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SOLDIERS' RELIGION

—-——■' PRACTICAL AND SIMPLE ADDRESS BY REV. ROBERTSON ORR "The Religion of the Trenches" was j the subject of an address by the Rev. I Itoberlson Orr in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church last night. Tho preacher spoke about the religious practice and profession of the soldier at tho front ' from a -freshness and sympathy -wholly admirable,.and at tho same time in a Manner not quito common among preachers of any 'church. Ho said that 0110 of tho things that the soldiers had discovered about religion wa.> that it was an intensely practical thing. Tho men in tho trenches would 11'ot understand the religion of the ninn who grinds his employees, the man who never has his .hand outstretched to help Lis fellowinan. That religion was not the religion of tho soldiers, nor was ii -the religion of the Biblo. Tho religion of. the trenches emphasised tho fact'that Christianity was a wondrously simple thing. Tho padres at tho. front could not give to the men any ■of . tho scr- : Tiions that they had preached to their congregations at home—no theoretical or theological sermons. Ho had heard of a padre who had been in the habit of beginning his talks to the men with some such remark as "Have you written liomo yet?" What would be thought ■of tho minister who began his sermon to a civilian congregation with some such question as "Have you people paid your slobts yet?" And yet thh sort of direct talk such as was given to the fioldiers might be a lot better than some theological sermons, only partly understood by many of tho peoplo hearing thoin. Tho religion of the trenches required of a man that lie should face all difficulties bravely, and bear his troubles without a murmur—even as it was -written that Jesus of Nazareth bore his burdens. The boys at the front had discovered that Christ was the centre and the circumference of Christianity. lie ought now to be' preparing for the home-coming of these men. It had been said that our boys wero bigger than our churches. If this was so the churches jinist be enlarged, not in size, but in, the spirit of brotherhood that ought to pervade nil churches. "If we had this spirit of brotherhood we 6hauld be large enough for tlieni," said the preacher. "We have. all. to enlarge our ideas of "what constitutes a Christian life. You •want lo bo ablo to face these fellows who ■ liatl seen whnt Christianity 011 its practical side is. If your idea of religion is | that it is merely church-going and pay-1 jng your way, your churches will not be •large enough for these men. These men j liavu touched the reality; they liavo | Keen tho Devil at piny; they have tasted and drunk deep of the cup of sacrifice; ii'l they will not find that a man's Christianity is real unless he is girded "to fight every .Devil's work, unless he is serving' lo clean up tho raco of everything that would ever cause a war again, i '" >vo enlarge our spirit c. ui'otherhood, and w0 will havo to enlargo i Christian living. Tho question is whether our churches aro going to be largo enough -for these men who have seen tho real thing?" It was a crowded congregation in the church, and tho' peoplo listened with close attention and evident appreciation •to the address. A general invitation i Srorn tlio ladies of ilio church was a- i tended to all soldiers and visitors to j come lo a meeting wholly social in char- I nctcr held after the service. There were | numbers of soldiers present, arid many of them went into tho hall bohind tho church to take a cup of coffee and to hear a little music.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19180617.2.70

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 230, 17 June 1918, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
631

SOLDIERS' RELIGION Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 230, 17 June 1918, Page 7

SOLDIERS' RELIGION Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 230, 17 June 1918, Page 7

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