THE CATHEDRAL SERVICES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15014, 8 July 1914, Page 7

THE CATHEDRAL SERVICES.

TO THE EDITOR OT "THE FBESS." S ,r ) —l have always noticed that when there is anything wrong with an/ individual church, or with the Church generally, the first step taken is to abuse the people. That is a very easy and convenient way to disguise the real source of the trouble, and to save an individual or individuals, but very often that -course serves a useful purpose, becauses it causes some of the peoplo who resent the abuse to turn round and lot out a little of the truth of the real position. Anyone who has attended the Cathedral even irregularly during the last few years must have noticed for themselves the greaj falhng-off in the attendance. If you ask yourself, or some of your friends, what is the reason of it, a very simple but direct answer comes. That answer is—the unattractiveness of tho service outside the "musical portion of it, and particularly the unattractiveness of the reading and preaching—with an occasional exception—that one hears. But that answer .is iiofc a complete one; it merely deals with what appears upon the surface. To go further, one need only to read Dean Carrington's remarks, made in the Cathedral on Sun r day, and published in Monday's "Press," and specially consider his ideas as to the reasons for the fallingoff in the attendance. He says that the offertories reached their highest point during the Exhibition period, due to the influx of visitors. This indicates that tho Cathedral services aro largely dependent nnon visitors to . raise the level of the offertories beyond a certain point.. That supports the first impression that I find people now form of tho falling-off in the attendance —the want of attractiveness. But when Dean Carrington goes oh to say that the Exhibition came as a blight on the spiritual life of the community, that people over-spent themselves in enjoyment and over-indulgence, and, acquiring that habit, they never lost it —I marvei at his shortsightedness, not to say ignorance. One has only to consider for a moment the great movement there has been of the better class of people—the Church of England classtown rds fho suburbs. 3>urin;i this last sex-en years new churches have-been opened for them in St. Albans. Lower Iliccarton. and Cashmere Hills. At the same time does one Und that the .congregations of St. Michael's, bt. Luke s, and St. John's' Churches have fallen away like that of the Cathedral? Is not St. Michael's congregation larger than if over was, and has not bt. Luke's congregation rebuilt its church within the last seven years, and that more people'now attend than could have been accommodated in tho . old church? When on© considers these matters, what ground is there for the ridiculous statement about the effect of the Exhibition upon the religions life of the people? None of the ether communions in Christchurch have, bo far as I know,, ever found reason for making such a charge. T>ean Carnngton was not here at the time, but there are many members of tho Church of England and others who used to attend tho Cathedral some twenty odd years ago, who will remember that the Cathedral was in the same low water financially, and so'far as the attendances went, as- it is now. The reason jfor it had to bo faced, and changes were made that soon effected a marked improvement. Changes hnve again been made of recent years, and the result may be Summed up in the answer that will be given by nine'out of ten people who are asked why they do not now go to the Cathedral. It v not a pleasant duty, but the position Will have to be faced by the authorities.' if they want to keep the Cathedral aervices going, but it will not be done by abusing the people, or even apraaline to them on sentimental Grounds. It intist be remembered, however, that the Cathedral should not be filled at the expense of the churches m the surrounding parishes, but 10 " 1 " attract the more casual and miattacfioa churchgoers, with a view to their becoming regular attendants, the visitors 'to tho city, and tho non-churchgoers. This can only be done by having men associated with the Cathedral services who are able to make while for these classes of people to go ami hear them. In conclusion, I will point out that in this latter respect the, Cathedral is going to meet with what may bo termed strong competition. Aii attractive young preacher is going to,do inducted" in a few days into the charge of ono of the largest churches in the city belonging to another communion, and I venture to say that scores of the' unattached and casual <-h»irchßOprs belonging to the Church of Lnaland will go to hear him. Why? Simply because his preaching will stand out above that of the rank and file. These are sorao thoughts that may cause the present position, of the Cathedral to be viewed from .the correct standpoint, and a T>roper. solution arrived at. "Apologising for taking up so much space.-Yours, etc., CHCRCHMAN . July 7th. '.