"A CLASS INSTITUTION"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 47, 19 November 1920, Page 6

"A CLASS INSTITUTION"

— ♦ THE CHURCH'S FAILING MANA GETTING DOWN TO BEDROCK ! PLAIN TALK IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY "What about the licalhen at our own door?" asked a member of tho Presbyterian GoneraLAssembly yesterday, during a discussion on the drift of people away from the churches, wheh arose when tlio following recommendation was tabled:—"That sessions bo urged to aim at fostering a spirit of loyalty on tho part of members to services."

Members were all agreed that the position which, it was pointed out, Was not confined to tho Presbyterian Church alone, was serious, but were mostly at n, loss to suggest definite and elttctive. means to cope with tho situation. * Mr. J. Patterson (Cliristchurch) said that tho reason why a great many people remained outaido the fold was that tho Church erroneously presupposed in iti service a very considerable religious and scriptural capacity on tho part of tlio non-churchgoers. "I believe," ho. remarked, "that the day is coming when wo must frankly begin to cater for the man who is not , a member dt the Church, and who is not particularly interested in it. W. ewant to conduct appeal to the man ia the street. You : all know how tho man in the street will go to evangelistic services, because they arc free and easy." Mr. J. 11. JoIFj gave point to his view* by stating that he. in common with the rest of the Assembly, had availed himself of a concession ticket enabling, him to travel first class on the railway', on a second-class faM. Was that the way to get into, touch with thoso of the community the Church was professedly so nnxious-'to reach? Again, how many leaders of the Church when visit-, ing cities went to tho places whero. those people congrogated? Iloir many of the' members of the Assembly, he asked, went to stay in tho democratic houses? Were, they not living in a fool's paradise? •. Dewn Among the People. Voices: No, no. Mr, Joll: Wo urc! • Thiß is a, time for ' p'.aiu speaking. You can. talk about, travelling missionaries and evangelists, but all this is of no avail if you don't follow the lead of Christ and get down, to bedrock. Get down among the people. , , .Jltov. Dr. Gibb: Don't forget that Christ spoke to tho well-to-do as well as the poor. Mr. JoCl: I am sorry if I am hurling anybody's •feelinss. but the time has arrived when somebody's feelings must

bo hurt. ""* ... • Tho Rev. I. Jolly, in championing ih» views of the .preceding speaker, *a>d: "There is no doubt that one of the scnou* factors in our present-day life is that many of the so-called labouring ttus6ea have come to regard the Christum Church as a class (institution. Ino previous speaker was laying his finger on one of tho most serious problems in Chrietendom right to-day." Giving his own experiences, Mr. Jolly said that tho great difficulty hi the case of his own church was that his congregation. w«N> so "shockingly respectable. In consequence, how to get tho working people to come to tho services was a problem over which he was breaking his heart. Tho Church people wou.d certainly not overcome it by shutting their, eyes or attempting to do a little barrackins—as had been attempted that daywhen a man spoke ficely on tho subject. The recommendation was adopted, ana , it- was also affirmed: "Thatoach Presbytery take into consideration the matter . of special evnngehstio efforts m its <W- t ferent charges." Another recommendation adopted ran aa ; follows :-"That tho first Sunday in July ■ bo apoointed for special services m co inecti</i wilh &» K>bservance of ™ a Lord's Day." .