SCARCITY OF CLERICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2184, 7 May 1908, Page 2

SCARCITY OF CLERICS.

REV. CARRINGTON IN REPLY. THE iRESU.LT OF SOCIAL CHANGES. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 6. In the course of a recent interview in Dunedin, the Primate (Bidhop Neville) stated that young men were not coming 'forward in any numbers to take positions as clergymen. Ho gave liis views on the subject stating that in all probability people were too prone nowadays to look upon wealth as 'the source of all satisfaction. _■ , A reporter who interviewed -the Rev. C. AY. Carrington gleaned some information of an interesting character. Mr Carrington is the principal of tbe upper department of Christs College and is nil charge of the theological students a.t College Hlouse. In discussing tlhc question, he spoke hopefully of the work that wa6 being done and seemed thoroughly confident of the future. “The dearth,” said Mr Carrington, “is partly in consequence of .the social changes of the last half century. In former days,” lie explained, “the service of the church was considered a creditable and not unlucrative calling for young men of the upper classes. Good livings and good society were obtainable, but in England the values of . the livings had become so reduced that that motive had disappeared and parents preferred to put their sons into business which was now considered thoroughly respectable. Nobody would seek holy order nowadays, unless in real earnest and that was ,on the whole, a very good thing. At the present time,” Mr Carrington continued, “the .number of earnest young men who did desire holy orders was becoming more and moro encouraging, but the great difficulty was one of finance. The public rightly . looked for a highly educated clergy, tout they would not pay for its education nor .support it properly when educated. Parents would not pay for .a university education for a boy and maintain him to tho age of 23, the lowest age .for orders, .with the prospect of a starvation career at tile hands of parishioners, when they might put him into a lucrative business when iio reached eighteen .and it needed a good deal of dovotion in a lad to tocklo a job with so little prospect to encouxago him. In an average vicarage tho parson -was expected to keep up his social standing) keep a horse or horses and probably groom them himself, keep liis clerical work going and keep his temper oil a fixed income -which ho could not possibly increase, say £2OO a year. The people preferred him to bo married. They could starve •him out if they did not like him. Their profits or wages roso in prosperous times: liis income was stationary when, perhaps, the cost of living had increased. The parson did not wish to be rich, but .he did want to be free from anxiety if his work was to -be done properly.” Mr Carrington added that if the laity would make it clear, not only that they wanted well educated and efficient clergymen, but that they wore prepared to assist in .their education and maintain them in a secure and honorable position afterwards, there would bo little difficulty in obtaining men of tbe right stamp, “for there is no calling,” ho added, “in which a -man worth life salt'can gain greater influence or (better readise the 'highest ideal.”