FUTURE OF RELIGION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 555, 7 January 1929, Page 12

FUTURE OF RELIGION

FAILURE OF MATERIALISM OPPORTUNITY FOR CHURCH In a New Y ear’s sermon in St. Mary’s pro-Catliedrai last evening, the vicar, Canon Percival James, took opportunity to review the trend of religious thought throughout the world. The keynote of the preacher’s observations was the belief that the nations were turning from materialism and inquiring for something to satisfy the instinct of religion. Canon James was definite that brighter times were at hand for the Church. It was undeniable that the years following the war had brought disappointment to many a religious mind.

Many people were suffering from what might be called the ‘fear complex.** They feared the Gospel was powerless against the hostile influences of the day and that the Church was playing a losing game. Until they freed themselves of this mood of “defeatism," the Church would be unable to seize her present opportunities. The most formidable foe of all religions was the Godless materialism sweeping over the world, the preacher continued. ATTRACTION OF RELIGION

Offsetting this there was an evident craving for something which materialism could not give. As the Archbishop of Canterbury had said: “Even where the Church repels religion attracts,” and the truth of this was seen in the fact that the thought of the day was seeking a. spiritual, rather than a mechanical, explanation of the mystery of life.

Further evidence of an inquiry into the spiritual and a demapd for religion was found in the newspapers. “All over the English-speaking world more space is devoted in the public Press than ever before to the discussion of every phase of religion," said the canon. “This is not due to any remarkable change of heart in the editors. My observation indicates that they are not of the type which is susceptible to sudden conversion. But it is their business to keep a finger on the public pulse; they know what is interesting the public. And they know that multitudes outside the Church are being attracted to the person of Jesus Christ and to*the ethics of His Gospel." MORE CLERGY OFFERING

Another happy sign was the increase in the number of young men offering themselves for the ministry of the Church. The serious shortage of ordination candidates for many years before the war had been causing greater concern since the war. But there was a marked change for the better. It had been noted in England, and in New Zealand there was such a notable increase of young men with good qualifications who were seeking to enter the ministry that the resources of St. John’s College seemed likely to be severely taxed.

Canon James found signs of “better times coming" in the field of international and industrial relations. Although he could not accept the superlative estimate of the Kellogg Pact that many people had seen in the treaty, the Canon acknowledged that it was one of the many signs of goodwill which seemed to be actuating the nations.

“Men are seeing that neither our international nor industrial problems will be solved until they are approached in a new spirit," said the preacher. “Not a few of them are realising that what is needed is the Christian spirit. Here is the call and the opportunity of the Church. It is her proper business to make more Christians and better Christians. On that we believe the true progress of the world has depended and will depend. Christians who are inclined to be pessimistic have in reality abundant cause .to thank God and take courage. The next 10 years are likely to be momentous in the history of the Christian Church."

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS CAMP MEETING CONCLUDES All business sessions of the Seventh Day Adventist camp meeting on Avondale Racecourse were concluded on Friday and a service last evening concluded what is stated to be the biggest and most enjoyable camp yet held by the denomination in the Dominion. After the conclusion of the business sessions the time was spent in Bible classes and public addreses. At the annual foreign mission meeting stories of the mission field were told and over £7OO was given for mission work this year. On Sunday afternoon Pastor A. 11. Piper tyjoke on “God’s Last Message in all the World." He said that in 1927 the denomination was working in 127 countries and giving the message in no less than 279 languages, 132 of which were written and 147 oral. In addition 56 printing houses were kept working full time publishing nothing other than their own literature for their own circulation, the sale last year amounting to £952,387. The speaker added that the denomination had 144 missionary training schools throughout the world with a total enrollment of 21,045. The total church membership was approximately 274,000. of which one in every fifteen were devoting their whole time working for the progress of the church. Further, that they had given £S ISs lid per capita for the year, which amounted to £2,452,734.

The service on Sunday evening conducted by the evangelist, Mr. Paap, concluded the camp meeting.