ATTENDANCE AT CHURCH SERVICES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19854, 15 February 1930, Page 17

ATTENDANCE AT CHURCH SERVICES.

TO THE KDITOE OP THE PRESS. Sir, —I am taking it for granted that he who writes in your paper over the nom-de-plume of ""Warwick" is sincere in his desire to know why Church services are hot better attended. I do not think it right or helpful to make dogmatic or offensive accusations against the Church, but as one of a multitude seeking a higher standard of life, truth, and good, I think I am entitled to say why I do not attend orthodox Church services. Suppose that Jesus, when confronted with five thousand hungry men, besides women and children, had said to His disciples: "Give them splendid organ music, with beautifully modulated voices, very well balanced, and a clear enunciation of words/' would that havo satisfied the multitude and" enticed or encouraged them again to seek His aid? Did not that great elucidator of Christ's teachings say, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration" ? Suppose the leper had been told by Jesus to wait until He could use his personal influence and get Him put away from all He held dear on some quarantine place, would He have rejoiced and been, exceeding giad? Suppose that Jesus, when the servant of Jairus whispered into his Master's ear that his little girl was dead, had said: "So she is; never mind, it is God's will. She is in Heaven now, so you must he content," would that have comforted their heart-ache and dried their tears? No, doctrines, dogmas, rituals, creeds, ceremonies, human personal opinions, music, and enunciation do not in this age of greater need solve life's greater problems any more than, they did two thousand years ago. There must be a fuller, deeper, higher meaning to the teachings of Christ Jesus than has yet been perceived by the Ghurch,' one that can be proved to be available and applicable to present human needs. In conversation with a clergyman on one occasion, I asked him if he believed that Jesus walked on the water. He replied: "Most assuredly." I then asked him, if he believed that to be an independent, personal human accomplishment, or was it the demonstration of some great spiritual fact? He agreed that it must have been the application and proof of a spiritual fact in the presence of that which claimed to oppose it. On my asking him if he could inform me what that truth might be, he replied he could not, honest man. When the Church admits that it does not know it will be approaching the right mental attitude to find oat, and when it finds this fuller meaning, and is able to auply it, the churches will again be filled, and good music, well-modulated voices, and clear enunciation will be helpful agents in expressing it.-Yours, etc., gEBKER February 13th, 1930.4