CORRESPONDENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 239, 15 February 1911, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

IiISIIOPS A.VI) THEIR GOING. To the Editor. Sir.—ln a sub-leader of your paper, superscribed "Heads of the Church, ' you finish with these words: "it would be interesting to have the explanation of competent churchmen as to the reasons prompting the resignation* that leave unfinished work behind." In this latter category you place the Bi> retired bishops of the Anglican Catholic Church who were last year (according to Whitaker) living in England, who had some time administered 30 colonial sees, but not one in New Zealand, although three from I this Dominion have or will have returned Ito the Old Country this year. Now- for ' the reasons: In every case ill-health—-brought 011 by the strenuous life and excessive zeal in the service of their Master that has always appertained to His followers. More especially does this apply to the instance of the llishop of Melanesia (Dr. Wilson), at whose consecration, at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Parnell, some yenrs ago, I was present! He was then so young and. fresh-looking that he received an affectionate cognomen of "the hoy Bishop" among his friends; and now, with impaired faculties and worn-out Health, through over-work in the hottest latitudes of the torrid zone, you may find the reason for his return Home to recuperate. I have not heard of his resignation, and I do not know or think that in his or any of the instances you refer to hns any unfinished work been left behind, Look at the careers of the founders of the Church in this Dominion: The first Bishop of New Zealand, Dr. Selwyn, his son, Dr. John Selwyn, and tne martyred Dr. Paterson, both Bishops of Melanesia, and who both' lost their lives through their devotion to their holy service. Does this look like unfinished work or lack of enthusiasm and sympathy with the ideals of the people of New Zealand? You also mention with deprecation that in most eases appointments arc made from Home to fill colonial vacancies. Why? Certainly not ? s Promotion, for you admit that retiring bishops of colonial sees are apparently better contented to return to the Old Country with lower rank than to remain amongst the people thev come out to seek ana save. Why, a «ain' 1 think the .same answer can be «»ivcn to both questions. The conditions of life of the reverend profession at Home and n the colonies are so very different In this country. f or instance, there is no security that clerical stipends will be paid, and neither scholarship nor energy nor devotion to work will sufliee to secure the average parson with a livin<> wage. I heard of one (now passed away 1 ) who was left in abject penury in hi s old a Se. and although Goldsmith's villas parson was content to be considered Posing rich wilh £4(l a V( , in . ~'" T U , not think that would he a 'particularly sumptuous income in Ww 7III' , JUiat wonder, then, that there''a*e£ few asp, rants in this colony for one of —T am nte a " d W ° rSt P™ l 'Passions? am, etc.. BEDFORD.