Church Work and Life

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 407, 16 July 1928, Page 14

Church Work and Life

MESSAGES FROM THE PULPITS

"CRISIS IN CHURCH”

WARNING TO MT. EDEN PRESBYTERIANS TOO MUCH INDIFFERENCE “We are faced with a crisis in our Church history, but I am convinced that the congregation which has faced up to it in the past will face up to this crisis.” Such was the remark the Rev. Leonard H. Hunt made at the conclusion of his sermon at the morning service in the Mount Eden Presbyterien Church yesterday, during which he reviewed the work of the parish since his induction as minister seven years ago on July 7 last. The preacher said that for him the occasion was one of much emotional reflection. "When he came to the church he had been told that the Mount Eden district was a fast developing suburb, and consequently the increase of only 40 in the church’s membership during those seven years was most disappointing. The speaker quoted “alarming figures” to show that it takes 150 new houses in the district to provide another Presbyterian church-attending family. The church was not by any means keeping pace with the growth of the suburb. They had received far more than sixty members by certificate from other congregations, he said, and 74 members by profession of faith. “These are startling figures—so alarming to me that they show we have been a ghastly failure,” said Mr. Hunt. “The impact of our church on the adult population of Mount Eden is practically nil.” The number of permanent adult converts during the past seven years could be counted on ten fingers. Mr. Hunt said that he could honestly say he had done his best as minister of the parish. “On occasions,” he said, “I have made as many as 14 calls on one afternoon; been wet through twice a day and tramped the streets for miles and miles until I was so tired I couldn’t study in the evening.” He also said he refused to take all the blame for the paucity of attendances at the evening services. WORK OF THE YOUNG All this seemed very pessimistic, continued the preacher, but he was coming to a brighter spot—the splendid and magnificent work among the young. He cculd say that there was not a single church in Auckland that had maintained such a high level of Bible-class and Sunday-school work. He wished to pay a tribute to the work of Mr. E. T. O. Downard, formerly an elder and Sunday-school superintendent, who had now left the district. “We have two Sunday-schools, and the 80 Bible-class members have to meet in two rooms not 16ft square. We will have to adopt the policy of looking after the children, and then the church will look after itself. I know a good deal about our Bible-class members and a good deal about other Bible-classes, and I can say that member for member they have greater ability than those of other Bible-classes in the city. The work of extending our buildings is urgent, and nothing can be gained by delay.” The 13th annual congregational meeting and social will be held in the church hall on Tuesday evening next, when, it is understood, the session will bring forward a building scheme. THE LIFE ETERNAL CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH LESSON-SERMON DISCUSSED “Life” was the subject dealt with at the Christian Science Church yesterday, the Golden Text being taken from St. John, xvii., 3: “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” Citations which comprised the Les-son-Sermon included the following passage from the Bible, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Eton And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesusu Christ.” (I. John v.. 13, 20.) From the Christian Science textbook the following passages were taken: “ 'This fs life eternal,’ says Jesus—is, not shall be; adn then He defines everlasting life as a present knowledge of His Father and of Himself —the knowledge of Love, Truth and Life.” “Unless the harmony and immortality of man are becoming more apparent, we are not gaining the true idea of God; and the body will reflect what governs it, whether it be truth or error, understanding or belief. Spirit or matter. Therefore ‘acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace.’ Be watchful, sober, and vigilant. The way is straight and narrow which leads to the understanding that God is the only life.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 410. 324.) HEROIC EFFORT TO SAVE WORKER’S LIFE CLERGYMAN’S EULOGY • Even greater than the courage of the man who worked in daily peril is the bravery of those who go to his aid when his life is at stake.” The courage of workmen generally, and the heroic manner in which colleagues endeavoured to assist Mr. William Everett, who was killed by a fall of earth at Edendale on Thursday, wajs emphasised by the Rev. R. G. Coats in an address at the funeral on Saturday. Aware of the suddqn fate that had overtaken him and aware of the possibility of its recurrence, these men showed a spirit of great self-sacrifiqp, he said, amid perils they alone fully realised. At the funeral members of the tunnelling gang to which the late Mr. Everett belonged acted as pall-bearers. The Mayor of Mount Eden, Mr. E. H. Rotter, and Mr. A. M. Bryden, a member of the council, represented the borough. Mr. F. Grinter, one of the contractors for the tunnel, was also r~

"THIS PAGAN HATE”

BISHOP ACCUSED OF WHINING CANON JAMES ON BIBLE IN SCHOOLS In a spirited address delivered at the Auckland Town Hall yesterday afternoon, the Rev. Canon Percival James, launched an attack upon the utterances of Bishop Cleary for a sermon which the Bishop had delivered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral a fortnight ago on the subject of Bible in Schools. Canon James asked if this, a protestant nation, was to be ruled by a Rome minority, and urged that the question be sent to the jury of the people. The occasion was a big protestant demonstration held in conjunction with the Loyal Orange Lodge, and the Bible in Schools League. The Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher presided, and said that politicians in New Zealand regarded their positions in the House in greater respect than they did their principles, and when an election came around they possessed a wish-bone instead of a back-bone. “They are counting the votes already,” he warned his audience. “They know there is depression and unemployment in the country, and their chief concern is that they be not left among the unemployed.” Canon James warned the people against what he called the “Roman mischief-maker,” and said that because Rome was organised in New Zealand, she was exercising a power out of all proportion to her numerical strength. The Roman Catholics were approximately 13 or 14 per cent, of the people; yet they were keeping the wishes of the majority from being gratified insofar as the Bible in the schools was concerned. “What chance would there be for the rights of protestants in a country where there were 80 per cent of Catholics? the Canon asked. Accused of Whining He dealt with the sermon of Bishop Cleary, and said he was not attacking the Bishop in his high office, or in his personal character; but he attacked that Bishop Cleary who had established himself as spokesman for the whole of the Catholic Church throughout the country. He classed Bishop Cleary’s phrase “Anglican Parliament,” as “feeble reprisals simply because I happened to tell an inconvenient home truth about the Roman Catholic block vote.” “Bishop Cleary says we, the clergy, have been committing amazing and gross neglect of the souls of the children,” he went on, “and sitting in easy chairs, and letting the State do all the work. And when anyone tries to refute this, he whines —actually whines. “He has whined before the Parliamentary Committee, in the Press and from the pulpit, that we are stirring up sectarian strife in the community. Oh! This pagan hate!” Canon James appealed for the admission to the schools of the English Bible, and said the desire of the Catholic Church to have it excluded was an arrogant and an impudent claim. “There is one supreme issue,” he added: “Are we to have Rome rule or are we to have Home rule? Let the jury decide. We have talked about it for 15 years, and everything that can be said has been said a thousand times. Let the jury decide.” Canon James added that the Loyal Orange Lodge was expected to be the spearhead at the gates in the fight against what he said was the intolerable position imposed by the Roman minority. The Rev. T. H. Eccerstall, of Otahuhu, addressed the assembly upon the efficacy of the Bible. "CHRIST AND THE CROWD” SINGLE SOULS VALUED TEACHING THE MASSES Taking as his subject “Christ and the Crowd,” the Rev. Leonard B. Dalby preached at the Kingsland Methodist Church. The heart of Jesus was strangely moved one day at the sight of the “much people,” said the preacher. He observed their weariness, their restlessness, and by-and-bye He knew they were hungry. He fed them. How different the great ones of the past ;to the need of the “crowd.” “Cursed be this people that know not the law.” ■ The Greek in the Iliad who gave any of the Demos a clank on the crown | with the flat of his sword to keep him i in his proper place was the military! ■ A gentlemanly Roman poet declares he hates the vulgar crowd, and keeps it at a distance. “Cannailles,” “CannonFodder,” “The Masses,” trms of opprobrium, were used in many lands. To Jesus the masses were made up ;of “ones.” He never forgot that. He i valued one soul, one mind in a won- ■ derful way. He appreciated both in ; a remarkable fashion. The politician ; appeals often to the “pocket,” the “stomach” of the crowd, just as though the people were nothing else but “pockets” and “stomachs.” Jesus knew their need, all of it, and He began to teach them many things. What a difference! GRANGE RD. THANKSGIVING £56 FOR BAPTIST CHURCH The annual thanksgiving services of the Grange Road Baptist Church were held on Sunday. At 11 a.m. the Rev. John Laird, M.A., spoke on the words “Thanks be unto God.” In the afternoon Mr. E. H. Perkins, on behalf of the Sunday School Union, addressed the Sunday school. During the following hour Mr. F. E. Kretschmar led a record attendance of young men and women at the Y.P. Institute, comprising six Bible classes. In the evening, the Rev. A. S. Wilson addressed a large audience on Psalm 116, verses 11 and 12. “What shall I render unto the Lord for all Elis benefits towards me. I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.” At the conclusion of the service Mr. R. S. Abel, the treasurer, announced that the offerings for the day were £56. The day concluded with an impressive communion service, I