THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD (From the "Auckland Star.")

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 192, 19 February 1887, Page 3

THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD (From the " Auckland Star.")

Looking at the mordern requirements of Iho churches, we think it is quite time that some one took in hand the preparation of a Revised Bible, or, at ler.st, Now Testament. The edition would have to be expurgated, in a measure, so far as concerns oeitain passages dealing directly or indirectly with financial questions. But this would not be enough. There should be issued a soil of appendix to the old volume, which might be entitled "The Holy Heady Keckoncr," or "The Parson's Provider." This should be published "by authority " of course, and deal mainly with the best means of running a church. What a blessing it would be to our lo^gfrocked friends of tho white choker could they have thus always at hand a convenient vude niccum of finance, giving the various orthodox ways of proem ing funds. We don't know whose fault it is, bat we are clearly in a parlous state ; i»nd people have to be tickled, and approached with the most delicate fawning a:.d flatteiy, before they will respond as the parson wants. It is no use saying we want a church, or a school, or a parsonage, or more music tor the choir. That is far too commonplace a method. Ob, no! we live in esthetic times, and our appeal must be made in the most {esthetic fabhiou. It must be done diplomatically, ns a fisher appeals to the instinct of a salmon — playing him long and carefully, until at last old silversides is landed. Tho church wants money. That is a very c ?.mmonplace want, by the way, and savours uncommonly of thewoild, thetlesh,andnot unlikely of the devil. However, we won't foice this point, we will concede the need of money, at any rate in these times, for we are not living ' " In good King Dagobert's golden days Wlu n saints were many and sins are few." But how to get that money, aye, there's the i-üb. Just take the last two or three years in Auckland. What a wonderful transformation scene might be rigged up. We should have " Old English Fayres," and " Egyptian Mummies — no that's not tho word, what is it?— Bazaars." "Snow Fairs" and "Sorcerers," "Gift Auctions," and — but just ask your parson, he'll tell you all about it. Now we may be a little behind the times perhaps, but it docs strike us that there is something rather incongruous and out of place in all this By pretty general consent the church has a certain work to perform in the world. It is her's to try and make men better and happier by setting before them the example of a noble life — to raise them above the prejudices and temptations and trials which they must meet sooner or later. Now at any rate this is a great mission. We may have oui own opinion of the w;»y in whicl. it is carried out, think that not seldom want of tact is shown and so on ; still, with all allowance on this score, it is, on the whole, a noble work. But when the element of buffoonery and tomfoolery come in, when the church plays high jinks because she wants money, it is altogether another affair. If money be wanted for network, •she should be able to get it in a decorous and decent wny without stooping to the things we see done, and if she cannot get money without so stooping she had better go without it. For whatever good she may promise herself from the possession o£ funds, it is pretty certain that that good ■is more than neutialisud and countorbalan•ced when the fund 4 - ate obtained in a fashion incoiiM^tout w ith her high digni t.y ami position Altu all, money may be the loot of all c\i!. but we aie never told th.it it h tin.- lout c! tliu chinch. Theiv i> an old wmlil legend which we ma} quote- uitii lcki-'iice to this. Francis of AbMM ii 4 * bawl to have gone to pay his rebpeets to the Pope, Innocent ILL Wishing to do his visitor honour, the Pontiff showed him tho valuable gifts which were constantly being brought in to the Papal treasury, saying, so he did, " The days are pased when the church could say ' silver and gold have I none.' " " Most true, Holy Father/ was tho reply; "and the days are also past when the church could cay to the lame man, 'In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.'" The case is a very simple one. The church heeds money or she does not. If bhe does, j tho;e who believe in her should see that she has the money in a proper way. If she does not need it, then let there be a truce to Christy Minstrels and buffoonery. Such things in reality but minister to the conceit, or fancy, or self-impoitance of those who take part in them. If men and women really wished to benefit their church they would be ready to offer without the excitement the money which that excitement costs. As it is, to obtain a Email sum for the church a large expendi- ] tureis incurred for " theatrical properties," or dresses and what not. We want more honesty in the whole matter. If we need excitement, by all means have it, but don't try to slaver it over with tbe whitewash of holiness. In regard to the church, virtue should be its own reward, and those "who give should do so without looking for compensation in the shape of the pomp and vanity of this wicked world. " Good "wine needs no bush. "