Church Work and Life

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 715, 15 July 1929, Page 14

Church Work and Life

MESSAGES FROM THE PULPITS

POWER OF ROTARY

ANALOGY TO LEAGUE OF NATIONS “STANDS FOR WORLD UNITY” “Rotary, like any other great and worthy movement, may be j misunderstood and caricatured. In the same way Christianity was misunderstood at the beginning. Those who take the trouble to penetrate below the surface will find that Rotary stands for one of the biggest things in the world, namely, world unity, as the outcome of world sympathy and mutual understanding.” These were the words of Archbishop Averill, who preached in St. Mary’s Cathedral last evening on the ideals of the Rotary movement. The service was largely attended by Rotarians and their families. Basing his address on the text, “By love serve one another,” the archbishop said the word “love" in the Iv'ew Testament did not mean exactly what was understood of the term today. It really meant service and bigmindedness, which represented the highest ideals in life. This idea cut ihe ground from under national selfishness and any society which set before itself the idea of service was carrying out the real meaning of love. BASED ON CHRISTIANITY The Rotary movement, which had penetrated into 44 different countries, did not profess to be a new revelalion or contain any new or original ideas, but it sought to adhere to certain principles taught by Jesus Christ, which had too often been interfered with an overshadowed by less worthy and selfish ideas, the Primate sajid. Although Rotary stood for high edhi«al standards in business and pe:oi'essional life and for good fellowship, its greatest work and greatest usefulness in the world lay in the culttvation of true national and international spirit. By breaking down “fences” and international boundaries it would cultivate a broader spirit in the world. This was the first and most important ot the elements which made for peace. What the League of Nations is doing, and trying to do, in creating better international relations the Rotary Club is doing in a rrsore subordinate, but no less important, sphere,” said the archbishop. “It was endeavouring to create a solid foundation upon which the League might rest. Popular goodwill toward the ideas and principles of the League was fostered. The very fact that the Rotary movement had developed in all parts of the world was a certain indication that deep down in the Souls of men there was a growing dissatisfaction with a selfcontained and self-centred nationalism. It had been said Rotary was not a band of good fellow's, but a state of mind—a mental attitude —attuned to God’s service for mankind.

COMMUNITY MISSION

GOD IN HUMAN LIFE ADDRESS AND DISCUSSION The community mission service in the Zealandia Hall, Dominion Road terminus, last evning, was conducted by the Rev. George Jackson, who dealt with the question, "Can Man Know God?” The preacher pointed out that, as human knowledge and understanding of the nature of the universe increased, the longing for fellowship with Ood did not become less real. The dogmatic assertion that there was no supreme being created more difficulties than it solved, and involved a denial of the validity of the deepest instincts of human nature. The argument for and agaiast the existence of Ood were not to be regarded as unimportant. Nevertheless, God was needed, not simply to supply an adequate explanation of the mystery of existence, but to supply impetus and power to discharge the duties and responsibilities of daily living. A God who was found at the end of an argument was likely to remain an abstraction. A readiness to rely upon our own inner conviction that we were made for communion and cooperation with Ood, and an act of committal, reaffirmed and repeated in daily life, were necessary in order to attain to a knowledge of a Divine Being. Ood was obscured and made unreal for us not mainly because of the difficulty of believing in His existence or His wisdom or His love; but chiefly because of our habitual refusal to foster and have faith in those qualities of moral discernment by which tho things of the spirit were percei^d. The address was followed by a frank discussion concerning the place of God in human life. Widely varying points of view were expressed. The questions raised were so far reaching that it was agreed to continue the discussion at the open forum next Sunday evening.

APPEAL TO FATHERS

“SET RIGHT EXAMPLE’’ DUTY TO CHURCH AND HOME “How do you spend your Sunday? I know that you are busy men, and when you go home on Saturday you are weary and tired. But what is your Sunday programme? Digging in the garden, and in summer going out when you can? I want to say that you are the father, and it is your duty to take the spiritual lead m the family. Do not wait too long. Life is too short. Life without God is nothing, and without God in the home, home life cannot be happy.” These remarks were addressed" by Canon Grant Cowen to a congregation largely composed of fathers in St. Matthew’s Church last evening. Yesterday was set apart at this church to impress upon fathers of the cit> their responsibilities and duties in the home and toward God. In the morning the preacher was the Rev. Charles Chandler, and in the evening the vicar, Canon Grant Cowen, He hoped “Fathers’ Day” would become an annual institution throughout the country. “You cannot possibly enter Heaven clinging to your wife’s skirts,” said the canon. “Some men think that because their wife and children attend church they need not interest themselves. After all, it is somewhat cowardly to leave the spiritual responsibility for your children to your wife. In the sight of God you are head of your home, and at the same time you are the person responsible in the sight of God to give an account of your home. Yours is the responsibility to put the child on the right path, and you cannot shift that responsibility on to anyone else.” The preacher said that although he had every respect for Mothers’ Day, he felt fathers had an equal responsibility both to God and to their families.

It seemed easier for women and girls to serve God for men and boys, possibly because of their more sheltered lives. When boys went out into the world, they met with sarcasm and opposition when they tried to live the Christian life. It was too often said by business men that they led busy lives, and that they had very little time to give to the church. They sent their wives and children to church and Sunday school, while they themselves were willing to give subscriptions to the Church. In not going themselves, they were missing the greatest thing in life. H ‘Too busy!’ That is no answer. What of the example you give in your own home? Young people imitate. They do as you do. If, when they grow up, they fall in the pitfall, do not blame them unless you have set their little footsteps in the right path,” declared the canon.

The preacher appealed to fathers to take their proper places in home and church, and not to allow others to assume their responsibilities.

TIMID INVESTORS

REV. JASPER CALDER ON UNEMPLOYMENT “PLUCK TO SPEND NEEDED” “The cry in New Zealand from the decent unemployed is not ‘no one will help us,’ but ‘no man hath hired us.’ If only this message could be taken seriously and our citizens had the moral pluck to spend, it would mean that some one would say to our unfortunate friends, ‘Go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right that I will pay you.’ ” So said the Anglican city missioner, the Rev. Jasper Calder, preaching at the City Mission last evening. “When things look blackest is the time for the optimist to speak his mind,” said Mr. Calder. “I have tremendous faith in this young country, but no Government can get us out of our troubles of poverty and unemployment unless that faith is shared by New Zealanders generally.” The preacher used the story of Ezekiel’s vision of the wheels to stress the importance of keeping the wheels of industry moving. “It is a beautiful romance to follow the wheels of faith in industry,” Mr. Calder declared. “The public pays the builder, who pays wages and pays the mill. The millowners pay the bushmen, the country storekeeper shipping or rail freights, and thus more wages, like the house that Jack built. The wheels are going round. I say most emphatically that £500,000 spent in Auckland wisely in constructive investment would restore the feeble faith of our citizens. I would infinitely prefer that that should happen than to see large sums distributed in charity. “The people of New Zealand only need a little faith in this wonderful young country and our troubles can be settled in a matter of weeks,” said Mr. Calder. “I have nothing but contempt for the investor who ties all his money up in gilt-edged securities like an old lady’s investment at 2i per cent. Even the small man can do his bit by spending judiciously. Suppose one could wave a magic wand and send 500 motor-cars into the paintshop tomorrow, or order new rooms to be built on 500 houses, or send an order for launches, boats, etc. Think of the excitement, and then calmly follow the money flow.”

NEW PRESBYTERIAN HALL

FOUNDATION STONE LAID

Presbyterians of Ellerslie started an important addition to their Church life on Saturday afternoon, when the foundation stone of the new church hall was laid by Mr. G. L. Mather, in the unavoidable absence of his father, Mr. R. H. Mather. The service was conducted by the Rev. T. H. Roseveare, deputy-Modera-tor, the Rev. J. Hubbard and the Rev. S. E. Hill. The Rev. A. Gilmour and the Rev. F. Barton were also present. A copper cylinder containing a typewritten statement concerning llie life and work of the church, particulars of the new building, a list of ministers and office-bearers to date, an Auckland newspaper, and the latest copy of the “Outlook,” was placed under the foundation stone. The building, which includes a hall and a Sunday School, has seating accommodation for about 300, and will be used for Sunday School, Bible Class, and social purposes. »