CHURCH ABSENTEES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1988, 19 February 1914, Page 6

CHURCH ABSENTEES.

MINISTERS ON THE PROBLEM. HOW TO REACH THEM? (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, February 18. "THo man outside the Church, and how to reach* him," was a subject discussed by, the Congregational "Union of New Zealand last night. , The means suggested wore various. What many speakers called "the .personal touch" was a favourite, and, in this connection,' friendly handshakes, house visitation, talks over the farm fence, and oven the friendly pipe wore extolled. Other methods were also suggested among them being the tabloid sermon.- The discussion was opened by a paper read by Jlr. A. W. Beavim, acting-chairman ot the union.

Mr. Heaven said that the Churches wero doing more social work than ever before, and making more attempts' to win the love of tho people. They wero not, however, impressing the public. Ho did not advocate that the sen-ices should bo ornate, bccauso the Churches which kept that most to the front lost as much at ono cud as they gaiued at the other. It was their presentment of religion which lacked impressionable effect. Speaking of means to reach the man outside the Church, Mr. Beaten said; "We shall have; more, than ever to go to him wherVhe is chiefly to bo found. Wo sometimes talk of the 'soapbox orator,' but the soa}>box orator, is wiser in his, day and generation than the Churches. He has gone out to the, square and tho park where the crowd is. Processions impress the imagination, and impel men to join them. That some men think enough of religion to publicly and ostentatiously notifr it to the wl/010 world is impressive, united effort, a federation of the Churches in worship, in missions, and in social work would draw in. tho public as much as anything. Tlie Y.M.C.A-. affords ono 'of the best means of reaching tho young men of,tho community, but, after all, is is to personal influence in the home, in the office, workshop, club, aTK ' union that we must look for -the most telling force."

Tabloid sermons were suggested by tho Rev. W. A. Keay, of_ Newton, especially in.an enervating climate liko that of Auckland. The Churches should be given a warmer and more human atmosphere. 'he thought. . • "Wo will havo to do less in the pulpit and more in,the market, the home, and the street," declared the Rev. J. M'Kenzie, of Onohunga. "Tho man in the street does not understand tho Church," said tho Rev. A. E. Hunt, of Wellington, "elso he would speak, of it more kindly. I quite admit that many men have been driven away by the coldness and. indiffcreiice of Church people. The pipe can sometimes bo a means of grace, he added. In advocating tho "personal touch," the Rev. T. W. Potts, King Country, said that he had. found .'that the reduction of the sejmon from 25 minutes to 10 minutes, and the brightening of t-ho evening service, had increased the attendance. '. ■

"I do riot believe altogethor in short sermons," said the Rev.' W. .Tanner, Waipu. "My people would not stand a ten minutes' sermon, and it is not consistent with the dignity of the Gospel." Tlie Rev. D. Adoney, lato principal of the Lancashire Independent College, and ex-chairman of tho Union of England aiid Wales, said .that •sympathy was the key of tlio hunnn heart. Wo should dare greatly in presenting the Gospel so that it will meet the needs of,the people. Spurgeon had onco said that, if peoplo would listen to him more-readily in a red coat than in a black one, he would preach in a red one. Of course, there was tho teririblo fact that the mass of people were indifferent. In New Zealand their in- , diiforerice might be due to tho fact that there end-all and be-all seemed to be to own a motor-car. Perhaps a big earthquake .would come on© day and wako them to their deeper needs. In reply, Mr. Beaven warned ministers and laymen! not to allow the dignity of the Church to be lowered. There was a little tendency to do this in the colonies.. The congregations in New Zealand consisted largely of working men, and, therefore, there was not the an-tagonism-between the working classcs aiicl the Church that was sometimes alleged. .