THE BISHOP OF LICHFIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 9 January 1926, Page 10

THE BISHOP OF LICHFIELD.

ON "STICKY ELDERS." HOW ATTRACT THE YOUNG? (From Our Own Correspondent.) November 25. Dr. J. A. Kempthorne, Bishop of Lichfield—whose nephew is Bishop of Melanesia—lias been making some seasonableif trite remarks. At a Diocesan Conference thi3 week he declared that those who are "always groaning and moaning about the degenerate character of the . young people of the present day because they are fond of dancing, so thoughtless, jso giddy, and so wholly given over to amusement," should remember that "we 'were just the same sort of people at •their age." In other words, he reminds us that the attacks of. which we hear so much are attacks on the shortcomings, or allesred shortcomings, of youth as a whole rather , than on the youth of this generation. 1 Tlie Bishop, too. attacks the elders for ; "stickiness and adherence to most uhJ necessary and undesirable ancient cusi toms." He doesn't wonder"* that ydUng ! people do. not care to go to church, j """-There everything is being swayed by the stupid; sticky conservatism of some of .their seniors. 5 " ! He would have some care bestowed on making our churches display some qualities that will -attract. ; Here my Lord of Lichfield is placing himself in line with the Bishop of Aberdeen, who the other day ranged himself with those who regard dancing* as a healthful pursuit and not one to be frowned upon by the Church.