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New Zealand Listener, Volume 12, Issue 312, 15 June 1945, Page 5

Sir,-The Rev. K. Liggett adyocates a Continental Sunday here in New Zealand because Sunday has lost its meaning. Were the results of secularising Sunday on the Continent beneficial or’ otherwise? Hitler de-Christianised all sacred days and usages, Sunday being devoted to the training of the Hitler youth. Are we not already doing without any compulsion just what Hitler would have us do? The results of too much secularism have been disastrous in the extreme for all of us, and when the clergy become secular, what hope has the church of competing with the world? Apart from the Christian aspect most people long for and need one day of

quietness and rest from the clamour and clatter of ordinary things. Some solitude in a busy world is a necessity if we would take time to think and take stock of ourselves, but we are never given time in which to know ourselves. In another issue Professor Sinclaire quotes an old gentleman’s reply to a circular on why we go to Church, "The Church," he says, "is the only place. left where a man of any taste can go with the certainty of hearing some good literature and probably some good music. But the great thing about going to Church is that it gives him his only chance of registering his hatred and contempt for what he calls the obscene slough of secular Philistinism in which all cultural values are in danger-not indeed of being engulfed-since the slough is too shallow for that-but of being cheapened and befouled."

F.M.

Mc.

(Wellington),

» We have had numerous other letters on this subject, from which we take the following points: ‘ "A.G.W. writes of a ‘monstrous statement.’ Does he realise the monstrosity of his own Statement that, if 100 per cent. of people stayed away from Church, they would nofehave a democratic right to do so... I like to tell A.G.W. that the greatest and richest freedom of all is freedom from religion."

MARY B

CALVER

(Devonnort)

Oe ee Se "A.G.W. hurls a Commandment at me, ’li warrant he was conveniently silent about that Commandment, and another too, when yo soldiers-for Democracy’s sake-were obliged = man ufacture, slay, shoot, etc. on the Sabth.’ 4

RETURNED SOLDIER

(Keri Keri),

et us grow up. Let us investigate, system. ise, and become truly scientific. The real or ‘ancient-rumour-born gods can fend for them. selves. Let our total and life-long devotion be for the happiness and betterment of our needy fellows. One world and one life at a time."

EXCELSIOR

(Kaeo

"in the place of churches let us have Mother Societies, ulture and Instruction Groups, scientifically informed moral teaching in schools, societies for world-wide understanding, friend. ship, co-operation, and mutual aid."

COUNTRY WOMAN

(Keri Keri),