The Temuka Leader THURSDAY. OCTOBER 24, 1889 THE CHURGH OF ENGLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1960, 24 October 1889, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY. OCTOBER 24, 1889 THE CHURGH OF ENGLAND.

Wji have to congratulate the congregation of St. Saviour’s Church, Temuka, on the decision they arrived at last Tueeday evening. Indeed, we cannot see how they could haye done anything else. Seldom has a congregation started to build a church under more

favorable auspices. Of the total sum necessary to build the church one member has subscribed almost one-third, and surely it would not be too much to expect the other 69 members to supply the balance. If the congregation had decided

on any other course they would have been guilty not only of great cowardice but of wrong-doing, whiuh their children would not appreciate. We are surprised how there could have been one moment’s

hesitation in the matter. They a»y that they want a parish room, that that would cost £2SC, and that of that sum they have about £l4O or £l5O in hand, Tf they decided on a parish room they would thus be nearly as deeply in debt as they will be after building the church, while they would have very little to show for if. We are afraid that Church of England people lack that spirit of self-reliance which characterise other denominations. They have been spoon-fed, and they do not understand being thrown on their own resources as they are in this colony. This they must learn, and it appears to ua that iu the interest of religion the sooner they begin the belter. There is no Established Church here. There are some Churches which have large endowments, such a» the English Church of Canterbury and the Presbyterian Church of Otago, but the managers of them very wisely prefer to conserve them than ito squander them away all at once. Church people in these colonies, therefore, must put their hands in their pockets if they desire to maintain their religion. It is impossible to carry it on in'any other way. “Money makes the mare go ” in the Church ns in ! the Ftate, or os in private concerns of life, and to expect anything to go on' without it is absurd. In Enuli.id, of course, things are different. There the Church of England is . maintained by the State. Of course this is very good for the clergy. They live in luxury and ease, and are wealthy, but it is undoubtedly the weak point of the Clinreh from a religious point of view. There can be no doubt but it is the cause of a great deal of the dissent from it. People do not like the idea of the Bishop of London being in receipt of a salary of £IO,OOO a year while millions are starving. Every reformer makes the wealth and luxury of the clergy the first point of attack, Sod undoubtedly it is the mam causa of the dissatisfaction a large number of people feel towards the State Church. People in this colony onght to feel glad and :to rejoice that no such accusation as that can be made against their own Church, but they must pay for such a luxury. The Church cannot go on without it, and the sooner they realise it the better. 1