A WORD IN DEFENCE OF THE CLERGY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 110, 30 July 1927, Page 25

A WORD IN DEFENCE OF THE CLERGY

(Written for THE SUN.) 'J’HE attendance at a well-known church last Sunday evening was less than one hundred and it says much for the canon who preached that he put his whole heart and soul into his sermon, despite the appalling poverty in the number of his congregation. Why should this state of things be? Sureiy some reason can be advanced. Church music is perhaps the finest in the world and it certainly could not be claimed that there was any lack of that, since no fewer than six hymns were sung, each being superlatively well known. Nor could the man who is easily bored by orations find fault with the duration of the sermon. It is said that a lack of sympathy exists between the clergy and their congregations and a similar charge has been laid against churchgoers and non-churchgoers; in a word, indifference is more or less the true cause of our poorly-attended churches. Some time ago it was asserted that the clergy are too conscious of their social position and that for this reason they have failed to win the hearts, and to influence the lives, of the labouring classes. It was claimed, further, that the clergy should descend from their pedestal and live among the working classes as their social equals, choosing their wives from the daughters of working men, bringing up their sous to manual labour and sending their daughters to domestic service. Thus would the country benefit greatly and the church hold so firm a place in the affections of the people that it would defy all efforts to destroy its position or to interfere with its welfare. It Is desirable to offer a few observations on these statements. The clergy, as a rule, are accustomed to treat all classes of their parishioners, rich and poor, with friendliness and cordiality. In agricultural parishes the clergyman and the labouring classes live, in most cases, on the most friendly terms. It is a well-known fact that when trouble comes to a working man he goes to the rectory or the vicarage for advice and for help. Moreover, thousands of situations have been found for men out of work through the instrumentality of the clergy. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. And here and there, no doubt, there may be found a want of friendliness between the vicarage and the parish, sometimes owing to a culpable want of sympathy on the part of the swellers in the vicarage, sometimes owing to wrong-headed opinions on the part of the parishioners. That the clergyman should choose his wife from the labouring class would merely be putting that good lady in a most uncomfortable position —a little thought will show the obviousness of this. The writer has been anxious to avoid any bitterness or unkindness in these few remarks. He claims that the glergy are frequently most unfairly attacked and that they are doing their work, often disappointing and difficult, In a kindly spirit. The working man is not easy to deal with. Yet I am sure thousands of them would defend the clergy from all imputation of want of friendliness or “starchiness.” Many indeed are the cases that without the parson’s kindly sympathy and warm friendship, difficulties, spiritual and otherwise, would be much worse than they are at present. The clergy needs the support of the working classes; the working classes needs the sympathy and help of the clergy; and it is to be fervently hoped that, as time goes on, prejudice and distrust will fade away and that mutual consideration and sympathy will take their place. —P.M.