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Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 61, 12 March 1915, Page 3

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Your two columns published in Saturday's issue giving such variety-of opinion as to why the Church is unable to hold and influence the people would not be quite so pathetic if the Church's crippled influence were not such a serious matter to the community. Unless some way can be discovered "whereby Tβligious teaching may be given to the people, the results will be much more serious than is usually suspected. The extent -to which men can be led to support false doctrine, often at very considerable personal loss, was made most apparent locally during the strike of 1913, and we have in Europe at the present time an exhibition of the same thing on a colossal scale. Germany has 'been for some generations the home of independent philosophers, each with his own pet scheme for the development of man and the salvation of the world, and because true religion has had 'but little hold on the people they have been easily led by the teachings of their great professors. Such teachings in their proper place, as part of a general scheme of development under the guidance cf, and directed by, spiritual knowledge -would have had the effect -of raising Germany to the position to which she aspired. We may not like to admit it just now, but she has actually led the world in vitalism and philosophy for some time, always, however, at the expense of brotherhood —by intellect devoid of the uplifting influence of a large heart, an attribute which Christianity teaches, is of more importance than all else. The leaders of the many sects of Christendom have each tried to enforce their own interpretation of Christian creed and dogma by any means from the rack and sword to the subtler forms of mental coercion and even cheap-jack advertising, losing sight the while of the very simple and practical teaching of their master. The Church has been so occupied in defending its various "beliefs" and dogmas, so disrupted 'by internal dissensions and theological delusions concprning these matters of belief, and particular interpretations of creed and doema. that it has lost all definite knowledge concerning the real life of man. It is fenced round by a high wall of super stition which renders it hide-bound—a case of arrested development we would say in connection with a growing body— and within the circle a mass of disease and discord; so much so, that we cannot ngree as to a system of religious teaching in our schools, and are forced to rely on secular education, as witness the JVible-in-?ohools question. If one now and then happens to arise in it 3 midst, a messenger from a Higher Power, who would attempt to give it some assistance by breaking the bonds of ignorance that Bind so fast, he is cast out as a heretic. We have had quite a number of cases even in our own city, and until the Church admits that knowledge is always stronger than belief it -will cry in vain for the strong men it desires to see within its pale. The people have outgrown the narrow creeds and their still narrower interpretation. Not so, however, Christianity; that is not outgrown, nor will it ever be, 'for it was born of knowledge, and can most surely lead us to the portal of divine wisdom. Will Church men combine, reivrrance their creeds, and bring them into line with our increased knowledge? —I am. etc, MYSTIC.