PULPIT VOICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 188, 11 August 1930, Page 3

PULPIT VOICES.

CHRISTIAN ETHICS. CHURCH AND UNEMPLOYMENT. "The troubes of this world cannot be solved by everyone becoming a Christian, and the basic root of our troubles must be looked for," said Dr. H. Belsliaw, Professor of Economics at Auckland University College, when addressing the Mount Albert Methodist Church Men's Guild yesterday. The subject of Dr. Belshaw's address was "Economics and the Christian Ethic." He said that Christianity would be more effective ff the clergy had a fuller knowledge of the social sciences. "I do not wish to, belittle individual effort," said Dr. Belshaw, "but the old idea that the saving of individual souls means that one does not need to bother about social change must be discarded. Individual charity is a case in point. Such charity can be made demoralising by the manner in which it is administered, and an even worse effect is that it can divert attention from the root causes of distress by concentrating on a mere palliative."

Dr. Belshaw pointed out that material conditions provided a most important factor for properly carrying out the Christian ethic, and it was unfortunate that the material side of Christianity was not stressed more. The happiness of the people, their moral tone, their love of beauty and their capacity of creating beauty were all matters of Christian concern, and they were all dependent to a large extent on environment. "The question of social reorganisation should be studied by every thoughtful man."

Mr. W. J. Hoklsworth, speaking at a later service, dealt with the question of the Church and unemployment. He advocated a federation of the churches to deal particularly with social questions. "While Church union is neither possible nor desirable at the present juncture," said Mr. Hoklsworth, "the Church should adopt a method of 'rationalisation' just as industry has been forced to. If the Church wishes to gain the respect of the people, she must show a more definite interest in their material welfare. Nothing could be worse for its prestige than to hear of an archbishop '■'- in England dying and leaving an estate of £40,000 in a country where for so long there has been an army of men out of work. If the Church is to be a vivid force it must identify itself with the needs of the people."

BAPTIST TABERNACLE. The tenth anniversary of the ministry of the Eev. Joseph W. Kemp at Auckland Baptist Tabernacle was recognised at the cervices yesterday. Mr. W. Taylor expressed on behalf of the Sunday School appreciation of Mr. Kemp's helpful ministry. The annual meeting of church 7nembers will be held on Wednesday night, when there is to be further recognition of the anniversary of Mr. Kemp's arrival to take charge of the Tabernacle. DEVONPORT PRESBYTERIAN. A largo congregation assembled at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Devonport, last night to worship at a service conducted solely by the members of the Bible classes of the church. The choir was composed of the boys and girls of the Bible classes and the singing was nioet effective, all the hymns and anthems being .rendered in a most creditable manner. Specially prepared prayers were said, dealing specially with the department of church work which ivaa receiving attention that night. The reading of the Scriptures was clear and distinct a.s well as impressive, the boys showing due regard to the solemnity of the occasion. The-sermon was preached by tin; mast experienced boy of the Bible class, F. H. Robertson, who is a candidate foij the ministry, and ha/5 won one of ■ the church's scholarships at the Theological Hall, Duncdin. The discourse, which lasted 1.3 minutes, dealt with the breadth and freedom of the Christian life compared with the narrow conception of the religious life as some people conceived it. He made a strong appeal to -his fellow classmates to live to the full tile life where there was real satisfaction and happiness, for Christ had said, that He had come that they might have life and have it more abundantly. Boys took up the oil'ertory and all did their work most efficiently. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCHES. "Spirit" was the subject of the lessonsermon in First Church of Christ, Scientist, Auckland, on Sunday. The text was from Romans, "The Spirit is life because of righteousness." Among the citations which comprised the lessonsermon • was the following from the Bible: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." The lesson-sermon also included the following passage from the Christian Science" textbook, "Science and Health,"' by Mary Baker Eddy: "The DDivine demand, 'Be ye therefore perfect,', is scientific, and the human footsteps leading to perfection are indispensable. . . . God requires perfection, but not until the battle between Spirit and flesh is fought and the victory won. . . . This task God demands us to accept lovingly to-day, and to abandon so fast as practical the material, and to work out the spiritual which determines the outward and actual."

ST. JOHN'S, PAPATOETOE. The 7Gth anniversary of St. John's Presbyterian Church, Papatoetoe, will be celebrated this month. The occasion will be marked by a reunion of past and present members on Saturday, August 23, and special services on the following Sunday. On August, 1854, the church had its beginning in Baird'a store, on the Tamaiki River. The Rev. John Macky, who was for over [ 30 years in charge of the church work in the district, conducted the first service. Many of the old residents are still active members, and there has recently been a large increase in the church membership. The present church building, which was opened when the Rev. T. H. Roseveare took over the charge seven years ago, is the third Presbyterian church built hi the district. A young people's service was conducted last evening by the Rev. T. H. Roseveare, assisted by Mrs. Thompson and Mr. William Anderson, of the Bible classes, and Miss L. Buchanan, NewZealand travelling secretary for the Young People's Bible Class Union. "Christ, the Life" was the subject of Mr. Roseveare'e address. He said people were accustomed to divide life into classes by horizontal lines, 'but Christ divided life by one perpendicular line. Spiritual life, he added, 'must come from Christ. Miss Buchanan, who is on a tour of the South Auckland district, addressed a Bible class rally in the afternoon.