QUESTIONS IN CHURCH.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1923, Page 1

QUESTIONS IN CHURCH.

INNOVATION IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY. July L For many people church makes no appeal. They cannot Teel joy in religion as they find it in eliureh. The sermons tire often long and monotonous, and the road to the kingdom of heaven, thorny enough ordinarily, is made harder hy the labyrinths of' creeds ami theology in which they find themselves enmeshed. Thai there is an indifference to the ordinary church service oil the part of many people is recognised in a prac,ical* wav bv at least one clergyman m Sidney—the Rev Mearns Alasste, i !,C services at whose Congregational ( lunch in the populous suburb ol Newtown leave been made brightly nil ratfive by the introduction ol a "Question Box" oil the last Sunday in each month. Questions on which inlormafi„„ may he sought are placed in the box, and they are read out and answered from the pulpit during the service. The questions cover an extraordinary range. The clergyman would need the wisdom of Solomon to answer them all, but be does bis best. "Do you think it just that children should ho punished for (he sins ol their 1 .ireitis ?” was one of the quest ions presented at the latest service. Here ivas another question: "Can a person achieve success hy saying, ‘Success is mine! Not if he lies on his baelc nnd snvs it,” was the minister’s retort : “lie must work.” That was straight and to the point. Tie was asked itbo to solve this little, domestic problem: "Who should carry the household purse?” The answer was v.'oi'ihv ol a diplomatist, for Alt' Massie, in’ course, includes both sexes in hi- congregation. "The one who knows best how to use it.” was his neat reply. Among a score of other questions was this one: “AYltv is a religious man so ollen distrusted in business?'’ "Because- often he talks religion but does not, practise it.” was the reply. "The man who puts his religion off with his Sunday suit is not religious.* 1