The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1907. SPIRITUAL LIFE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 11 July 1907, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1907. SPIRITUAL LIFE.

IN a sermon which he preached last year, the Rev. T. H. Sprott, vicar of St. Paul’s, Wellington, pointed out that one indication of the feebleness of our spiritual life was to be found in the small accommodation provided for worshippers in Wellington and the other chief centres of the colony, and that although both the population and the w’ealth of the cities had increased, hardlv any new churches had been built in recent years within the boundaries. The Bishop of Wellington reminded the Diocesan Synod on Tuesday night of Mr Sprott’s remarks (says the Evening Post). His Lordship said that another indication was seen at the last general election. Resolutions in favour of the Bible in Schools movement had been passed by the representative assemblies of various Christian bodies, and at public meetings of citizens all over the colony ; but when the election came very few persons showed that they were in earnest in desiring reform- Even the General Synod, last February, took no notice of the report which was laid on the table by the committee it had appointed at its preceding session to help forward this movement. Bishop W allis added; “ We are not seriously troubled — that is the plain truth —that a large number of our children are growing up in ignorance of the Almighty.” * * * The last paragraph uttered by Bishop Wallis —‘ ‘ that a large number of our children are growing up in ignorance of the Almighty,” is a reflection on church work. Who is responsible for the spiritual life of the people, the State or the Church ? What do the Churches exist for? Are the clergy filled with zeal and enthusiasm for the work they have chosen ? If the Bishop’s remarks as quoted above are true, who is to blame ? The Church and the clergy.