ARCHIDIACONAL CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2489, 23 June 1888, Page 2

ARCHIDIACONAL CONFERENCE.

Tub quarterly meeting of tho AVaikato Archidiaconal Conference was held at 'IV. Awamutu on Thursday. Present : Ven-erable-Archdeacon Willis in the chair, Rev. J. Marshall, (To Arolia) ;R. O'C Biggs, (Hamilton); Dr. Hooper, (Cambridge); R, ,T. Boler, (Te Awamutu) ; Messrs Handed, Wells, Roche, 15. T. Cox, Dr Moon, Swarbrick, Salmon, Teasdale, Bertram, Matthews, Tristram, Walton and Sorby. Besides those mentioned who were present at tho afternoon meeting many others with several ladies attended the evening sitting. The Rev. R, .T. Boler, who opened the proceedings with prayer, was appointed secretary, aud read the minutes of the last meeting held at Te Aroha which wero confirmed. The Chairman in opening the business oxprcsscd his pleasure at the arrival of the Rev. Dr. Hooper in the district and said that his experience would be of great benefit and assistance to tho archdeaconry. Tho (irst subject for discussion was "The New Zealand Alliance," The Chairman gave an explanation of the objects of tho Alliance. —Proposed by Archdeacon Willis and (seconded by Mr Matthews, " That this conference heartily sympathises with the aims and objects of the Alliance." In reply to Rev. Dr. Hooper the Chairman said he did not apprehend there would be the slightest difficulty in obtaining wine for the Holy Communion in the event of prohibition being made law. After a good deal of discussion on tho motion tho Chairman withdrew his motion in favour of the following. proposed by Mr Wolls and seconded by Rev. Dr. Hooper, " That this conference approves of the principle of the majority of the people having power to suppress the liquor traffic, and gives its hearty sympathy to the New Zealand Alliance in its endeavour to obtain that power.' On being put to tho meeting nine voted for and seven against. The motion was therefore declared carried. Tho next subject was " How to get hold of the non-churchgoers," Tho subject was opened by the Rev. MiMarshall who read extracts from a Home paper bearing upon the matter, in which various reasons wore assigned for non-at-tendance at Church, One was that some working men objected to what they called the stiff and formal service of the Prayer book, preferring the free and easy style of tho chapel services. Another that the relationship between employer and employed had altvrpd ; the employer frequently taking no interest in tho spiritual welfare of the employee. There were only two of tho reasons,but thore was one which deserves mention, and that was that a working man said he objected to the Archangel style of voice of some preachers, meaning (Mr Marshall supposed) intoning, or speaking in a monotone. Mr Marshall considered that Church members should take an equal interest in bringing people to Church with their clergyman He instanced the success which attended the services of the Salvation Army, which could be accounted for in some measure by the fact that every soldier did his best to bring people to their services. We might take a lesson from them. We should be punctual in holding our services, and the Minister should in all cases preach an extempore sermon. In some cases such sermons would not bo acceptable to persons of a higher standard of intellectual attainments, but he was now speaking of the best means of getting the masses to attend the Church. He objected to the custom of turning to the Hast, and if the congregation objected to it it should not be done. If a Mahomodan came into one of our churches in which this custom obtained and saw the clergyman so doing, he would say, " what a strange sect, their God is at one end of the building, and when the minister speaks to God he turns his back to the people, and when he speaks to the people he turns his back to God." He did not approve of chanting the creed, but he saw no harm in chanting the Psalms, but if people objected to it they should be read. He believed in having the service so conducted that a person (not a churchman) coming into the Church for the first time should approve of the service. With reference to the use of ornaments, such as the cross and candlesticks, ho was of opini ill that no minister should have it in his power to use them if tho peopla objected to their use. The people should say whether they would have them or not, lot a three fourths majority decide the question, and so settle the matter. Wore some such course adopted, the painful correspondence seen in the papers relating to such matters would be avoided. For imnself he believed in none of these things. In his district the feeling was very strong on this matter, the people disapproving of such displays. The Rev Dr Hooper approved of Mr Marshall's remarks, there was one. however, he wished to allude to, that was the reference to the supposed expression of a Mahomedan opinion of tho practice of turning to the Hast. It was part of the Mahomedan's creed when offering up his prayers to turn to the Kast. so that he would hardly object to the practice. Mr Swarbrick asked Mr Marshall if he had had any experience of tiie London Churches where the services wero High Church, and where the Churches were well filled.—Mr Marshall said he had not, but that lie had experience of other Churches which were well filled, and such practices did not obtain, full congregations. He had been to one service of the sort in Loudon and he would certainly not go again.—Mr Salmon said the custom in Hamilton was to turn to the East, there were only a few who objected to it. One in particular to emphasise his objection turned the other way, and that man had since joined the Salvation Army.—Veil Archdeacon Willis said it did not trouble him so much about the masses, it was what was called the " upper ten " he wished to secure, as it was his experience the masses as a rule went to some place of worship, but the others were generally the greatest offenders in point of non-attendance at places of worship.— Mr Wells said he would like Mr Marshall to toll them how he managed to fill his Church at Te Aroha. He (Mr Wells) could answer for it that it was filled, and well filled too.—Mr Marshall's experience was that many families who came to New Zealand, and who were not accustomed to ritualistic practices at Home, gradually drifted into other Churches because of their objections to such customs in this country. At this stage the Conference adjourned for tea, and, on resuming, a long and animated discussion took place on Church ornaments. Finally, the following resolution, which may bo interpreted by high or low Churchmen to suit their views, was carried : —

" That the true remedy for the present unsatisfactory state >>f Church attendance is to bo found ill mure. systematic work in tho parish generally, and in rendering the serTices more attractive." It was decided that the next Conference be held on or near tho full moon in September at Hamilton. Tea was served r.t the parsonage, whore everyone was cordially welcomed.