THOSE THREEPENCES!

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1020, 10 July 1930, Page 1

THOSE THREEPENCES!

4aß&, What Clergymen Think Of The Humble Coin

“A TIP TO THE ALMIGHTY”

The modest little threepenny piece is anathema to an Australian priest. Recently he told his congregation that threepenny pieces ’.vert- useless to him in these hard times—an insult to him as parish priest, and an insult to any commonsense, intelligent adult. Apparently there was a pile of humble threepenny pieces in the plate that Sunday, and he implored his congregation to lose or bury all those which they had saved before the next Sunday service. Several Auckland churchmen also dislike the unassuming little silver coin, but they all agree that if it is given in the right spirit there is nothing to cavil at. If it is another example of the widow's mite then the contribution is justified. The objection principally is to people who place threepence in the offertory plate on Sundays and spend much larger sums on entertainment during weekdays. "Threepenny pieces are better than nothing,” commented the Rev. \V. G. Monkton. of Takapuna, in his amusing way. "I’ve seen halfpennies in the plate. Threepenny pieces are better than that, aren't they?” ‘•Threepence for God and 2s 3d or more for American movie millionaires,” was the Rev. Jasper Calder's comment. "I never knew a clergyman or a church committee-mau who didn't hate the threepenny pieces.” he continued. "It is not a fair thing to pay 2s 3d or more for an evening's pleasure and only 3d for an evening's devotion, more particularly when we consider the wonderful social and welfare work which is being done by churches of all denominations. "Of course there are genuine people who cannot afford to give more than threepence. We would much rather have them come and put their silver coin in the plate than stay away. 1 refer to the people who can afford to give more than threepence, but who don’t, and who are Quite willing to pay larger sums for their amusements.” jCanon Fancourt, of St. Mary's ProCathedral, does not despise the humble silver coin. "It is better than nothing,” be remarked. "I am thankful for what l get in the plate, but grateful for more.” The Salvation Army welcomes the little coin. “We are grateful to receive any money,” said Brigadier W. Cottrill. “We appreciate the threepenny piece. It is generally known that the Salvation Army gratet'ulv acknowledges any money, whether it is threepence or a £5 note.”

The Rev. A. S. Wilson has published a striking little booklet on giving io the Church. "The Christian Church has a just claim on all sections of the comniunif'’. for no thoughtful man will deny thai the promulgation of its moral and spiritual doctrines greatly helps tv stem the forces of evil.” He says: "A »ide toleration, however, easily fo gives the thoughtless threepence of the crowd who do not consider tb* privilege and duty of reciprocity. "From the Lead’s poor, the widovi .- mite is most precious and acceptab!-. But it is the professed earne.-i Christian, and especially the church member whose stinginess is condemn'''! by the Bible as sheer robbery. Such people often pass judgment on the proverbial smartness of the Jews, for getting that the Jew in the Bible gar. his tenth and sometimes his third i a uphold his religions beliefs. ‘’lt is no use singing ‘Ob, how I love the Lord.' at the same time feeling for a threepenny piece at the bottom of their pockets. To participate in the benefits of Christianity and to give grudgingly is to get dangerously near to offering a tip—and a small tip—to the Almighty. "People are looking and longing for the millennium, but the millennium is surely not coming on wheels made of threepenny pieces. "It never has been right and never will be right for Christians whom God has blessed with this world's goods to give less than one-tenth to religious and social work, for the ‘Lord love'.b a cheerful giver.’ ” Threepenny bits are a relic of the prehistoric days, considers the Rev. Father 11. F. Holbrook. However, they are better than nothing, he says, though they are not by any means commensurate with what people pay for their pleasure. Xo one else but the person who is giving can judge the worth of the threepenny piece, says the Rev. Wilna Constable. "If people can give only that amount to the church then it is not wrong. Threepence may be a sacrifice to soma people Personally. I would not bother if I saw a farthing in the plate. It all depends on the state of the giver—think of the widow's mite. Threepence front a person who can illafford to give it is much more than £1 from a rich man.” Father John Roche. of Bombala. New South Wales, who made the attack on the giving of threepenny pieces, left Auckland some years ago.