SLUMP IN RELIGION.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 364, 19 February 1937, Page 6

SLUMP IN RELIGION.

DEEP INFLUENCES. I Criticism By Bishop Of Wellington. Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, Last Night. The danger of the Christian and - moral standards of New Zealand being lowered was stressed by the Bis.nop of Well ir. 1 1-on, the Rt. Rev. H. . St. Barbe Holland, when speaking toi daj- at. a i'tncheon of the Optimists’ [Club. L “In New Zealand there are disquieting suggeslions that our public life, " ■ ’he Christian foundation of which , we pride onrsclvev ;s being under- ' mined and events within the last few v eks suggested it We have i see the failure Ct the juries of our land to express the conviction of the nati , that the abnpminable crime of abortion must not, be allowed within j ils borders,” said Bishop Holland. “I atn encouraged by the words of the [ Chief Tustice at the conclusion of the , fourth trial to eiijft'esg my own very I strong couvu iion that a nation that cannot agree that this crime should not escape without punishment is untrue to the' fundamental Christian ti lition of the British commonwealth.” Commenting upon the jury’s' verI diet in the Area trial the Minister of Justice the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, : /“marked to-day that the jury system ■•’as so fundamental a part of the judij cial system that no change should be made without a great deal of consid1 eration.

Views-Of Methodist Church President. Press Association—Copyright. Auckland, Feb. 18. “M Jiodism is as ready to-day as -ic. to co-operate to the fullest extent with evei/ other section of the Ch,, ian Church for the promotion OI ’he Kingdom of God among men,” ssci ted ti e Rev.. F. Copeland, New PLmouth, m his presidential address •'io-i:igut at the opening of the annual 'ouf -»nc e of the Methodist Church of New Zealand. “The Church, whose Founder clamed the world as bis parish, can never.” Mr Copeland .Ijtiuued, “be limited in its outlook or self-centred in its sympathies.” , -VI hh same their primary concern, the speaker emphasised. 'as with the work of Methodism in New Zealand, and particularly in that sphere of service—the Western Solomon Islands mission field— which had bien its special charge for tile past 15 years. in their care tor wider vineyards they must not neglect their own. After paying tribute to the '•toik of the pioneers of New Zealand Mb iiodiem who brought the Gospel .both to the Maoris and the early European settlers, the president made reference to current religious condition sand trends.