THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1875.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 308, 22 January 1875, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1875.

Clericalism undoubtedly has sprung out of human deficiencies. It would be a conceit with a germ of truth to say it was the seed imbedded in the apple—mythical or other —eaten by the common mother of all. Clericalism, in a wide sense, has built itself on the ertors or estrangements from suppositious orthodoxy—which arise from progress of ideas and the human necessity towards alteration, as a truth or an abstract idea passes- through different minds. In that sense, clericalism embraces a 11 beliefs—credible or incredible—that have existed, or now do exist, upon the earth—including a Mosaic dispensation, with its accompanying Levitical priesthood; believers in Moloch, fire-devourer; in Brahminism, and all like paganri'es ; including also all quackeries (ancient and modern), and not excluding -even European Catholicism and modern Protestantism or reformations. Thus started into being, it took root in the education of the young, from amongst whom all prophets and priests have sough t some to train up as their successors, who in their turn should correct error, and propagate the faith handed down to them. If all mankind were perfect, there would be no need of clericalism or priesthood. An they are imperfect, the need arises ; and, in like proportion as imperfections and vices grow and increase in any nation, do we actually find that clericalism grows and increases also, sustained for the most part by the practitioners of the vanities, follies, or worse crimes it ostensibly exists to rebuke. Confining our attention to Christianity, we find that at the first priestcraft did not exist as a branch distinct and removed from the masses. The first and most powerful of the Christian preachers voluntarily lived by the labor of their hands, though pointing out a time when the laborer (then, as before, worthy of his hire)' would need to be ministered to in temporalities while ministering to others in spiritualities. Under a special dispensation of wisdom granted;to the early Church —where even communism of goods , was fjracticable, though very shortly found eading to volunteered falsehood, deceit, summary judgment, and death—all men were priests able to teach not themselves, not each other, but the unbelievers around and outside of them. This dispensation—among a people who had been brought up under the Mosaic laws and- prophetical records—would perhaps be considered a relieving in part and typical , of the entire .removal, at no distant date, of

Clerical' -iPiaariseeMm ctegeneT a fffl{f th§ simple institution of thes' £ey|t : ica/ sacrificial bad b^couiie/ ( ana ari abbmirift-' .fcioi;, tq the people,' who still we're Bup';erßtitibusly I; subservient to- : it j—-■ an.,'enti're_' removal, which was.' dowed forth in their prophetical scrip-' tures; when" all 'the ransomed were to reign as kings and priesta upon the earth! '"'

Clericalism thus firmly rooted, and not without its advantages, when the excresences are. periodically pruned away, it becomes a question of questions for each generation to define its right place. At times it has reigned, at times it has served. Royalty at one time may be good, service at another time may be best.. Such a question would be needless if priesthood itself were perfect, for its own dictums would be sufficient interpretation of the right and the »vrong. Such immunity from error it does not assert. The assertion, if made, would be—as is apparent to' all—most falee. Founded on-a gospel of love and charity among all men,,it has fed, sustained, and even instigated the most cruel and remorseless wars, murders, and torturmgs that are to be found on the prizes of history. Weakened, indeed; of late years as a governing power by its subdivisions, it still starts up on every side, bringing to bear an immense amount of power and influence—direct and indirect—on all the social problem s of the day, retarding development, and, by its peculiar characteristics, creating—not now bloodshed and murder—-but the germs even ofthat in the introduction of the scarcely less bitter and baneful sectarian disputes and jealousies—destructive of all vital Christianity, and sufficient in their extent and range to make thoughtful men ■ ask : Whether, if a cure to laical deficiencies in spiritualities is needed, the remedy is not worse than the disease ? That this state of things is to be ascribed to the shortcomings in belief of the people. professedly Christian is not true. To saddle the responsibility' "upon the clergy would be equally untrue. What of a truth there is in either charge leads to the recognition' of a -necessitated mutual toleration, more_especially on the part of the intelligent among the clergy, who from their cloth-enforced separation from the real life of the people th#y live among, while fretting'at the walls which restrain them do not perceive the necessity that, has built, them up'. Nothing- can be more painful to' observe than the scalding burns received by the conscientions and intelligent clergyman, who, coming down and disregarding those conventional bands, too late finds that what he has done in the breadth of his charity has become the source of evil through the illiberalities of those he leads, or maybe who he is placed in apparant opposition . with. Clericalism air a whole has proved unfit to be free, It must bis bound to be of use. The people also whoit is to quicken,and guide into the spiritualities. are ; defective in that charity whicb tfyinketh. no evil, and until they are perfect clericalism cannot be free. Let it,-then, be content to be bound; b'eihg sustaiued in temporalities and ministering in spiritualities, as it can by precept and above all by ; example—-its members as pillars of light upon a hill that cannot be h id. "When the day of freedom comes, and darkness and unbelief give way to charity and truth,' man will need no mortal guide; no glass, false or falsely true, between himself and his Maker, but clergy and laity alike will be able to drink unfettered from the Eternal Fountain of Truth itself. ! - '

Itf i 8 more satisfactory to us to be able to report favorably of the progress made on the Head .Race contracts—at least on the gap the" cutting- through of which is needed to connect the contracts first completed with the last ten miles. Mr. Abbot has kept a strong gang of men steadily at work for some time, and it is expected the contract will be completed in about three weeks' or a month's time—that is with the exception of the flumings which may be necessary,, and w;hich, we presume, are not included in the main contract. It will thus be seen that it will not be long before the race is in a sufficiently complete state to bring in water. In this, however, great care will be needed. To rush water into a huge newly cut ditch, in many places as porous "as a sponge, would be disheartening and expensive work, and, near N'asebv, would lead to heavy payments as compensation to owners of other race properties at lower levels which would be injured. During the few weeks while the different contracts are being connected maintenance -men ought to be kept along the race to turn in-water where needed; and guide ; it to dangerous places, gradually tightening the ground, and, where needed; puddling in stiff clay. If this is not done a very large outlay will be required to make good the damages sure ; -to ensue. To say there is no money for such a purpose would.be ridiculous, for it is one of those necessities that always crop up on public works, and for which unappropriated expenditure is gladly sanctioned. If it is represented that, to save £2OOO in eight months' time, it is only required to expend £SOO, at once the money would be found. It is to be regretted that the Harbor Board have refused the request made by the G-overnment to allow Mr. Simpson to complete the supervision of these works so ably initiated by him. We cannot recognise the public spirit which determined,their action in that respect'. However, no doubt the Pro vincial officer now appointed will find ways of ascertaining from the resident Inspector the necessity of attention being given to the gradual

bringing into, -operation of the race, unless several months are to be ljost, should at orico.be.begun. -If delayed until, the autumn and winter frosts, independent of damage .by the Tyator,. there will be the 'large ■ ineurred.again of clearing out the slips and breads t'that :.will occur in the contracts already passed. The last portion of the race, which taps the Manuherikia, will, take some time yet before it can be spoken of as nearly complete—but,fortunately, that need not stop the race being put to a practical use at an early date.