THE CHURCH AND THE MEN

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1371, 23 February 1912, Page 3

THE CHURCH AND THE MEN

SPECIAL SERVICES IN WELLINGTON. SOME INTERESTING" SUGGESTIONS. Special efforts are being made bv at least two Anglican vicars in Wellington to do something during tho present season of Lent to bring the men of their parishes' into closer touch with the Church. It was announced in Tin: Dominiok a few days ago that the Vicar of St. Mark's (the Rev. C. F. Askew), who has done very successful work among tho nieu : of more than one parish in England, intends to hold monthly services for men in his church, and as a preliminary step a social gathering for men is to bo held ni St. Mark's Schoolroom, Sussex Square, to-night. ■ A series of addresses to men are also to be given in St. Alban's Church, Eastbourne, on tho Sunday afternoons of .Lent. "The first will be held on Sunday next (February 25), when Ihe Anglican Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Snrotl) will be the preacher, his subject being "Sin." . The preachers on the other five Sundays will be the Rev. J. G. Bartlett. the Vicar (tho Rev. E. I. Sola), the Rev. A. M. Johnson, the Rev. C. F. Askew, and Archdeacon Harper. Tho services will he over in time for visitors from the city to return by the 4.40 p.m.- boat. In a recent issue of the "Commonwealth," Mr. G. W". E. Russell, well known as a churchman, statesman, and author, who was a member of Mr. Gladstone's and Lord Rosebcry's Administrations, .gives his experiences as regards men's services. Tho following are some of the conclusions lo which he has come: First and foremost, the service ninst bs "for men only." This is vital. Men who wish to go lo church,_with their wives and children ran easily ifo so nt the regular services. The men's service is specially intended for those who, from whntovfT cause, prefer to come as individuals and not .as members of a family. One such said: "I like your service, for my wife can't throw it in my teeth if I go and do contrary to what tho speaker said." Tho service must he held in church. j The principal object of the mean's serI vice is to accustom men to church-going. When once (hey have found by experience that there is nothing stiff or alartningornnnatural in flieirisideof a church, many prejudices are dispelled. The man who hns enjoyed himself at the men's r.ervice begins to feel a liking for the church, and perhaps slips in one night to evensong; likes that, too, and so gradually passes on into regular churchgoing. The service must only last on hour. That is as much a« the ordinary Britisher enn stand. There ore the claims of dinner, the after-dinner pipe, and tea, to be considered. Roughly speaking, prayers, reading, and music should take about, half-a'i-hoiir, leaving the other half for the speaker. Care should be taken, fsprcially )>v diffns" speakers, not to overflow the limit. The service, should be ns simple as possible. The music is a very important part of the service. Great care should he taken in choosing the hymns. They should be manly, not. babyish; intelligible, not mystical: if possible, connected with the subject of the address; and sung to well-kr.-wn tunes. Mr. Russell concludes as follows:— "What should he the subjects of speaking at a men's service? They must b? strictly religious subjects. If men want literature, or science, they can find them at the lecture hall or the Polytechnic. But it is to be borne in mind that the hearers know little or nothing, about religion, and are absolutely nnacouainted with pulpit nhraseology. Intelligible English —the English of the platform and the newspaper—should therefore be used. Topical references attract attention. An apt quotation always helps. Bnt.all these are only means. The cud of all our sneaking must be the Exaltation of the Cross."