CHRISTIANITY AND YOUTH.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20550, 19 May 1932, Page 14

CHRISTIANITY AND YOUTH.

SOLUTION OF WORLD'S PROBLEMS. REV. LIONEL FLETCHER'S BELIEF. The belief that the solution of the world's problems must be solved by the youth of to-day if the whole basis of civilisation is to be saved from destruction, was expressed by the He v. Lionel B. Fletcher yesterday. Mr Fletcher has concluded a series of meetings in Christchurch in connexion with an Evangelist Youth Campaign, and his 'meetings have been very successful in bringing the realities and the necessity of the Christian life home to the hundreds of young people who have heard him. "Everything is in the melting pot to-day —society as we know it, national life, social life, international relationships, the organised church, and civilisation itself," said Mr Fletcher. "There are tremendous questions being faced, such as the questions of Avar, capital and labour, and the distribution of wealth. These will bo solved by the youth of to-day, or the whole fabric of society will be torn to shreds, and the whole basis of this present civilisation will be shattered. "The Church must play her part' in this crisis. She must do it through her youth, and she must train her youth to do it by taking every new profession of faith seriously. She must at least treat the desire of these young men and young women with the respect it deserves. Empire-wide Attention. "'ln view of the reports being received from various parts of the Empire, which tell of a growing religious movement amongst youth, the campaign which has drawn to a close in Christchurch will attract Empire-wide interest. Britain itself is in the thick of a wonderful youth movement, and South Africa has drawn considerable attention to itself because the British movement has certainly developed there. Australia has been witnessing considerable interest amongst its youth in religious matters, and Melbourne is today reaping the results of a very decided movement which has. been going on for some time. In Sydney the youth of the churches are being marshalled for a great campaign in June and July, following up a great time of enthusiasm which swept the city last year." Youth Eager to Respond. The Christchurch campaign at least proved that New Zealand youth was eager to respond to a challenge to declare itself and its religious faith, said Mr Fletcher. In spite of the tram strike which developed immediately after the . campaign opened, great audiences had gathered night by night until loud-speakers were used in an adjoining hall at Durham Street Methodist Church. A thousand young men and young women had come forward in front of the crowded, audiences, without any pressing and with a determination which had been wonderful, to declare themselves determined to live the Christian life, and to acknowledge the Christian faith. They had represented every class in the community and. every denomination, and a very considerable proportion had no ehurcli oonnexio.n whatever. ' "l'his is a signal to the whole Dominion, and to the whole Empire, that in Christchurch virile youth is demanding expression for its religious convic- • tions,"- ho concluded. "The campaign is not an end in itself—it is but the beginning of a development which ought' to have a wide-reaching effect on the life of the community. If this new life is harnessed to practical effort something great ought to result. Adverse criticism is often levelled at such campaigns because, it is said, nothing practical results. But when churches and ministers are wise enough to take the young men and young women who have professed to enlist for Christ as really meaning what they say, and at once set to work to find them a place in the work of building the Kingdom of God, great good always results."