TRAINING THE YOUTH

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3909, 19 February 1929, Page 3

TRAINING THE YOUTH

INFLUENCE OF HOME AND CHURCH. ADDRESS BY SIR CHARLES FERGUSSON. “This church will become the centre of the spiritual life of the congregation in this district and it will, I know, he the rallying place of all those who have at heart the extension of God’s Kingdom and the spiritual welfare of the district,” said the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) when congratulating the (Baptists at the opening of their new Church Hall in Lower Hutt on . Saturday afternoon.

Sir Charles Fergusson spoke upon the influence which the Church and home had upon the spiritual training of young people. “Times are changing. We have new ideas and a new psychology to which we have to adapt ourselves,” he said, “and this is having an effect upon our young people.” There were, he said, three great influences, through which a sense of the nearness of God could be brought home to the young. The first was the influence of the home. It could be truly said that most of the tragedy of wasted lives and wrecked homes could be directly traced to the lack of guidance in home life. It was the natural result. The older ones present knew that the influence of home life was not the same to-day as it was in their youth. Ho'w could a person be expected to realise heavenly love if he had not first experienced the love of bis parents? The second influence was that of the environment of nature. “Surely in this lovely country it is not difficult to! teach ourselves that God is to be recognised and to be found in nature,” he said.

The final of his three great influences was that of the Church, and this was going to promote a sense of the nearness of God. “You will bring your families to worship here in the calm and peaceful atmosphere of your own church, because' one of 'the great influences of one’s after life is the recollection of the church where one worshipped,” concluded Sir Charles Fergusson.