CHURCH AND STATE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1932, Page 6

CHURCH AND STATE

PROBLEMS OF PRESENT DAY. LAST OF SERIES OF LECTURES. There was again a good attendance at St. Andrew’s Hall last evening when the series of lectures dealing with the Church and State was concluded. The subject for hist evening was “'Christianity as the basis of the State,” relative to the home, school and Church. The aspect of “the home” was taken by Mr Menzi.es who referred to the pleasure seeking tendencies of the young people following their parev.ts’ lead, in seeking their entertainment outside the home. Peop’e of to-day were failing to put first tilings first, while there was insufficient parental supervision and guidance of the children in their work and pleasure. There uus also the tendency of c-liid re u to disregard parental authority. The home should he the place where ’ the children’s friends were welcomed the most pleasant place on earth. “If the character of our young people b not sound, how can the nation he sound,” lie asked. ‘‘The greatest contributor toward character is the home.” Miss Potts deailt with the aspect of “the school.” Children experienced only home influence, up till the ngc of five, six or seven years, she said, hut after that there was the influence of the school until the- child had reached the later ’teens, or the adult stage. The child spent five or six hours a day, six days a week, and 40 weeks a year at school, so that the influence' of a teacher must, pliiy a great part. Home was the great influence, the speaker said, hut the school was the paramount iiillireiioo, with much dependency on the influence of the teacher. In the. formation of clnirneier several things must lie taught - discipline, truth, justice, industry, punctuality, courtesv, good muling and lovallv. Thidess the school- wer- dn'o ■ all these lliinirs, th’ n v Were failing in iliat nurnose for which they were cstahished.

Mr J. B. Ward mii-inpip'oil th”t “the Church” was tire mod imnortiv.t part in the teaching oi Christ’s love, and had il not been for the the home and school as we know it would not have Been in oxisteec*.. Thc'fChurc.h was not foip’d d menfiv for- self-salvation hut for the building of Christ-like character.