Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1895. GIVING TITHES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5154, 12 October 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1895. GIVING TITHES.

I i ic, somewhat curious at the close of the nineteenth century to find elergvnion advocating the obsolete system of tithes. At the Synod the I other day tho Vun. Archdeacon Stock urged the clergy to deniuml a ten per cent, contribution from the incomes uf their flocks, and the sentiment appearedtobewoll received. Suchaii idea at tho present day is ajmost 100 exquisitely absurd. If it oonld be carried out, say in ut parish like Masterlon, what would bo the result \ The existing scale of contributions ranging perhaps from one to ten pounds per annum, would be increased tenfold, and the worthy Vicar would have thousands of pounds where lie now enjoys hundreds, and would doubtless find a good use for them. Buttlippointwherosuch aproposa) becomes ludicrous,appears when it is remembered that even the present scale of contributions is often a strain on the resources of tho faithful, and'that they could not multiply tlicm by two, much moroby ten, without boingdishonest to their creditors. Peoplo now-a-fiays arc a little apt lo live up to their incomes; tho'rq is not much margin for the Church pr any other institution, and often tliore is a deficiency. Very many people never have, and never will have, a tenth of their income in baud to apply to any 'p«rpo3s fjut-sido their immediate requirements; and if they bad, every candid person would' recommend them to invest it, not in the Church, but in some provision for their wives jiild children, No doubt thcro was a tipie ajjij ii stnf,i> of .society when the Church provided' 'fqv \vjt|qwa ijjp) oiphann, but till? tiniP passed away and cannot ba brought bank again. What tho Church should preach and practice, is: morality in money matters, Instead of this, it is usually eager lo rim—not itself—but its people into debt and obligation. Undoubtedly, the Anglican 'colmauuity can afford to givo a M'gcf aggregate sum to its clergy jijiim'it Js How contributing,' but it is "ypry'■ s'ji!>lj discouraged by the unbusinesslike methods ai|pptpd by tbo Church in-dealing with i). very considerable wealth wliioh Itiilratdy possesses, For instance in Masterton, the Church lias had. about three thousand pounds' worth of property lying idle on its hands for ft geiwa-

tion. During the past ton years alone, it has lost about two thousand pounds in income by tliisono stupidity. When people hear about ten. per cent, of their income being demanded by the clergy, they are [■apt to say, " Yon are not fit to be [trusted with property and money. jUse what you already possess, to advantage, and then you may with a Lslear conscience ask for more,"