EMPTY CHURCHES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 7 December 1927, Page 9

EMPTY CHURCHES

PROBLEM IN ENGLAND. A CONGREGATIONAL VIEW. Half-empty churches and the politician’s point of view formed the basis of a striking address at the Assembly of the Congregational Union at Newcastle, England, by Mr Bernard L. Manninv. bursar of Jesus College, Cambridge. "We look at our half empty churches to-day,” he said, ‘‘almost negligible from the politician’s point of view, treated by some parties w>th hollow patronage, by others with malicious insolence. “The butt of the third-rate novelist and the shortest way to a cheap sneer.’’ He was speaking on “Christian experience throughout the centuries,” and he asked, “Is there less or more Christian experience in our time than in the immediate past or in the remote past?” “We consider the world-wide missionary activity,” he added, “maintained by this handful of Church people in an indifferent nation. “Contrast this with the grip rhe mediaeval Church had on the political and national life, its control of industrial life and the colour it out into intellectual life.” There was much talk to-day about the religious attitude which was Christian, but had no use for '.he Church, he added. Every newspaper and magazine was full of it. Those who ought to know better played with such talk. “Social service for the voung offender” was dealt with by Mr Alfred Woodall, of Broadway, Worcestershire. “Prison never cured anyone,” he said, “but. on the contrary tends f.. make a man or woman more criminal. The old idea. ‘Spare the rod and spoil the child’ has existed far too long in our present system.”