"Guardian" Office.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8411, 13 November 1912, Page 6

"Guardian" Office.

November 13, 1912. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand opened its annual session yesterday evoning, in Wellington. In these days, when we hear so much of the decline of religious life and of Church influence, it is reassuring to find'that the Presbyterians of the Dominion aro increasing at a satisfactory rate. The report of the Committee on Church Life and Work which is to be laid before the Assembly remarks on tho fact that the last census returns of the Dominion show a gratifying increase in the number of those who" claim the Presbyterian name. Taking tho period 1906-1911, it points out. the Anglican Church has increased 12.44 per cent., Methodist 6,50, Roman" Catholic 10.65, Baptist 12.93, and Presbyterian 1.5.26. It is clear that, as compared ;with other denominations,, the Presbyterian Church is not lacking in aggressiveness ■;> yet the report sadly confesses 'that there are- still 100,723 persons " unaccounted for." It proceeds to rei'er to various causes' that operate against fuller success. "There is," it says, " a danger to bo watched in the mechanical routine of Church life' Both ministers and people are in danger of substituting the form of godliness for the, power thereof. Even the prayer meeting has a tendency, to become the most formal of all acts of worship. . . • The lack of cordiality and warmth to strangers is a common complaint against tho Churches, and there ought to be in every oongrega : tion a Social Committee to welcome strangers. To roach tho outsider is the chronic problem of the Churches, and the difficulty does not seem to lessen with the years." To recognise and acknowledgo defects is a necessary first step towards their removal, a,nd the Presbyterian Church will doubtless profit by the warning of its faithful mentors' and devise means of reaching those who by'any moans are overlooked or, repelled.