CONGREGATIONAL CONGRESS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 192, 12 February 1912, Page 8

CONGREGATIONAL CONGRESS

SERMON ON RICHES. . By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston N., Friday. The Congregational Conference continued its sittings to-day and to-night. Mr. Sargenson read a paper on fkt attitude of the Church to the rich, j* which he held that riches were not, as some seemed disposed to hold, necessarily criminal; only the abuse of *ueh richW or efforts to become rich by anti-social acts. He considered the churches had lost much influence by the foolish hurryscurrying to accommodate itself to tke dicta of non-churchgoers, who wished to dictate to 1 the "churches as to their attitude, according to what non-ohurchgoer« professed t.o believe to be the teachings o'f Christ, and wished all rich men Wjja denounced, irrespective of how they firo mare or Msed their riches. The disciples had misunderstood Christ's advice to the young ruler to sell all he had and give to the poor. It was not his great possessions, but his- excessive devotion to the» that Christ had denounced. To plague and penalise men because they were making money too fast would be despotie and reactionary.

Mr. Fowlds and Revs. Evans, Tiffen, Bird and Others agreed. Rev. Bowden Harris urged the better equipment and appreciation of Sunday Schools as absolutely necessary to the welfare of the churches.

Rev. Grant (Port Chalmers) gave notice to move that the Defence Department be cohsnlted as to the appointment of military chaplains for each district;, also for hearty greetings to Moray Place Church on its jubilee. ' . ..*.:.;,