CHURCH AND YOUTH

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4446, 1 May 1930, Page 1

CHURCH AND YOUTH

4. THE At Hi OF INFLUENCE. “While the Churelt is Cur everyone, L believe in my heart that it m meant, especially to be Cor the young,” said the Mayor (Mr. 0. A. Troup), in discussing the plane of religion in modern life at the opening oC the Miramar Baptist Church on Saturday. “I Ceel that the e.lmrcdi will never be able to do Cor me now what it did tor me in my youth, and I believe it anyone present examines his own experience lie will come to that same conclusion. The (Jliurch means much more to the youug than to the old. ACter the age of 10 or 50 we become settled in life and outlook. We are inevitably fixed in our habits after we attain maturity. A man can then no more change the shape oC his collar than lie can alter his character.

“The young people are in a process of change. Although the Church lias progressed very Car in the direction of giving more attention and service to the young', I still consider it has not done sutUcient. '1 lie whole energies oC the.older people should be directed toward these, young people to sure harbours and to guide I hem to safe foundations of life. Once there, you i-an depend that the Lord who made them will keep them sale. “For every hotel and dance hall in this city I would like to see' ten ( bundles. There is nothing 1 welcome more than new houses erected to the glory of God. The most outstanding purpose oC the Church seems to me in the tirsf place lo he the worship of God. There is nothing you can possibly place before that. It is true we all like to listen to a. good sermon. Home of us Presbyterians fairly revel in it. We have, our serinoiilasters, young and old, who determine where the minister is sound and where lie is un-’ sound. But., while as a Presbyterian I admit the advantage to he (ditained from listening to an oditying and spirited address, that, alter all, is not primarily what we go to church for.”