Extension Of “School For Marriage” Idea Planned By Church Council

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 3, 2 December 1947, Page 5

Extension Of “School For Marriage” Idea Planned By Church Council

While writers to newspapers bemoan the falling quality of home life (on which the quality of a nation depends) the Churches are unitedly planning to “do something about it” —something direct over and above their regular activities with their (very great) indirect results, says an article in the “Church and Community.” The Rev. E. P. Blamires, who has taken part in “Schools for Marriage” and similar things in Britain, has put himself at the National Council of Churches’ disposal from February next to further such work.

In Britain the Churches have established the Marriage Guidance Council, which (says Mr Blamires) “is doing a difficult work very wisely and developing all over the land. Christian people inaugurated it and lead it, and the State is about to grant financial aid. I recently attended a four-days’ residential Summer School where seventy of us were privileged to learn from Doctors, Psychologists, Magistrates, Ministers, Lawyers and Social Service Workers how to deal with marriage questions and problems. . A new profession is emerging—Marriage Guidance Counsellor.” Secondly, there have been organised under the guidance of the British- Council of Churches localised “Home and Family Week” activities. This is a type of Religion in Life work with a single dominant emphasis. The co-operation of all the local Churches is secured and* on two successive Sundays special services are held in all Churches. Then a central hall is secured and cpmpetent lecturers speak each weeknight on some aspect of marriage—e.g., Family Relationships, Sex and Marriage, the Home and the Community, Religion in the Family. An exhibition of all the material that interests home-makers is open daily (by the co-operation of community groups interested in furnishing, electricity, gas, first aid, carpentering, education, etc.). Leading citizens take part in a Brains Trust. A moving film is shown at frequent intervals. Demonstrations of various kinds are given at advertised times. A bookstall with all relevant literature is available.. ■ In New Zealand a “School for Marriage” has already been attempted in Dunedin and valuable, if limited, lessons learned. The main experiment now is to organise three “Home and Family Weeks” in a New Zealand setting during 1948 under Mr Blamires’ guidance. Communications have been sent to a number of centres that might be interested to undertake the work included in this type oi organisation.