COMMISSIONER HAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 736, 8 February 1910, Page 3

COMMISSIONER HAY.

THE ONLY CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE

.Speaking at . tho morning servipe, conducted by tho : Salvation Army ,in the Opera Housb on Sunday,; Commissioner Hay . urged upon Christian believers the desirableness of complete separation from the ways of the world., He prefaced his remarks by stating: that most people were, to some extent, familiar with the Apostle Paul's message to the Church on that.' subject. . It "contained one of- the fundamental truths, of Christianity, yet it. was astonishing how sbme • people wanted to evade the. teaching, of Scripture on that and other, matters. The fact was that' with all the world over there was a great unwillingness to bear any burden, but an eager desires to secure any advantage. Lots of people were only, too prone to. trim ..God's Word- down ■ to ■ suit: their own little. minds.;

'• In conclusion, Commissioner Hay said that he could not too strongly'urge that from sin and-the ways of sinners was indispensable to the conviction of others. -.'To those who. had the opportunity of counselling beginners: in the Christian life he could not impress too strongly to-say: "Let your, .counsel. every time be'on the straight line■ of conduct." Upon the stage sometimes, and in various classes of literature there wos . a.proneness to infer that' Christianity was all. cant, all. humbug, all make-believe, and that was to be regretted. If the people of God would-, only separate themselves from the; ungodly—lead : consistent good lives—they would soon get the necessary distinction, and only the sheep would, be found in the sheep's clpthin'g.:-It was his' experience' that unless a; Christian : had' a certain amount of isolation' he did , not get the necessary tonic to enable him to continue fighting strongly.- : "Without separation," added .the Commissioner, /'Christiaaity must' become feebler until, the time, will come .when the world will dance a hornpipe on it" ■ ' The evening meeting at .'the' Opera House- on,' .Sunday .. was... Mrs. Hay - delivered . an • earnest' .address 'on- the religious., privileges., of the: present day,.'. and Uie ! responsibilities' of . the individual in connection' l .therewith v .Commissioher; . Hay spoke from' Matthew jadii, the 34th and following verses..

YOUNG PEOPLE'S GATHERING.- -!• A: special' children's demonstration' was held in the Salvation Army. ■ Citadel, Vivian Street, on.'. Saturday evening. Commissioner and . Mrs. Hay were present.

' A'bright' programme -of action, songs,' dialogues, poi dances,, hoop 'drill,'..and other, items,'' was :provided by'children connected- with the. - various institutions of the Salvaition -Army-in. the ;oity.. and suburbs.

Jlrs. Hay addressed a few words .to the children,. ;and. '.expressed .her', appreciation -of; the. welcome: she. had.received jn '\Vellingto'n. . ' .To, ;the older. folk,.:'she uttered' words. of cheer,'.urging them to have patiehbe with : the; : youiig, and . not to . look upon the- care. and -.teaching'.of children, as a task. •; Energy; itf.-that direction always' had ■ its . reward. .', '• ' Commissioner Hay was at' home: with his audience right' away. ' He said that he hoped to see : an. .Anti-Smoking : and ; iiti-Ganlbling League formed . in. New Zealand shortly.,. The .badge-'he' wore was the.first, in New'Zeaalnd issued by the league, .but he hoped that, in a days, thousands would be worn. . Pledges were also to. be signed. He was . "specially interested in > boys' and / girls'. holidays, ■ for .he believed ; that .'a boy of fifteen should have'an occasional holiday away from his mother. It. would do him goad, and expand' his ideas. , Young people's camps; .'had. therefore been 1 as ah .' experiment," and he expected ." that camps . would 1 'shortly be. organised! 1 in' : New J -Zealand/ "The -'Young / People's Guide," a now' and attractive littlo Army, .book;' was' just' issued, and. should'. be ; placed in the hands ,of, all the 'children. He was. giving sorious. thought to the teaohing of boys and girls of from fourteen to sixteen years, of age,: with a' view to their, having .definite, and clear: guidance in.-regard to .'moral purity.-"i Some' advancement in ' this direction was hoped for. shortly. He was impressed with the children of Australia and, New : Zealand, and lopked upon, them'as a, splendid heri-' tage .for, the overseas dominions..