VICAR HITS OUT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 244, 12 September 1940, Page 7

VICAR HITS OUT.

NEGLECT OF THE CHURCH

The vicar of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Cambridge, Rev. C. W. Chandler, told a capacity congregation at a special service on Sunday morning just what lie thought of the neglect of the majority of their churches. He told them they were like the man going to borrow a “fiver” from another man whom be had persistently ignored for months, or even years past. “Bit tough, don’t you think?” said the vicar.

“Does everyone in this church this morning believe that God rewards those who diligently seek Him ? If your answer is in the affirmative how comes it that you are not on parade every Sunday? Some of you here this morning have been to the races several times since last you came to church. Goodness knows how main times some of you have been to the pictures since last you darkened the doors of the church. . This all points to the very grave fact that you are going to ask God Whom you have, more or less, cold-shouldered to answer your prayers.” The vicar, at considerable length, emphasised what lie considered to be a grave neglect of the Church, and in a strong concluding appeal he said: “I have turned the porch of this church into a recruiting depot, and I have posted a few ‘N.C.O.V there to sign you up as you leave the church. They have a number of cards . . .” Mr Chandler quoted the contents of these cards, which asked each recipient to reaffirm his loyalty to God and the Church. The “N.C.O.’s” were at the door and quite a number signed the cards, while many others nromised to fill them in and return them to the church.