Original Corresponcence.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 443, 13 July 1850, Page 3

Original Corresponcence.

To the Editor of the NewZealander. Sir.— About two yean a^o an atiempt wai made by His Lordship the Bishop to organise some plan of Church Government in this colony, and, for that purpu«e, he eotiTened Meetings of all who felt interested in the subject. That attempt then failed in consequence of influential persons refusing to co»opprate unles< some definite plau was submitted by the Bishop to the Meeting, — a course which Hn Loidship very wisely declined to adopt. It Is now r. vived by others— bu^in a very different form, and in one very likely to frustiate its obj et. A. plan having been prepared, it is privately distributed, and persons go about privntely obtaining signatures requesting His Lordship to adopt it, without a woid being said of a general discussion of its provisions or of the majority of Church Members even being informed ot its existence. The evil resu'ts of such a proceeling are manifold. The principal ones are— that many never see the plan at all — that many of those who see it, inconsiderately asseut to it atter a cur6ory perusal of it's contents— and that as none have the oppoitunity of publicly discussing it, the suggestion of amendments and alteiations is in a great measure prrcluJed, and the other advantages vrhich public discussion affords, are altogether rt-jtjctcd. N >w, upon the merits of the plan I do not intend to enter. I 8 distance alone is a matter of congratulation. But I submit that the proper step, in reference to it, would have been to have had meetings called of the Members of the Church of England to consider its P'Ovisions and to suggeit, if possible, impiovements. This would hay« been very simple. Each clergyman could easily have assembled his parishioners for the purpose. Every difficulty would have thus been met, and the best guarantee afforded for the satisfactory operation of the measure proposed. Some persons have a prudikh horror of public discussion, and instinctively shrink from public criticism. They prefer systems elaborated in the silence of the closet to those buffetted into lite by public debate.— They place their trust in the theoretical philosophy of one, raher than in the practical experience of many. Such persons are fortuuately few. Ihe prevalent wish of the age is Hltogether for publicity as the surest means of Jobviating objections and securing succpss But howsver that may be, I strongly protest against the principle of mysterioui'y hawking about for s'gnature a Church Constitution which, if adopted, will affect the spiritual interests of hundreds who never heard of its existence The B ship, I do not doubt, would, when he officially receives the plan, willingly submit it to. aj meeting of Church Members, but, in the interval, time is wasted and the asient of many is obtained under the great disadvantages resulting from the fact ot there having been no general discussion of the subject. I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant, A Member of the Church of England.