Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 22, 9 November 1945, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakat

A CHANCE IN LIFE

If there is any appeal the Church ought to make today, it is to the parents to give their children a chance in life not only in education, but in religion. These are the. wgrds of a London journalist in a useful little book entitled "Why Sunday." He declares that one of the 'most monstrous crimes against childhood is the creation of an irreligious environment by the. increasing secularisation of the Sabbath tlay. He points out that somewhere in the writings of Longfellow are the \vords f "Sunday is the golden clasp that binds together the volume of the week."* He "The volume of the week is not the only thing that Sunday binds together; its adhesive properties act upon offier precious things in our lives. It is the secret of the happy home circle, and it keeps that circle intact. There is a vital connection between the "British Sunday" and the "Englishman's home." Britain is noted among the nations for both these insti'tutions j a reputation of which she may justly be proud. Let her-guard both with jealous care, and let her know that the one is bound up in the other in such close bonds that if one decays the other dies with it." The home happy or otherwise is so much the concern of the '9 wife and mother that we should give this matter our earnest consideration. Bit by bit the spirit of Sunday is being wrested from us, and from our children. The local cricket team puts on a Sunday match. Some Christian w T ho would not themselves plav on Sunday, stroll down in the afternoon to have a look at the taking the family with them. The rowing club' stages a Sunday contest (involving some of our Bible class lads). Church sometimes even Church leaders are J'ound among the cheering crowds on tli e foreshore. Someone has said that "We are rearing a pagan generation in a land glutted with Church buildings. It is necessary, now more than ever before, that we honestly face up to this question, and decide what we want our children to have in this. Alter the background we give them is the only background they will have f however richly they may be endowed in other waj^s. .A few months ago the "Auckland Weekly" published an article written by an American serviceman. He said the 'American soldiers returning from New Zealand appear to have only one serious complaint about the and that is their gloomy

iits Ministea-s' Association).

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

Sundays. "These boys," he "who have round New Zealanders the most independent and fun_loving people in the world, cannot understand why they put up with their drab lifeless Sundays." Then he goes on to tell about the Sundays be is accustomed to in his own country. "Sunday is one of America's big fun days. Everyone seems to get out for a good time. It is one of the best nights of the week for night clubs theatres and movies while restaurants and cocktail bars do a roaring trade on that day. . . . Sunday i|s the great day for used car sales because on this day most people are free to shop for cars. . . . Sunday is also one of America's great sports days. . . . Professional baseball has its biggest day on Sunday. ... In the winter Sunday is the day on which the top professional football clubs stage their big games t with crowds of up to (50, 000 attending. ... Monday is about the dullest day in America as far as fun and en_ J tertainmen tis concerned. Most night clubs and legitimate theatres and many restaurants close their doors on Monday night' in order to give their staffs a rest. However movies y 9 cocktail bars saloons and other establishments are open seven days a week. Many places prefer to close Monday nights rather than Sunday nights and the majority of Ameri-> cans appear to prefer this; too." And all the while the age-old command stands as lirmly as ever, "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." For disregarding this command a nation has to pay by the working of the natural law that we reap as we sow. "Sunday is a day ? " our journalist friend says "which should mean a people going to work on Monday with a freshness and energy in physical iitness } a strengthened conscience and a revived faith. To many, however the natural faculinstead of being allowed to rest ? are Hogged into fresh activity by the three-fold lash of excitement and materialism." Christian parents in New Zealand must see to it that the children have a chance in life, that their Christian heritage is preserved. The home is the place where Christian principles are instilled and Christian foundations are and women arc essentially the liome-builders. The men of earth build houses, Halls and chambers roofs and '9 domes 9 But the women of the earth—God knows— t The women build the homes. While we remember the Sabbath day has such an influence for keep, day has. sucuh an influence for keeping borne life sweet.