MODERN PLEASURES.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1923, Page 4

MODERN PLEASURES.

DENOUNCED FltOM PULPIT AUCKLAND, June 4. The ethics of the jazz anti the theatre from the. viewpoint of avowed Christians, formed the theme of an address by the Rev J. TV. Kemp at the Baptist Tabernacle last evening. Mr Kemp said that at the Anglican Church Congress held in Christchurch recently a high tone was maintained. A magnificent note was struck from the beginning, and a most gracious and spiritual atmosphere pervaded the gathering. One could not read the reports without realising that, but one report came out which widely shocked thoughtful and right-thinking people, who were interested in the morals of our voting people and the spiritual life of the community. “1 have the report before me,” he said, “and I am onlv too sorry that the message was declared by an Anglican minister in Auckland.” , Mr Kemp read the following passage from the report : “W ken people said that card playing, dancing, and the theatre were wrong, and that the raeecotirse was the road to hell, then thou? was some jusification for thinking their judgment was warped.” The confession was then made by an Anglican divine that he had made some unsuccessful attempts at jazzing, that his wife had perhaps not- been a successful teacher in that line, and that he did not get many opportunities of goinrr to the theatre, but from his earliest dnvs he had attended theatres and generally speaking there had been profit in it.

“The whole tenor and tone, so far ns the report goes is to indicate his approval of the things I have mentioned.” said Mr Kemp. “Vo do not wonder therefore that the atmosphere of Christchurch was charged with amazement and bewilderment. I think the rev. gentleman made one ol the greatest mistakes in his life when he made the statements he. did.'' Simultaneously with the report was issued one relating to ( hitrlie Chaplin

purporting to give his views of film life, and the utterance by the comedian. Mr Kemp said, ought to have fallen from the lips of the preacher, and those of the preacher from the lips of the comedian. But the tables were turned. He was bewildered; not only he. tint thousands upon thousands of people, to hear it declared from the pulpit of tile Clnirch Congress that it was quite legitimate for young people to go to theatres, to jazz, and to play cards. It was a. sign of the times. The dance generally sought the cover of night:, as carried out to-dav it could not he indulged in without weakening tin brain cells. Then, with regard to the theatre, he believed he was safe

in saying that it stood condemned by those who knew it best. Some time ago. when lie spoke on the subject of tile theatre, he was'taken to task by some notable people in the theatrical world, but at the same time he was visited by one who had been thirty-five years behind the footlights and behind the scenes anti he said: “What von stated is mild and tamo as compared with the actual reality." I!EV. C. C. BELL’S REPLY. AUCKLAND. June 4. Writing to the “Herald'’ the Rev. C. Cordon Bell says:— Even though Mr Kemp, has triticiscd my Congress speech somewhat siathingly. I am grateful to him foi the added publicity ho has given to my remarks. 1 am satisfied that more harm is being done to Christianity in this Dominion by the narrowness and intolerance of some professing Christians than by it-- avowed opponents. It is one thing to be impressed by the laid that New Zealanders are plcae-ure-lnviug people and to feel the necessity of warning people against over-indul-gence in pleasures. It- is quite another matter to allow oneself to he trapped into a ■. i-.dciit denunciation of pleasures which are in themselves innocent. tint! ti; declare things to lie hiu which Cod 11 inis.: If has not declared to be sins. That- is just the position into which Mr Kemp and those who think with him have placed themselves, ('till lie or any of bis friends justify their denunciations that a game, of cards, a visit to the theatre, or participating in a dance is essentially sinful I attacked modern puritan) m deliberately and with c.;ed coil:.' '■•ore. I rli-r>II continue pi do so. becau.se I am loiivinccd that Mr Kemp and the si hoo! ol thought, which he represents are misinterpreting our holy faith anil alienating many I rum Christ by their narrowness of outlook. Anyone who reads through the report of mv speech u iLI I an unprejudiced mind would note that while defending plea>uros as not being ineonipliablo with the profession of ( iiristiauily. f carefully warned my 1 1 carers that only those who were living the consecrated life could take part in those tilings without being in constant danger of allowing (hem to liccomo the he all and end all of life, that a life for pleasure alone is sinful and dangerous, that there are temptations connected with all pleasures which must he carefully guarded against, and that the best d earthly pleasures arc as nothing to the joys ol spiritual life. One last word. Wiiat justification has Mr Kemp for his assertion that lluuvuinds upon thousands cl people were bewildered by my remarks, or for his implication that I was responsible for lowering the spiritual tone ; of the Church Congress ? There was amide opportunity for any member of the Congress to call for an amendment to that matter and to make a protest if it was thought necessary at the meeting or on the day following, hut far from being criticised I was thanked repeatedly for having spoken out on this subject. I am at one with Air Kemp in the desire to help by Cod’s graet to make this Dominion Cod's .u ii country in very truth, but with his ideas on Christian moral standards I am verv largely at variance.