THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16540, 4 June 1919, Page 9

THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND.

A CORRESPONDENT'S INDICTMENT. (from OCR OWX COKBESrOSDEXT.) LONDON, April 8. A correspondent in the "Literary Guide" says that he loams from a New ?leuland friend that in liis small towns.Vip the average attendance at the Anglican and Presbyterian Churches is abt>nt six persons. The Methodists arc a i*iUle ahead, and the Roman Catholics are best of all. "It is evident," he thinks, "that the old faith is dying." "IVihaps this is not surprising," adds \li? correspondent, "in view of his further information about, the influenza epidem\i<V- I* was got under by the drastic Wcasuiv of closing all churches and otlicV buildings where people congregate. But the ecclesiastical fraterliity toclr the credit. "When the churches re-opened thanksgiving services wcrv held to mark God's mercy ir staying 1 Iho epidomic. There was no recognition. ol' the efforts of the health authorities, v.vho 'fought with wonderful scir-ntifn? t kill and with great physical and moivA courage, and several of whom .sucr.u,\n\>ed in pursuit <if their duty.' Mai\y. children have been left orphans, and the churches have done nothing lor t!\e\n beyond trying to induce tlie Gow-i'.rnnent not to make special provisniit ioi' them, but to place them in existing church institutions and p:\v for their maintenance. I liavo iii\t heard whether tlv attempt was suncdsshii, but. if it was we shall doubJcsi Hear how loyally the Church has carriwl out its Master's teaching. We aite .not so likely to be told that the eounlrt paid the bill-" i