THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 252, 21 November 1876, Page 4

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND.

In opening the Anglican Synod in Dttnedin the Bishop of the Diocese said :—- Few subjects are of more vital importance, or demand more resolute and careful consideration, than tbat of how best to provide for the spiritual oversight of a population which is multiplying itself around us with such astonishing rapidity. I confess that this question lies upon me as a heavy burthen day by day. We are free with our accusations of the Church of the 18th century, we charge her with allowing the masses to grow up around her .intended until they became estranged. We know that the Wesleyan Society owed both its origin and its success to that condition of neglect, and, alas, that it eventually became a schism instead of a society, very much because the Church lay groaning forth pitiful and petulant lamentations instead of bracing herself to her God-given task. The increase of the population then was marvellous and unprecedented : the machinery of the Church was stiff and inelastic from a long pre-existing period of little growth. But what it concerns us to realise is the fact that here, under our novel and difficult position we are in danger of repeating the mistake we so deeply deplore. No doubt excuses cau be made. When was there Buy difficlty in making them ? But tbe question is not bow we can excuse ourselves, but how can we supply the need p If I am charged with overdrawing the picture, I will tell you, what I am in a position to affirm, tbat no further off tban the suburbs of Dunedin (possibly I need not even go so far), there are on every hand families who brought with them letters from the clergy at Home, or from distant parts of our own diocese, testifying to their being attendants at their Church, who are now settling down to the habit of going nowhere at ail, or at best attending the ministrations of some other body, by a member of which they have been visited. Of course such persons are blameworthy. No doubt their duty to God, to their own souls, aod to their families ought to prevent their falling into such a state of irreligion ; but, unfortunately, men — and not those in one rank of life only — do require putting in mind of these things. . . His Lordship then proceeded at length to consider the best remedy for tbe evil, and in doing so said : — A bold attempt has been made in several dioceses, and in one witbin our own province, to supply this great need, by ordaining to tbe diaconate gentlemen who are supporting themselves by secular occupation. I have in former addresses to tbe Synod set forth my strong convictions as to the importance of making some sincere efforts for tbe restoration of the order of deacons to .heir proper proportions and functions witbin the Church ; and again I will declare that, while it is precisely the proper work of that office whicb requires doing, that office is practically without exercise amongst us. We have but one deacon in this diocese, and he is executing tbe office of priest in all respects short of the specially restricted functions. I do not wonder, gentlemen, that in cases where the need is urgent, and the difficulty of meeting is co great, Bishops have been found who, concluding that the life of the Churoh is more than her laws, bave disregarded alike popular feeling and ancient canon, and advanced to tbe deaconship properly qualified persons, who were willing to to do what tbey could to discharge its duties even though engaged in secular callings j and for my own part I will even go so far as to say that there are certain professions, God-fearing, earnestminded members of which I think might, in special cases, be admitted to this order of the ministry. [ will enumerate those of medicine, teaching, and architecture ; but the great objection remains tbat these, while actively employed in the pursuit of their several avocations, could devote only a little time, and then witb jaded energies, to work requiring time, strength, and study. That which comes nearest to a solution of this oase is that which, on the general grounds of a supply of clergy for a Church is so very important, viz., tbat a fostering hand should be generously extended to our theological colleges. It is to this quarter we should look ; It is here the help should he given, for thus two of our greatest difficulties would be solved together.