SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

Shannon News, 7 December 1923, Page 3

SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

“IF ALL WENT TO CHURCH.” ROOM ONLY ONCE 1 A DAY. ; CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 26. The question of Sabbath observance was referred to by the. Mayor of Christchurch, -Mr J. A. Flesher, in the course of an. exchange- of felicitations between himself and the Presbyterian General Assembly to-day. The Mayor said that there were re-' presentatives on the borough and county councils of the Dominion who were doing their part in order to have the .Sabbath kept as a holy day. Whenever men took a definite stand in these natters, he thought it would be better if those who approved, instead of sitting by quietly, would express their approval in a, more audible way. “I have had a look at the census returns, and I have asked myself what would happen if next Sunday every person took it into his or her ’head to go to church,” the Mayor continued. The ‘total number of build-' ings in the Dominion used for church worship was just under 4000, and they provided for the accommodation of less than 45 per cent, of the people of the various churches. If all the adherents went to church they could not provide for them more than once a- Sunday, and be was one. of those who believed in going twice on a Sunday. “I am! not a believer in the “oncers,’ ” he added. The Rev. .7. A. Asher said; that it was gratifying that in most of the cities of the Dominion the representatives m the . chief seats were outstanding Christian men like the. Mayor of Christchurch.