“ DEAD RELIGION.”

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1927, Page 4

“ DEAD RELIGION.”

ARCH'BI.SMOI’ JULIUS ON FAITH.

CHRISTCHURCH. July I

Festival services were held at St. Peter’s Church, Riccavton, yesterday, Archbishop .Julius preaching flie sermon at. the morning service. Archbishop Julius chose as his text. ‘•And this is the victory that ovorconieth the world, even our faith.” Tt was faith, said the preacher, that had enabled a small body of men to overcome Home, and eventually the whole world. But faith alone was no wood; a person could not have faith in nothing. Faith had to he founded on belief. The Jews and the medieval Churches had belief, and in a way si did the people of to-dav. But they might not have any faith. People believed in God and the Bible, and yet they had lost faith. That was a dead religion. A few years ago there was formed a society—a most awful tiling, he considered—called the Church 1 'eteitce Society. lie could not under- i stand what it was for. The Church had its duty to perform, and he did not see how it need be defended. •‘Religion is an awful dreary tiling for some of us.” said the Archbishop. ‘‘lt is a sedative that keeps some of us peaceful. But religion is not a sedative. Its purpose is to uplift people, and to make them forget themselves. and the positions they hold in life. Some people are tolerant—l don’t know whether that is a virtue or a vice. But a Christian can’t be tolerant when he knows that he has to fight.”