MEN AND RELIGION

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19903, 4 June 1936, Page 12

MEN AND RELIGION

‘ C.E.M.S. CONFERENCE. i ‘ . ‘BISHOP 0F WAIAPU’S ADDRESS. (Special Reporter-) CAMBRIDGE, \Vednesday. Between 20 and 30 members of the Church of England Men's Society as—sembled in the Parish Hall. Cambridge, yesterday for the 23rd Dominion conference of the society. The Bishop of \Vaiapu, Rt. Rev. Dr. Williams, is presiding over the conference. In his presidential address the Bishop stated that it was the duty of

the members of the society to bear witness Bea-ring witness was not a matter of merely testifying verbally. It was incumbent on all members al—ways to bear witness by example, and when the opportunity offered, by pre—cepL They were to bear witness in their Very lives.

“On an occasion like this.“ con—tinued the speaker. “ we nearly always tend to congratulate ourselves and look back to the good We have done. We are not doing as well as we should. l'l‘he Church of England .\len‘s Society in New Zealuml is not what it should ’be; it should be larger.“

131*. \\'illiums considered that one reason why me sovioly was not strong numerically was lhal H was not sufm‘iently attractive and there was something \\'unlill‘k‘l The speaker stated that it was his experience and that of fellow clergy llml mon were not adequately represented in the church.

“ The man in the street," added the president, “does not regard religion as a man’s job. One reason why men don't show religion as they should in lives is that religion is not real to them. Religion is not mere adherence to some creed. It is necessary that \\'e have a true failh furniulated in proper words but religion does not end there. The man who leads a truly Christian life is ruled in his whole life by God's will." Zeal Necessary. The speaker expressed the opinion that men were tun apt to live religion in the pasL They recalled that in their preparation for ronllrmalion they rnccired spiritual uplift at the time. They were inclined in the mailer of religion to live on their repulalion.

l in conclusion his Lordship denied that the church was ineffective as some people were inclined to lliiuk. Some members rather were ineffective. They were not full of zeal for religion. Zeal was necessary. If all were as keen for christianily as many non—religious men were in spreading their ilJeliet they would he doing more for the spread of Hie Word of God.