Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 272, 6 January 1849, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

[ To the Editor of the New Zealander. i Sir :— -Much misapprehension existing about the nature of the Eccletiasticil Question, lately discussed by the Church Society at Auckland, perhaps, it would no i be wholly listless to endeavour to ihow, as clearly as I am able, the real origin of that discussion — its j objei t, and the cause of its premature cessation. The anomalous, the deplorable condition of the Church of England in this Colony is admitted, almost universally. The chief characteristics of that condition are:— an insufficiency of pecuniary means, an unorganised and iodeiernmiate constitution, as regards Church Membership, and the detrimcnt.il inapplicability of English Ecclesiastical Law to tbe Church's colonial requ remeuts. Dissevered from the State, the c lonial Episcopal Church is still bound down by the Ecclesiastical Statutes of England. She is derived of the life-buoy, while the mill-stone round her neck is retained. Such is the anooaiiHy. The evils resulting therefrom are seen in the amazing disproportion that exists betwren tbe inherent powers of the Church and their practical application. The strength of Samson even ua>es in the impotence of an mlant. On the one hmd we see a Church of hereditary grandeur, and civ rished association, inculcating the purest doctrines, and supported by the great learning and unparalleled zeal of aa admirable Ministry; — on the other, we see among the generality of her Members, apathy, disorder, and a parsimonious shuffling of pecuniary con' tnbution on the shoulders of a few i>enerous, but not wealthy individuals— we see a Church pa rial meJ off on the incidental chnrtty of England, — an anarchical con- < stituency, — neutralised utiljjfe— and a circumscription of the best intentions within the narrow circle of the least ability. Such being the case, it might not unnaturally be imi^ined that a more auspicious eve it could haidly occur than one which gave the prospect of dispel ing the paralytic inactivity of our Chucb, by a practical adaptation of her powers to the exigencies of a new field, — and of enabling her, in the unlettered, efficacious exercise of all her strength, in all the utility of an unembaira>sed administrative system, to cope with sur rounding difficulties, to overcome the apathy of an indiffeient world, and ensure the bright prospect ot leaping a plenteous harvest of immeasurable benefit to •o many of our fellow cieatuies in present and luture generations This prospect was held out to the Church Society, and though them to the wh »le Colonial Church, — it was imvolve I in the question before them, — but, unhappily, the negligence of many, and the bigotry of a few, have— for a long timt", at least— irrecovei ably lost the opportunity of its realisation. The home authorities, recognising the evils of our ecclesiastical position, requested Bishop Selwyn to advise with the most competent of his flock, and, reporting on the whole subject, to suggest such alterations as he and they might deem moht beneficial. His Lordship, in order to avoid the uividious and unsatisfactory task of selectiug those whom he might consider most.competent to advise, pursued the most fair and least objectionable cour»e that was open to him j— he availed himself of the existence of the Church Society, invited the attendance of all members of the Cuurch of England, who felt interested in the subject, and earnestly solicited a candid exposition ot their views. Now, his Lordship has been blamed for not laying before the meeting a plan of the alterations which he might consider require in the Ecclesiastical system of oar c lonial Church, and it was owing to the absence of this plan,— which the Bishop said he had not lime, o*r ability, to prepare, — and to the negative opposition of the Rev. Mr. Churton, in consequence, that the whole question was throttled in its infancy. For my part, I do not see the great evils which it was predicted the absence of such a plan would necessurily entail— for the resolutions ot the meeting were not immutable, like tbe laws of the Medes and Persians ; and subsequent alteration, when the light ot farther experience and knowledge broke in, would not lnve been an impossibility. Moreover, supposing a plan were essential, it was not absolutely necessary that tbe Bishop should submit it ; any other person might have done so. And surely it would havi* beeu a more meritorious course for the alvocates of the plan to pursue, to give themselves a little trouble, and prepare the plan themselves, than to sacrifice most important objects, to the existence of an allegeJ defect winch they themselves could remedy. Suppose that the BUh»p had prepared such a plan, what would have immei lately been said, but that he wihhed to force tbe adi'p ion of some peculiar Puseyilical or Selwynical doctrine on an inexperienced auditory, farcically termed his advisers, and under cover of their apparent concurreuce, to establish a dangerous syntem. Surely it was more considerate and le*s objectionable for him to take no advantage of his position, but to come simply as oue of the meeting, allowing every member, if he pleases, to bring hn own plan in his pocket, ready to listen to every suggestion—in fact, not doing the very thing which, in his case, would have given reasonable grounds for suspicion ; that is, submitting a. matured plan, backed by all the weight ot his learning and authority, to the consideration of those, the m<\joi uy ot whom, finding eviTj thing done for them, would probably have inconsid.r.tdj assented to it.

Ai the Bishop, however, declined to pursue this course, the minister of the parish in which the meeting assembled refused to assist their efforts ; and neeenarily such a determination put a finishing stroke oa that which neglect, and a dwindling attendance had already rendered semi-animate. I trust your readers will excuse my trespass to such a length on your columns ; but my apology is the importance of the subject, and of its exact features being thoroughly understood, for we have an additional proof in the present age of what has so often been exemplified in the past — a narrow spirit of prejudice thwarting and procrastinating eveiy movement ol reform, however much it may be required, and however important its object may be. That such reform must eventually come, there can be little doubt ; but in the inteival, how many years of unnecessary evil, of irreparable injury, are inflicted upon the establishment of the Church, and those who are under its guardianship. I fully believe that, if the meetings referred to hsd received coidi 1 co-operation and influential assistance, their efforts would have been ultimately attended with Sreat benefits and success. The grain of mustard seed might have there been sown, which in a few years, under the blessing of a Divine Providence, would have matured into a goodly tree, unler whose sheltering branches the spiritual interests of an innumerable multitude might flourish luxuriantly, alike defying the) scorching blast of superstition and the violent tempest of infidelity. I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, An Observer. Auckland, 3rd January, 1849.