DANCES FOR CHURCH FUNDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 502, 2 November 1909, Page 3

DANCES FOR CHURCH FUNDS.

Some 800 circulars were recently sent out by the Church Pastoral Aid Society (Fnglaud)_ to the incumbents and curates in charge of poor parishes receiving grants towards spiritual work, expressing a hope that the practice of raising money for church purposes by dances, theatricals and bridge and whist drives would be discouraged in every way, such methods being regarded as a “serious menace to the spiritual influence of the Church.” The secretary of the society informed a Press representative that a most gratifying response had been made to the appeal. Replies had been received from all parts of the country justifying the action of the committee, who had for some time past felt that the growing tendency to give dances, theatricals, and card drives was inexpedient and dangerous. A leading incumbent in the Liverpool district wrote that he was glad to receive the circular as to the adoption of unspiritual methods of raising money for the work of God. This was a great and growing evil, and the blessing of God could not permanently rest upon work advanced by such means, as abundant instances proved. His parish was entirely free from the taint of such methods.

From a large parish in South Wales a letter had been received in which the writer said : “I am in hearty approval of the sentiments contained in your letter and will do all in my power to discourage such worldly means of raising money for spiritual purposes.”

A clergyman in the diocese of Ripon wrote: “I have been delighted to receive your letter, and rejoice at the prospect of the evil you refer to being definitely discouraged by those whose influence ought to carry weight in church pastoral aid parishes. Your Committee have spoken out not a moment too soon. Incumbents in this part ot the country have a hard struggle to keep out worldly methods from the life and work of the Church, and in not a few cases have given way before the strong pressure brought to bear on them. . . . . The bishops

should be asked to move in the matter. We have not had the clear and definite lead from our bishops that we ought to have had.” From the Newcastle diocese an incumbent wrote: ‘ T wish to thank you and the Committee for the letter, as to the_ doubtful methods in connection with church work, as I feel that it will strengthen the hands of th of us who are making a stand against this thing. I believe in the North our difficulties in this respect are specially great.”