THE CHURCH MILITANT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17692, 1 August 1919, Page 5

THE CHURCH MILITANT

REPORT BY ANGLICAN CHAPLAINS.

LARGE NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS.

(Fboii Odb Own Correspondent ) AUCKLAND, July 31. The views of a number of returned chaplains on tho most pressing needs of the Church in the direction of reaching the young men of tho dominion were presented in a report placed before the Anglican Synod. A conference of the clergy attending the Synod was held earlier in the weeK, when the returned chaplains placed a great deal of information, gained on war service, before the meeting. They were asked by the bishop to prepare a statement on their main observations.

The chaplains were of the opinion that men v.ero responsive to the claims of Christ, but that their l-espjnse to tho Church, owing to their ignorance of the teaching, depended very largely on the chaplain and senior officers under whom they served The existing organisation at the outbreak of war was incompetent to deal with the situation, and was largely responsible for most of the difficulties which the Church's chaplains Lad to encounter. Thero should be i, Church of England body responsible for tho immediate and absoluto arrangements of all chaplaincy work which might arise from time to time :n the dominion. The report stated th.it the chaplains' experience of the war confirmed their opinion that the service of Holy Communion was the centre of worship, and that parents should be encouraged to bring children to attend and become comersant with the service. They were convinced that in order to remove the burdens of sin sacramental confession, as provided by the Prayer Book, must be fearlessly taught, and that the clergy should from time to time read publicly tlie exhortations of Holy Communion. They also thought that evidences for Christianity should take a more prominent place in sermons and lectures. They recommended that tho clergy should acquire more medical knowledge, suggesting that during the training of theological students lectures should be given by doctors. Thj report recommended that schools of instruction be held for all clergy under the direction of the bishop, and that young and old bo recommended to attend and to profit by them. Enlarging on tho suggestion that a special Church of England body should be appointed to deal with whatever Territorial programme the Defence Department might propose, the report recommended that should be nominated to act as chaplains within the precincts of overy camp, and that all necessary material for the entertainment of tho men should be held in readiness for immediate use. They also suggested that a suitable selection of church hymns set to band music bo obtained, and that the advisability of quick playing be brought before the notice of every bandmaster. Further suggestions wore that no parade service should exceed 25 minutes; that from time to time there should be a school of instruction for chaplains; that chaplains should be selected as far as possible from the ranks of the younger clergy; and that chaplains should observe the King's Regulations and refuse to participate in so-called combined services. Oa the suggestion of Bishop Ayerill, tho chaplains were thanked for their report, which it was docided to publish in the Church Gazette.