ON GOING TO CHURCH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81887, 14 November 1906, Page 3

ON GOING TO CHURCH

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—There is a flutter in the sacer dotal dovecot as to why common folk do not go to church. The pathetli (ameut of the, Bishojj </£ Dunedin, "God help all who aie getting toe respectable,'' is echoed by the mat in the street if he happens in hu innocence into one ot the Higl. Churches, where the Deity is woi shipped by rite. It is general); taken for granted that because we 'o nut go to church, we miss such a 10. of good things. This is one of tit l fallacies of theology, and is noi true\\e can buy our books cheap:y, ano read them to as much purpose as tlu man in the high box. \\ hy was u that the common people heatd Llirt ■ gladly.' Just beeiuse he was one 01 themselves, and wanted no gaud) edifice or surpliced choir as aids te His message. The canopy of Ueavei. was good enough for llitn, and Ik took up no co.lectior.. Ihe kind t-<j pieaclier we want to-day is a mai. with a message, and we aie waiting for him io arrive. Of what use 1 it to go and hear monologues delivered in mono,ones as to whether justification by facts includes saiictification, or it baptism means sprinkling or dipping, or if he I i means remorse or blazes r A preacher who ha; something so.id to tell the peopli never lacks an audience or meansas any student of history knows. Thi glaring fact that starts us in the face to-day is that not one in a hundrtu ot our paid clergy are worth going to church to listen 10. But, bless you, they must be paid good salaries, if a talented actress or singer comes along, the 5/ ?*eats are crowded. And why? Because we get a quio pro quo for our money. If these things were true of the church, there would be no bother about the money. If, as is true, that the church is run oa commercial lines, why not do as is done in any ordinary business.' 11 it does not pay, shut it up. if a man thinks he is called to preach and the congrega'ion does not 10U up, and the collection plate is thin, if lie had any gumption he would roll up his sleeve* and try bush-felling or a long handled shovel. lb' would be all the

btticr for it in the majority uf eases. Therefore, if we wun'i go to church we du not need lo cry for the Deity's ears are open to all the spiritually minded. And at the last we shall be judged by what we do, and nor by what we believed or disbelieved. And so »ay luts of other folk, besides. —I am,etc., A. JAMES. Haw era, November 12.