CO882-(4-5) — Page 179

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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As to the needs of the church for work rendered, the areas to be covered" are large and the duty involved is onerous and important. Practically the Church of England is the parish church of the great majority of non-Romanists; and her aid frequently reaches those of the Roman Communion also. She is responsible in each locality.

A secular clergyman, living and working in and from a family centre, according to our system, and that of other orthodox churches in the East, cannot, in Mauritius, do with less than Rs. 3,000 per annum, if a European or Mauritian of good standing; and there are no fees, whilst those of the Church of Rome are large and sanctioned. Native Indian clergy, it is true, until by education and consequent social standing they have reached a higher and more responsible level, are for their own good, expected naturally to live on less than half this sum.

The Church of England (no less than that of Rome) requires absolutely its Bishop duly maintained, and his emoluments and duties are a part of the law of the land.

The Presbyterian system, on the other hand, has no Bishop to provide for. The charge for a Bishop is a much larger addition to our average per head than in the case of the Roman Catholic Church. The cases of the two Bishops, it is clear therefore, should be reserved as a first charge, and kept out of any averaging.

The annual grants are earned by quantity of work done, and are not denominational. The moralisation grant (so called) and Ord. 54 of 1844, should be, I venture to think, apportioned on the merits.

I find the Church of England rate to be between Rs. Rs. 5.90, as in the Blue Book abstract for 1888, or Rs. 6.34 even, as erroneously (but and Rs. 5 per head, and not unwittingly so) given in the memorial to the Hon. Dr. Beaugeard. Similarly the Church of Rome rate I find to be about 75c. instead of 64c. as quoted (through a mistake) in the same memorial.

But these are minor though necessary rectifications.

The Roman Catholic Church in 1888 drew about double what the Church of England did, viz., about Rs. 82,000, and Rs. 41,000 respectively.

The Church of Scotland rate is Rs. 1.54.

These figures are not unreasonably disproportionate, seeing that the Church of Scotland is not engaged to an island-wide parochial responsibility, and that the Church of Rome has the same area to cover, though larger flocks to tend, that she has a celibate clergy and ample fees; nor should it be forgotten that these charges cover the Anglican Episcopate for Seychelles and Rodrigues, and (by law) travelling expenses in that

Connexion.

*

Notwithstanding the very much larger general work of the Church of England.

I have ventured already to express an opinion, and I now record the hope that the Church of Scotland, as at present fused with the old Le Brunite church, should receive a more fitting grant, but not at our expense; for our revenues are as low as is consistent with working efficiency, and any great reduction is practically a measure prohibitive of future successful labour.

If the churches are to be maintained at all, it seems strange that a Colony not so very unprosperous in finance, after all, cannot manage to do this on liberal terms, and content all parties by-

(a.) leaving the Church of England where it is, say, at (6.) giving the Church of Scotland (say)

-

(c.) and the Church of Rome: instead of Rs. 82,000 as now (say)

-

Rs. 40,000

10,000

-

100,000

Rs. 150,000

Such an arrangement might be secured against further unsettlement for a period of (say) 10 years; and would only add a mere trifle, Rs. 20,000 per annum, to the present figure Rs. 130,000; and this would, in each case, be, of course, a maximum to be worked up to and earned by the church in question, and granted proportionally.

But, if, on the other hand, an attempt should be made, such as I can scarcely, nay with the utmost difficulty, bring myself to imagine or conceive and such as I am con- fident the Right Honourable Lord Knutsford, in common with all other Secretaries of State, is fully purposed not to sanction; vist., to make the Church of England victim

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of a transfer at all approximating to a crippling-shall I say, an incapacitating diminu- tion-of her resources? I indulge the hope that his Excellency the Governor would at once put his veto upon it. And I must be permitted to state my strong feeling that there would be no ultimate logical consequence but disestablishment of all churches, should such an attempt unfortunately be seriously entertained.

For if the British Church is not to be adequately and fitly supported, on general grounds; not to speak of the injurious character of such a change and procedure "per "there remains, really, far less reason for taxing at all the non-Christian part of the population in support of the divers Christian Communions.

se

But, the object of this letter is not to enter upon large questions of extreme delicacy, in respect of which the Church of England, its Bishop, and myself. may reasonably ask for full opportunity to make good our cause, before anything important is proposed, but (specially) to offer certain observations as to the numbers referred to me in connexion with this question, whilst pointing out that, in common with the Secretary of State, we do not hold numbers to be the main factor in the decisions involved; if any modifications, should have to be considered-and we think the real legal position, the past history of the country, and the requirements of to-day, fully justif your present grants, as has been said they are not above a minimum for what we have to do.

I have the honour respectfully to request that you will be good enough to communi- cate this letter to his Excellency the Governor, in connexion with the papers I have now to acknowledge,

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.

SIR,

(Signed)

Enclosure 6 in No. 12.

And to be, Sir, &c.

A. D. MATHEWS, Archdeacon of Mauritius and Bishop's Commissary.

On the SUBJECT of the DISTRIBUTION of the ECCLESIASTICAL GRANTS.

St. James' Vestry, November 30, 1889.

In reference to the papers laid before the Council of Government on ecclesiastical grants (No. 329 to No. 1895), I feel it my duty most respectfully to state that we quite dispute the figures of the census therein quoted, as well as the distribution thereof. Our Bishop has never admitted them. The massing of items 2, 3, 4. Report 1855 (page 23) in totality on the Roman Catholic side, and the assumption made in No. 1895 (page 24) that the Church of England has no more adherents than the Church of Scotland are points in question.

I should, as at present advised, give the numbers as:

Church of England 8,000 or upwards; Church of Scotland 3,500 upwards; say 11,000 to 12,000 Protestants of all kinds.

2. But I should have been thankful if your Excellency had thought fit to draw atten- tion rather to the genuine requirements of the work than to relative numbers; and I venture to ask to be permitted to say that the terms of Lord Knutsford's Despatch prepare us to anticipate the discussion of the subject on the general merits.

3. I feel sure your Excellency will be good enough to afford us an opportunity of urging our view of these merits before a further stage is reached.

It is, moreover, I think not really equitable that the establishments, and undenomina- tional grants, made annually according to earnings, as well as the Bishops emoluments, should be considered together on the same lines.

4. Considering the great importance of the matters at issue I will take the liberty of requesting that this demurrer may, by your good favour, be submitted to Council or any other authorities, in connexion with the papers referred to.

His Excellency Sir John Pope Hennessy, E.C.M.G.,

Governor of Mauritius.

I have, &c. (Signed) A. D. MATHEWS,

Archdeacon of Mauritius and Bishop's Commissary.