THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21727, 9 March 1936, Page 13

THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH

PRESENT-DAY PROBLEMS NEED FOR UNION EMPHASISED [THE PRESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, March 7. The need for the teaching of the Bible as a help to the understanding of the problems facing the world today, was emphasised by Mr Harry Sturge, of Christchurch, in his presidential address to the assembly of the Congregational Union in New Zealand this evening. He advocated the uniting of the evangelical churches to aid the people, and, ■ referring to the intolerance that was felt towards the inability of disorganised Christianity to right the wrongs of the present day, expressed a hope for a “Church party” in the Government of New Zealand. “The world is changing,” he said. “Every generation sees things in a new light. What was advisable a few years ago is utterly futile to-day. To meet ■ the present needs 1 of. men, the church has to change, too. Not that there can be any lowering of Christian Standards, but the Gospel must be presented in a way to suit the times. For this purpose, the best brains and most consecrated lives in the universal church should be pooled. To me, it seems high time that the evangelical churches sank their differences and together met to discuss the best ways of meeting the needs of the masses. Petty, denominational jealousies and misunderstandings are the greatest reason for the inefficiency of the Church, “Inability to Bight Wrongs” “Men are Intolerant of the weakness and inability of disorganised Christianity to right wrongs. There are moral reforms that a united Church could bring Into being. One of my dreams has been a Church party in the government of New Zealand-only an idle dream, perhaps, but just as unlikely dreams have come true. A few years ago the Labour party seemed to have no hope of holding the political reins, but there were men among them who dreamed and have wakened to find the dream come true. You may say that you cannot compel unwilling souls into the kingdom by legislation. No, but you can remove stumblingblocks that make it difficult for men to enter In. One of the stumblingblocks is the appalling ignorance of young people about the Bible and the inost elementary teachings of Christ. As long as the present education system obtains, that ignorance must continue, It is impossible to teach very much in the time at the disposal of the Sunday school teacher, even if the child is sent there.” Mr Sturge said that he considered the Nelson system of Bible teaching Inadequate, as relying on haphazard and voluntary service, and often not affecting the children in the country, where church services were often intermittent. But it was gratifying that 50 per cent, of the State schools were receiving insruction under this system, as compared with 9 per cent, in 1914.