NEGLECT OF THE CHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 24229, 12 September 1940, Page 6

NEGLECT OF THE CHURCH

VICAR OF CAMBRIDGE OUTSPOKEN “LUKEWARM RELIGION” (Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, September 11. “Until we can sing our praises to God with as much enthusiasm as we sing ‘There’ll Always be an England,’ or, for that matter, ‘Roll Out the Barrel,’ I feel sure that God will accuse us of being lukewarm in out* affection,” said the vicar of Cambridge, the Rev. C. W. Chandler, in the course of an outspoken address to parishioners, local members of the Home Guard and Legion of Frontiersmen. The vicar asked if everyone present believed in God. “If your answer is in the affirmative,” he asked, “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 many times some of you have been to the pictures (not that there is any great harm in that) since last you darkened these doors. BELIEF AND PRACTICE “This all points to the very grave fact that you are going to ask God, whom you have more or less coldshouldered, to answer your prayers. It’s like going to borrow a ‘fiver’ from a man whom you have persistently ignored for months or even years past. “My first point, therefore, is that belief must be wedded to practice, if you believe in a cold shower you have one every day, and if you really believe in God a team of bullocks should not be able to keep you from worshipping Him in His house every Sunday. “Many of you are parading once a week and even more often in the Home Guard. You are to be commended for your loyalty, but what about loyalty to Almighty God? Victories are never won by the sword. If we are depending upon ourselves alone for victory in this war, we may as well cease firing right away. It cannot be done. It never has been done. “A RECRUITING DEPOT”

“I have turned the porch of this church into a recruiting depot, and I have posted a few N.C.O.’s there to sign vou up as you leave this service. They have a number of cards, on which the following words are printed:—‘On active service for the King of Kings. Realizing that our Christian civilization must be defended on the home front, I undertake: (1) To be on parade every Sunday; (2) to pray every day for the peace of the world; (3) to attend classes of instruction when called upon; (4) to wear a cross in token of my affiliation’.”