LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 309, 18 September 1918, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PROBLEMS OF RECONSTRUCTION Sir,— May a mere woman give rer opinion, based on personal experienceconcerning a matter that seems to be. agitating some minds—the question as» to why people in general, and the workers in particular, do not go to church. Mr. G..Kenned Quotes the Bishop <* Woolwich as relating the case of a> certain workman who.no longer weno to church "because I have been. liar, man mav bo representative of many, bub I think that a greater number, if asked: why they are not churchgoers, would, give as their real reason "Becauso 1do not believe.". And tin's want of belief—to what shall we refer it? To the apathy, aloofness, and Pharisaism of our clergy in time past and present? Partly, no "doubt. To the system ct free, secular, and compulsory education which the love of fair play (innate, in our people) has established in these islands ? Partly again,, hut most of all to the fact that to-day the Churches seem to have no certain tidings of Unit which they preach, and that their ministers are'in the forefront of those who cast doubt upon the Gospel story. Often those same ministers clearly give to their congregations tho impression, ihat. "Oh, you can believe this; it's good, enough for you, but as for mc I dwelt apart from such primitive conceptions as yours. I revel in the Higher Criticism." But to-day wo workers refuse to he satislied with the leaving* of the learned. Our attitude to the. Cliireh is this: "Your religion seems to. us to be not true; we are not children, to be put off in our questionings as mothers put off the eager inquiries,of their little ones concerning Santa Clans. Wo ask you to give us proof tbut Christianity is something more than mi outworn superstition, and that, 'f so, it offers the best foundation for the society we hone to reconstruct." If tin» Cluirch would supply that proof for which we wistfully hope, we, in our thousands, would again be in the ranks of her adherents, hut if she still gives the old platitudes in which no one puts any credence we have no option but to continue to be outside her pale—l am, etc '' FEMINA-