South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, FEB. 5, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2145, 5 February 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, FEB. 5, 1880.

Thk people of Auckland, or at least a portion of them, seem determined to verify the old saying, “ the nearer the church the farther from Heaven.” Although Sulphur Island is a substantial reminder of what may happen to a fast-living community, they arc attempting to cast aside the usual bonds of social decorum and religious restraint, Hot content with introducing harmoniums, organs, and other badly-tuned instruments into their churches, they have resolved to unite with the teaching of their Sunday schools such profane amusements as linking and dancing. At a meeting of the Auckland Presbytery, one of the divines—the Rev Mr Monroe —complained that in reply to the question addressed to the ministers of the different churches whether any particular indications of spiritual life had been manifested during the year, he received the answer— ‘ Nothing extraordinary. Much rinking and dancing.” This was assumed to be intended as a reflection upon the harmless amusements of St. James 1 , between whom and the Presbytery there was evidently a bond of sympathy, for the rcllection elicited no comment, beyond a passing animadversion on the bad taste of its author. It may have been that some of the grave and reverend seniors may have indulged in rinking and dancing before they joined the cloth, ami that although in deference to that great Juggernaut propriety they .were now abstainers, they heartily wish they had only the chance of again indulging. At all events there was no reproof. While the Presbytery by their passive attitude were bestowing a silent blessing on the signs of spiritual awakening, in the shape of rinking and dancing, exhibited by St. James’ congregation, tli e apostolic brotherhood of St. John’s were engaged in a somewhat different kind of devotional exercise. What the Presbytery hesitated to do, the St. Johnians performed without the slightest reluctance. A resolution had been carried some days ago that rinking and dancing should be permitted in the hall of St. John’s Sunday-school. The bulk of the congregation, however, saw an evident impropriety in combining the use of roller-skates and dancing pumps with shorter catechisms and Presbyterian hviuu-buoks under the same roof. They perceived a forsaking of spiritual things and an unsanctilied cleaving to the llcsh in the conversion of a Suiida>vsehool into a ball-room and skating rink. Having a due regard for the wise saying of the ancient sago who declared that there is a time and place for everything, they i*esolved that dancing and rinking alternating with devotional recreations would bo altogether out of harmony and out of season. In these colder latitudes of ours we have not progressed so far as to he able to get up a controversy on the desirability or otherwise of associating the church and suudayschool with the skating rink, but as example is said to he more powerful than precept the result of the conflict between the M.Cs’ aud Deacons of Auckland will doubtless be watched by the Clergymen and Sunday School Superintendents of Canterbury and Otago with no small interest.