RELIGIOUS TRAINING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 18, 1 November 1938, Page 2

RELIGIOUS TRAINING.

PROPOSAL TO BAPTIST UNION (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 81. A statement that less than 11 .per cent, of the children in New Zealand eventually become active church members was made at the New Zealand Baptist Union to-day by Mr S. Carey (Lower Hutt) when advocating the appointment of a. full-time organiser to work among Sunday school teachers and coach them in their work. The proposal was referred to the youth committee fomconsideration. “This means there are 89 children out of every 100 iu this land to work on,” said Mr Carey. “Our children are our most gracious and, peerleks heritage, and whv should wo send them to untrained religious teachers? It is an appalling position when we realise those figures. We spend annually, and rightly .so thousands of pounds spreading the Gospel in India. How much do we spend on our own children?” The Rev. C. W. ID'uncumbe said that he did not think the expense warranted. The Union had just appointed a young man as general secretary, and he might be able to help along the lines suggested without adding to the financial burdens of the church.