FACING A CRISIS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18682, 4 May 1926, Page 14

FACING A CRISIS.

CHURCH'S NEED FOR MEN. DR. J. R. MOTT'S ADDRESS. "I would rather live during the next 10 or 16 years, than at any other time 1 liavo read of in history, or dreamed of." said Dr. John R. Mott, yesterday, expressing his conviction that Christianity had reached one of the most supremely important crises possible. "Next to the withdrawal of Christ Himself from the Church," Dr. Mott said, in emphasising the need for obtaining men of the best qualifications for the ministry, "no more calamitous situation could have arisen than the present, when we find we have not sufficient men coming forward to serve Christianity." Over a hundred Christehurch clergy of all Protestant denominations assembled in the I'.M.C.A. yesterday morning to hear Dr. Mott speak. The Ht. Rev. Dr. Campbell West-Watson, Bishop of Christehurch, occupied the chair, and introduced the speaker. A Grave Position. Dr. Mott's address was in regard to the best methods for the forces of Christianity to be marshalled, to fill the gaps which existed in the Christian Church in many lands, and, north and south, cast and west, to line up all Christian societies and churches, and to recruit for the Church those men who had the highest qualifications. The strongest men were required as worthy Jo Jjbo men at present carryfniTorTtiSO work'. There were not nearly" sufficient numbers pf men qualified for the high work, who were coming forward to fill the ranks and to take the place of those who died and also of some men, he feared, almost totally incompetent to occupy positions they did. They must pray, and then collaborate with God in answer to their prayer, to get better equipped workers for" the Christian ministry. In recent years the standards of the minis"* try had been happily raised, and should be further raised. Never had the sitnation in. the world been more complex, more bafflingly difficult, than at present. During the next 15 years the most difficult peiiod in the life of religion would be experienced. What caused this situation ? Not the forces which opposed Christianity, but the fact that more Christians had now wnkened np to Hie real truth of the Christian Gospel than ever before —had realised, that Christ meant what He sniu. Therefore the clergy must restate their message so that, while holding more deeply than ever the unchanging elements of the Gospel, they should, at the-same time, be able to arrest and secure the following of the most enquiring generation the world had ever known. Then they must find the best, means to bring the marvellous Gospel to bear upon the social factors of the present day, particularly industrial problems. He could multiply indefinitely the problems which concerned, or should concern, the leaders of the churches. ; They must get more of this generation to. enter the ministry to lead their generation, and they must also multigjly the laymen to assist them. Any move they now made would be dangerous, for., any movement that liberated' new"eneirfeies was dangerous iii the extreme.' tfhey must find how", while maintaining'.the wonderful traditions and holding the most vital factors, they could, at the same time, lay hold of i the admitted values of all who followed Jesus Christ. They niust prav and work, taking the power of God and tne power of man to help them in the task. Becruiting for the Church.

•Dr. Mott then outlined the steps which be considered most vitally necessary in tho work. From a study of the recruiting methods of tho Church of Rome in petting so many strong men into the priesthood, and from a study of tho Asiatio religions, ho found that perhaps the most important people were the mothers. All over the Roman Catholic world and in tho best Protestant countries the mothers were in the front line. Next was the Christian student movement, which had, of late years, forged ahead in some countries to the first place in recruiting work. Next were the ministers. who must realise the universal helt> or intimate personal dealings, and the importance, of building up friendships ! with those fitted for the work ©f the '■' Church. He appealed to the ministry to become alarmed, and he made the appeal in no alarmist spirit. Next to the withdrawal of Christ Himself from the Church, no calamity could be so serious as that which had arisen—the fact that there were insufficient men coming forward to carry on Christ's work. They must then look on re- * cruiting at home and abroad as the most important single thing they had to, do. . They must,- withiGod's help, make it their' second nature to discover likelymen, and to'sense, in men, their, personality, and those qualities which would, fit. them for tho uork. They should humbly but in unshaken confidence expect to find those for whom they were searching. They must, to get an heroic response, present an heroic appeal, not emphasising jtho attractions of the ministry, but/making plain the difficulties to be faced, and the triuniphs to be fought for. They must, lay siege to the strongest personalities. Amongst those strongest of tho youth of the country they would find tHe best recruits. This was the message, "Tlio.barrest truvy is great, . and the labourers are few. Pray ye, therefore, the Lord, of the harvest, that He thrust forth labourers*" After Dr. Mott's address, several questions were asked concerning aspects of the recruiting work, the meeting ending in prayer. .

ADDRESS TO Y.M.C.A. "Dr. Iklott addressed tho annual meeting of members of the Y.M.C.A., over 200 persons attending. Mr A. F. Carey, president of the Y.M.C.A., welcomed J)r. Mott and recalled, that, he had last met him at Copenhagen. Dr. Mott was at present the guest of the Y.M.C.A., and they extended to him a very hearty welcome indeed. Dr. Mott recalled that during the time which had elapsed since his first visits to Christchurth. the Association had passed through its pioneer stage Tho years of seed-sowing had demanded toil and sacrifice on the part of the planters of the Association here. Nothing, now, ; could be honestly said of the Y.M.C.A. butthat it was going to have a future much greater than its past. The hundreds who were now members of the Association had years of past experience at their disposal. »As he travelled oyer tho world and viewed the organisations in every country, he could say, Burely tho momentum of the-, movement would' carry it on till the future had far transcended the past. Let them therefore thank God that they were able to add to and perfect that which had gone before. To transcend the past it was necessary to have larger -plaits. Ho did not consider that the Association had yet opt, past the blue-print stage. Its future plans must be expanded, especially,to the country districts and small towns. The Y.M.C.A. might be, by some people, charged with being superficia!,. and a'larger comprehension was i ■Mjafc they were just getting deep down Mttow, in helping the boys adequately. U. Royds moved a vote of &i«nljß to Dr. Mott. annual maeting of the Y.M.C.A. was held tit the ppclfißjoih;of Dr. Mott's address.