THE CHURCH AND MEN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1535, 3 September 1912, Page 5

THE CHURCH AND MEN.

ARRIVAL OP THE REV. J. E. WATT* • DH'CHI'IELD. (By Teles rash—Press Association.! Invercargill, September 2, One of Uio passengers by tho Mai tat aft riving at.the Bluff to-day was the Rev. J. E. W'ntts-Diichiield, who will commence a three weeks' tour of tho Dominion in tho interest of the' Church of England Men's Society. During the voyage -Mr.. Watts-Ditchfield became seriously ill, ind when tho steamer' arrived ho liud to ba carried ashore by the members of tho (society v:ho had gone tq port to welcome him. The visitor was conveyed to tho Club Hotel, whet'o ho was attended to by Dr. Torranco, who-would only allow him lo be'seen by-the Hcv. Mr. Swinbnj'ne, Anglican minister at tho Bluff. Mr. WattsDitchfield -will probably be laid up for several days. Tho Rev. J. E. Watts-Ditchfield', is vicar of SUJames-the-Loss, Bctlmal.Green, London; warden of Kidley House; chairman of tho Bethnnl Green.Board of Gunirdftns; and chairman of the Council of St. John's Hall, Durham. Ho was educated at Victoria University, Manchester, and • the London College of Divinity. Ho was select preacher at Cambridge in 1909. His publications are: "Fishers of Men" (1899), "Liturgies for Hen's Services" (1901), "Hero and Hereafter" (1910), editor of "English Church .Manuals" (1908). Mr. Watts-Ditchfiold luis organised'one , of , the largest men's services in England, and has nlaile tho Church of St. James-the-Luss one of tho busiest and best equipped in, East London. Ho is well known is a preacher to men, and has described 'how to reach them" in his book ".Fishers of 1 Mr. Watts-Dilchfield has just concluded a very successful tour through Australia in connection with the Church of hugland Men's Society. In an interview with a representative of the ''Church btnndnnl in Sydney ha was asked to give tome of tho latest figures of the growth of. tho C.E.M.S. He replied:"A spiritual forco cannot' be measured in arithmetical terms; but so far as numbers avail, here nro the very latest figures. We have now 421'J brunches all through the world, with a total membership nf 119,157. The grent majority of ihofi briuiches-llffi-are 'in England and Wales. In Australia there are 302, in New Zealand 128* in Africa 39, in India Itfi, and others elsewhere—in the Army .ami Navy, for instance." Is'this growth well spread over r.nglaiul, or is it confined to certain districts? "The "real growth, as far as numbers »o, is in the large towns, where, of course, we Imvo tho large population; but the society is spmuling also in the rural districts," and is cioverim? nil England. When we hold a big meeting for men in a provincial town-say, in Leeds or in :\Uinchestei—the largest hall in tie place is not nearly large enough to hold the men who waul; to attend tho meeting.' How has the effect of this growth licea observed in Church life? "In very many ways. Of course, Ih< seciety is'still very young, and the tun* which has elapsed since its formation liiif not been suflickmt to let us judge prnnorlj of its effects.' .No doubt many of its effects will b= moro discernible Inter on i for it it working ns a leaven, permeating, the whole of Church life. Certain, unnustak., oblo indications are already to be (-ten. Ml over the country there is a. greater keenness about Church work. , Laymen aro waking tip in a. sense of their nnvtleges mid of Iheir responsibilities Then, too, the fociely is undoubtedly unihuß Churchmen. It is uniting them in one wav bv bringing together men ot very varied" political views. The society knows no party in politics, and. men of oil political parties meet in it simply as brother Churchmen. Again, it is uniting men of varied social classes in a grent Christian llrotherhood. ISest ot nil, it. is oblitenitino the distinguishing lines of ecclesiastical parties, and is uniting Churchmen of every school of thought."