CHURCH IN ACTION

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1929, Page 8

CHURCH IN ACTION

ANGLICAN SOCIAL AGENCIES. (Auckland Still'). “Like ii mighty army moves tin Church of Loti," sang a giither.ng o. nearly 4(sikJ people in the Aueklam. .own Liall last 'I nesday and in tin ringing there urns a strong suggestion n reality. The forces ot the Church if England in the Auckland diocesi .<ul rallied in great strength to ce.e.rate the ninth anniversary of flu inglican City .Mission and to demonIrate- the e.\tent of the social wclfari .vork which is being carried on throng! .lie media of a dozen or more othei liureli organisations. Some hundred ,1 people who were uiialile to gain admission Look part in iin overflow ser.ice in the concert chamber of Liu .own Hall.

Highly impressive was the processioi f entry, in which Archbishop Averii ,vas preceded by robed clergy," sin diced choir and stamlard bearers milling aloft the banners of the var • mis ehnreli societies and earryini hem to places of prominence oil tin i atlorm. The Archbishop was at ended by Archdeacon Hawkins, car ying the Rriaiacial Cross. A com ined choir'of IKK) voices and an or bestra were led by the Rev. Jaspei

ihler with pleasing musical effect ad with spirited singing by the largi gathering. A forceful address on the subject o ii-ial responsibilities was given by renbishop A.erill, who took his text rum the incident of Lazarus at tin i<-h man’s gate. The preacher’, heme was that if we were to doa dfectively with the problem of helpin; lie newly we must see that our efforts . ere intelligent y directed and tha hey had mo effect not so much o roviding palliatives as of seeing tlia hose in need Wore provided with op lortunities of making lresli starts in il'e. OUR UiR.OTHERS’ KEEPERS. “The Chureli is not a spiritual hot house or showroom,” declared th U'chbishop. “it is a garden, and ii hat garden is a school, a univorsit or humanity, and a hospital, in whici ve are, every one of us, being trainei dr service. We must have tin ruest ideals in this great work ii which we are engaged. Ift is not uere professionalism or philanthropy but it is ministering to the Chris .iinsclf. “We are so closely and intimate!.' bound up in the bundle of life we cal humanity,” said the speaker, “tha ve cannot get away from, the grea truth that we are our brothers’ keep >i’s, and that life on earth is but r stewardship. We have no right t< enjoy pleasures in life unless we cartmi. our social responsibilities. Muc’ social service is done outside the pub lie gaze, but that is no excuse for thdie rich to neglect tlieir duty to tin twentieth century Lazarus.”

The preacher said unit there was r /erv great deal of, kindness in tin vorkl, as well as good intentions, bu io ventured Lo say that in dealing with the social evils of humanity kind ness and good intentions needed to In lirooted into true and right channel-, or they might aggravate what the.-, desired lo heal. “What a social worker wants to do” said the Archbishop “it not merely to relieve for the moment, but to try to get to the cause ol struggles and of poverty. Our social troubles need more than surfaci palliatives. They need brave endeavours i* order to find causes where cer such disiovery is possible.” TICST OF RELIGION. The tost of religion, the Archbishop declared, was whether it was producing selfishness or unselfishness. It was a true saying, “My their limits ye shall

know them,” and they should rememner that deeds spoke better than worths. In me real Christain there could he nothing self-centred. Real love was the true basis of religion, and love was the most unselfish tiling in the world.

There was no need, (lie speaker idiled, to emphasise the fact that the liureli sought to carry out her work u trie sound principal of helping each lie to make the best of his r her life, of building up character, renting self-respect, anil sending out ■f her homes, orphanages and refuges .trong Christain characters equipped o withstand the temptations of the world. The flesh and the devil.

“To pauperise by misdirected cliarIv,” aliirmed the Archbishop, “is •qual to the licking of Lazarus by the lariah dogs. It is kindly inteiitioned, Hit it is harmful. To give a helping .land to men and women, to enable .hem to make fresh starts in life and to care for children, is surely reflectng the spirit of Christ Himself. Occasion was taken by the Archbishop Lo congratulate the city misuouers and their stall' on the wonderful work which had been accomplished by the mission during the nine years of its useful existence. Through its naiiv widespread ramifications il aimed at one end the uplifting of needy humanity, and for that work the community owed it heartfelt thanks. OVER, £10!) COLLECTED. For half an hour before the main service a programme of musical items .mil choral singing was interspersed with brief addresses on the work of various Church organisations. The Lev IT. Iv. Vickery spoke on the work of the Mission's to Seamen, Mr Julius . lognon on that of the City Mission, Tie Rev. (!. C. Cruickshank on the urpose of St. Mary’s Homes, find the Rev. 0. (Jordon Roll on the work of the Order of 1 lie (Jood Shepherd. Mr 0. J. 'Punks spoke as chancellor ol the diocese.

Jn the service proper the lesson was road by Arc Ii deacon Hawkins, and urayers wore said by Canon Grant Cowon. The collection realised £lO5. and it is to lie devoted to- the work o! Tie men’s night shelter. The overflow service in the concert chamber wa; •ondimtod by the Rev. Charles Chandler; associate City Missioner.