GIGADIBS AGAIN

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 189, 12 August 1939, Page 13 (Supplement)

GIGADIBS AGAIN

On Religion

YOU may not all know who Mt. Gigadibs is. 1 had better introduce you to him. He is em anonymous friend of mine who calls himself nothing, and who is, in reality, an agnostic-cum-atheist with a big streak of Marxian Communism thrown in. I call him Gigadibs after Browning's atheist friend in "Bishop Blougram's Apology." He does me a lot of good, and every time I can find an excuse for going 90 miles north of where I live, I go. He keeps an open house and has a passion for friendship. The Iftte Canon H. R. L. Shepherd once wrote to his friend, Laurence Houseman, nnd told him that three people had ereatly influenced his religious development. Two of these were Christians, and <1110 was not. Houseman eaid he was (unused to find that ho had been counted tn one of the Christians and that the cue who was not, was a dignitary of the ( lnirch of England, whom Canon Shepherd left nameless. .My own case is not quite parallel, for of the few who have of late years helped ine in my religious development none has done more than Mr. Cigadihs. He has 1. why of making one sift the wheat from (1,,. ~'|,n r r—the solid beliefs from the hazy ' '' Searching for truth in the midst of ti'i< naughty world," said he, as he I :,,„.ke(| the ash out of his pipe into the pilm of his hand, on the occasion of a lercnt visit, "is like looking for a needlo in a hay-tack, and when you have found i'. who wants it? You remind me of that v. ,1 v-ide hawker who stood on London Hi idge trying to sell golden sovereigns for a penny. The crowd left him to -!nwr. ;irid he won the wager ho had previously made with a friend that nobody would buv. No truer words were ever penned concerning the populace than thoHo of l'ope in his 'Hssay 011 Man. •• 'Senidling for Truth, and iri Illusion • You. mv friend," said Gigadibs, "are wor-o oil' than the aforv-aid wayside Imwker, because von aver that you are a purveyor of truth—and judging by the dearth of your results you, too, appear to bo left shivering." Pearls Before Swine "What do you think Jesus meant when He warned His disciples not to 1 n«t pearls before swine?" said he on iui'.lli'r occasion. Before ( had time to replv he -et about answering his own question, which quite pardonable habit many of us share. "Take it from me, you imp "tical old visionary, religion i < far to cheap." , , "N'», ii". tluit <'iin never bo, I interjeeterl. Thereupon I quoted Isaiah, "Ho,

By--The Rev. C. W. Chandler every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and lie that hath no money; come yc. buy, and cat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." That's cheap enough for anything. Furthermore, "the gift of God ia eternal life," I concluded, with a note of triumph, feeling that I had defeated iny friendly opponent in the second round. "That's right enough, but how many thesß days have a thirst for religion ? It may bo the water of life, but who wants water, when there are a hundred other beverages to tempt tho palate? Water is too cheap. Take it off the. main and put it in bottles attractively labelled, with an analyst's report settin? forth its life-giving properties, and half tho 'fancy' drinks will go off the market. Only the other day 1 heard it /said that 'the Church's one foundation' is tho three-penny bit, although it is not in this sense that I remember religion is too cheap. If I tell you the whole truth with regard to my opinion on this matter, you will not be offended?" asked Gigadibs with a goodnatured cmile. "Certainly not. Fire ahead!" "Well, in the first place, save in the case of divorced persons, how many people have you ever refused to marry? Tn other words, how many parties who, judging by their complete non-attend-ance at church, are wholly indifferent to established religion, have you taken to the altar steps? People who aTO merely using the Church without a single thought about your 'sanctity of marrintre ?'" 'T must confess that that is a pointed question and T plead guilty to having been party to such 'social' gatherings on innumerable occasions. At the same time. I hasten to assure you that there is a growing uneasiness in thp minds of the clergy with regard to this matter. But proceed, your straight talking does me pood." Whereupon, after promising to return to this theme on another occasion, he wont on to tell me of a recent trip that he had made to the "winterless North." "T have just returned from While there 1 'did' all the historical sight*. One thin? in particular evoked inv disgust. Tn the small museum there 1 found a document, drawn up by om Butler win-re it, is stated that the Church bought :?7.0rt0 acres of land from thr Maoris for 4S axes. If it had been cases of beer it would not have beer quite so bad. But axes!"' My answer not for the Church, but for myself i»: "Indefensible in 1939, but understand

aide in a former age." And there he lot the matter drop. But still continued in critical vein concerning parsons in general. "A few months ago," sajd he, "I read an article entitled 'Blank Shot' which was published in this column and wherein you made a plea for courage on the part of those who preach the gospel. It amuses me to see how you clergy come galloping up to the fence and then balk at the last moment. So full of promise as you prance up the course, but so disappointing when you reach the hurdle. Sometimes the bravest of you takes a header over, but you have to scramble back apologetically and regain your seat on the noble steed of Faith." Honest criticism, to be sure, but not altogether fair to the Church, which, in this worldly and untoward generation, is attempting to leaven society with those spiritual values without which all human effort is doomed to failure. During the past hundred years, and particularly during the past decade, great and wonderful changes have taken place with regard to the socinl implications of the gospel. Nor in the Church alone has this change taken place. Largely because of agitation, but partly through the permeation of the Christian ideals of neighbourliness and brotherliness through every stratum of society, vast attempts have been made to improve the condition of the people. Of course there is a long way to go yet. The important point to remember is that the Church is playing an indispensable part in this process of social improvement. What I have not yet succeeded in persuading you is that the most revolutionary changes need human direction. It is in this connection that every scheme breaks down. To find men who will think and act in the same way on £5000 a year as they did on £500 per annum is extremely hard. Further, when such men are found it will invarinblv be discovered that the actuating motive of all their conduct is the love of God expressed through their love of men. What we are seeking is incorruptibility. Remembering our quotation of some weeks back, that "absolute power corrupts absolutely," what chance have we of finding these men whose allegiance to their first ideal will remain unshaken through all the changes that take place in 4heir worldly circumstance ? Good cigars, old wine, pile carpets, fur coats, limelight and ocean cruising can play "Old Harry" with the best of ideals and of men. When one man out of all the world appears who can measure tip to trhi-s standard of incorruptibility he will be found to possess Christ-like features, and will have as hard a job to dissuade men from worshipping him as had Paul and Barnabas when at Lystra they rent their clothes and ran in among the people crying out. and saving, "Sirs, why do ye those things? We are also lntii oj. like passions with you."