of tho goodness of God,- believe mc r is. very\strong.- , Godis faithful,: and', we'. need' never';,despair or 1)0 dismayed, far less despair , in- our work, if we ourselves are faithful , too." . Referring to tlio subject of Church councils, tho Bishop nays tho Church will move better as a wholo when both' clergy and laity move together. "There is, alas I no doubt," ho says, "that the deadly virus (jf clerical monorchism still infects and renders impotent a number of tho clersv; but , the number is happily and rapidly diminishing, and m.v hope is that the institution of Clmrili i councils will soon diminish it further still. - Church councils tend to create and foster among tlio laitv a. much-needed consciousness of Churcli membership!" - "No form of • Church oouncil," ho proceeds, "will ever prosper which does not welcome to its board all sorts and conditions, of Church members, without - distinction of income, rank, or class. Tlio only person who should 1» barred from a Church council is tlio crank, particularly tho ecclesiastical and .political crank."- -~ ( •