REV. H. J. WOOLLCOMBE'S ADDRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 71, 24 March 1910, Page 2

REV. H. J. WOOLLCOMBE'S ADDRESS.

This afternoon at {he Chamber of Gom--merce the Eev. H. J. Woolleambe gave an address on "Christian Service/ in which he emphasised the necessity of members of Christian Ghjrrph.es working together for the good of each sect, of Christianity ' and the spiritual benefit of the individual. The speaker pointed out the analogy between the life of the body and spiritual life, in that the strength of each came froih_unionthat only in a community of mutual interests can a. Tnqyi attain proper . spiritual stature. In the earliest days of Christianity it was recognised thai -unless a man added o the strength or the Christian Society he could not be one of the faith. People did not become Christians and then form a society, bat± rather, the society farmed Christianity. The-weakness of the modern Church ■was that the laity belonging to it clung to "the undenoaunationai position," and weakly went to their respective churches ■without -'being enthusiastic Christians before all else. No person could properly develop his spiritual life except through spiritual society, continued the speaker, and though men belonged to different denominations they could reduce all differ--eaces—¥y--recognising- the fellowship of common faith, and build it tip- by being Evrng witnesses of its good. Mr. T&oolleombe finished his address iby urging the laity to rememier- that it, and not the clergy, were the-Ohnrch.