HEAT AND ORTHODOXY

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1667, 6 February 1906, Page 3

HEAT AND ORTHODOXY

Tlio reoent heat wave in Australia led to a mild sensation of a somewhat amusing charaotor, in the Malloe district. A clergyman, faced with the ordeal of conducting a service in 115 dogrees in the shade, took tho bold courso of wearing what ho considered rational dress, and arrived at the church in a pair of tennis trousers, with neat creases in the legs, a, soft print shirt with a pale pink stripe, a broad waist-band and a pair of light shoes. The correspondent who related tho incident in the Argus, said that the reformer looked cool but nervous as he expressed the hopo that tho congregation would not object to his preaching in his unorthordox costume. “ I do,’’ replied a lady in a black bonnet, “most emphatically.” Tho clergyman expressed his regret, but pointed out that his customary apparel was ten miles away, and tho ser vice proceeded with the usual decorum. When it was over the effect of the ! protest made by the lady with the black bonnet was counteracted by the congratulations of many of the men in the congregation, Unfortunately this unconventional porsoft received little sympathy from leading ministers in Melbourne. The Kev. Dr Yane, administrator of the diocese of Mel bourne, pointed out that a minist had no power to change or omit the official robes prescribed for him in his ministration, and that if he persisted in conducting services even in ordinary 1 dress he would have to face a severe censure from the most lenient of bishops. Dr Marshall, an exModerator, who has suffered tortures himself through wearing orthodox garb in the Mallee with the thermo

meter at 107 in the shade, and the

Rev. Dr Gosman, a leading Congro

gational minister, both deprcated such unconventional behaviour, Dr Gos-

man believed in cool clothing for ! ministers under such conditions, but did not believe that the example of the reformer in the Mallee would be followed. The Rev. D. M. Berry pointed out that the climate in which the recognisd dress of an English

clergyman was evolved was not that of Australia, but he had little sympathy with the culprit. “A liberty which would not under any circumstances:be

tolerated at a Governor’s levee should not be obtruded on the notice of a

congregation assembled in the house of God.’’ A stroDg reason why the orthodox surplice and gown should not be discarded—even in discomfort

of sweltering heat—was given in the

story told by Dr Marshall, of a Scotch minister who discarded his gown in [ the pulpit, and asked an aged parishioner wnat he thought of his action. “ Apuir pooket-lookin’ (poor pluckedlooking) cratur you were withoot it,Y she said.