"CHURCH IS ALIVE"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 27, 26 October 1937, Page 4

"CHURCH IS ALIVE"

Canon Mortimer-Jones' Trip to England MARKED ADVANCES "The Church of England is very alive, more definite in its challenge and conscious of its need to progress along the lines of modern thought in political and social life, without sacrifieing the main foundations of Christian belief and life," said the Rev. Canon C. Mortimer-Jones, vicar of St. Matthews Church, on Sunday evening, when addressing a erowded church. Mr MortimerJones, who had just returned from his trip abroad, conducted both services at the church on Sunday. "There are still at least three parties within the church but, by attending the nearest church, 1 found an average type of service, very similar to oure at St. Matthe-jv's, which. seems typical of the large majority; that is, the 'broad church' party," he said. "I noted that church people attended the morning service far better than the evening one. "Then again a marked advance towards the unity of non-Roman Ohristians had been made by the two conference3 field at Oxford and at Edinburgh. These ecumenical councils, which have Deen held only once in 10 years, will have a permanent result on the fellowship and unity of the 45 Christian nations fiom -which the 300 or so delegates came," he said. "The Bishop of Christchurch was one of our representatives from New Zealand. From the point of view of the Christian church the reports of these conferenees are the most important events that happened in England while I was there." ' Mr Mortimer-Jones said that, if asked what was his happiest experience, he would. xeply that he placed first the meeting again with his mother and the days he spent with her and other members of his family. Next he would place the Coronation service in the Abbey and all the social funetions connected with the entertainment of overseas visitors by a most generous and hospitable Motherland. "The people at Home wanted us to have the best of every thing and to sea every place," he said. "It was impossible to aecept all the invitations. There was a spirit of optimism pervading every class of people and business seemed very sound. There also appeared to be plenty of money about, but how much this was due to Coronation year -conditions, or to the xearma-' ment programme would be .difficult to estimate. . "The people did not talk about war, or seean to worry very much about it after reading the headlines of the paper," he said. "There is a generai confidence in the Government and Mr Neville Chamberlain is accepted as a reliable businessman and a fit successor to Mr Stanley Baldwn— England' s typ- ' ical country gentlemaa." From the point o£ view of the Chureh, he added, the Divorce Bill of Mr A. P. Herbert, attracted a lot of attention. The support of the bishops was surprising and this was due to tbe fact that the Bill was an improvement on the previous one and made possible morq happiness among the poor, because divorce, with connivance, would no longer be the privilege of the rich. "This Bill is one illustration of mauy in which the Church and Statq combine to improve the lo.t of those who are in need of help ahd make for greater happiness of all people," he said. The speaker went on to say that he noticed a wonderful desiro to help, kindness and good manners, in shops and tiains and everywhere. He went to a Church of England family weekend in the diocese of St. Albans and no words could express the fellowship of those 200 who attended. .Charity to other Christian churcheis was comhined with the very definite teaching of one's own church "I have always been very interested in the healing of the body and mind by the prayers of faithful Ohristians," said the Vicar. "S>o I attended, with some 500 others, the Chureh of England healing festival, at Milton Abbas, and after receiving the laying-on of hands by the Rev. J. Maillan. I was able to go, everywhere without any pain and without any bandage on my leg. This, in itself was worth the trip across the sea." During his sermon the Qanon expressed his appreciation of the work of the Rev. K. Liggett, the wardens and all those who had" helpedi to forwai*d the church's work during his absence, and at the end of the service the whole congregation joined in the thanksgiving prayer for thq vicar's safe return.