CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1360, 10 February 1912, Page 13

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

THE CHURCH AND THE WEALTHY. !Bi Trlccraiili.--i'res3 Assoetatien.l Palmcrston North, February 9. The Congregational Conference _ continued its sittincs to-day and to-night. The Kcv. J. Sarginsou read a paper on "The Relation of the Church to the Rich," in which he held that riches were not as some seemed disposed to hold, necessarily criminal, but only the abuse of such riches or efforts to become rich by anti-jocial acts. Ho considered the Church hnd lost much influence by foolish hurry-scurrying to accommodate itself to dicta of non-churchgoers, who wished to dictado the Church's attitude according to what non-churchgoers professed to believe to be the teachings of Christ, and wished all rich men to be denounced irrespective of how they had made or used their riches. Tho Disciples had misunderstood Christ's advice to the young ruler (o sell all ho had and give to' the pour. ]t was not his great possession?, but his excessive devotion to them that Christ had denounced. To plague and penalise men bscauso they were making money too fast would be desnotic and reactionary. The Hon. G. Fowlds and the Eevs. W. A. Evans, J. M. iffeii. D. Hird, and others agreed with Mr. Sarginstm's views. Tho Rev. M. Bawdcn Harris urged the better equipment and appreciation of Sunday schools as absolutely necessary to the'welfare of the churches. The Rev. W. M. Grant, Port Chalmers, gave notice to move that the Defence Department be consulted ns to appointment of military chaplains for eaoh district. Mr. Grant also moved that hearty greetings bo sent to tho Moray Place Church on its jubilee.