THE CHURCH AND RADIO.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19177, 7 December 1927, Page 2

THE CHURCH AND RADIO.

BROADCAST SERVICES.

CLERGY AND COMPANY CONFER

Representatives of the Christchurch Ministers' Association met the Radio Broadcasting Company at station 3YA vesterday afternoon to consider a scheme put forward by the company for broadcasting church services. The conference was held in camera.

There were present: —The Revs. Archer (chairman), and J. Robertson (Baptist), Archdeacon F. N. Taylor and the Rov. C. A. Fraer (Church of England), the Revs. N. L. D. Webster, W. Maclean (Oamaru), T. Paterson, and T. W. Armour (Presbyterian), the Rev. Gardner Miller (Congregationalist), the Revs. W. Greenslade, A. Liversedge, and W. H. Speer (Methodist), and Mr Ho»vard Earl (Church of Christ). The company's representatives were: Messrs A. R. Harris (general manager), C. Booth, and W. J. Bellingham (musical director). The Broadcasting Company's proposals, as set forth in the circular, were to broadcast Sunday services of the churches of the most important denominations in rotation. This applied principally to children's evening services. By special arrangement the scheme might be extended to other services on Sunday or week days. It was also intended to include organ and choral music and choral festivals of a suitable ijharacter. Tho important denominations were deemed to be:—Church of _ England, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Salvation Army, Church of Christ, and Congregational.

A motion that the meeting approve of the broadcasting of church services was moved by the Rev. D. Gardner Miller, seconded by the Rev. W. Grcenslade, and carried unanimously. It was stated that the .Roman Catholic Church and the Salvation Army were not represented at the conference. A communication from the Salvation Army was read explaining that the Army authorities were not keenly desirous of broadcasting, and could not do so regularly. At this stage the Mayor communicated by telephone with Bishop Brodie, and returned to inform the conference that the Roman Catholic Church had decided not to broadcast any service at present. The Rev. W. Maclean moved: "That a provisional committee be set up to co-operate with the. Broadcasting Co., to be invited to appoint 'one representative. This was seconded by the Rev. W. Greenslade and carried unanimously.

A long discussion ensued on the question "of the time and place of the service which is being broadcast, whether in the studio or the church, and whether, if in the studio, it should be during the hours of the ordinary church services or afterwards. This discussion centred in the first proposal of the Broadcasting Co.: "Every Sunday regular evening church services or Bpecial studio services occupying about one and a quarter hours be broadcast." The following motion by the Rev. J. Robertson, seconded by the Rev. W. H. Speer, was carried, the Presbyterian representatives dissenting: "Every Sunday regular evening services or special studio services be broadcast, the studio service to be at the usual church hour." The Presbyterians disagreed with the time of the studio service, if any, contending that it should be after the regular service. The remaining proposals of the company were referred to the committee. A hearty vote of thanks to the general manager of the Broadcasting Co., Mr A. R. Harris, for convening the conference, and for his courtesy, and a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, closed the meeting.