CLERGYMEN AND PSYCHOLOGY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21990, 14 January 1937, Page 4

CLERGYMEN AND PSYCHOLOGY

TO THE EDITOR Of THE PRESS. Sir, —Your correspondent, Flora Smith, deals with a science that should be acquired not only by clergymen, but by all those who have to deal with law and order. In industrial enrivonments the influences react upon the individual; a low mentality often prevails, and manifested in the rising generation. This is where domine and dominie come in, counteracting certain moral tendencies. The formation of character with its social responsibilities should be the aim and object of those responsibles possessing a knowledge of psychology.—Yours, etc., GEORGE McCORMICK. Belfast, January 13, 1937.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—Can it be possible that general humanity is so lacking in knowledge that any individual can be. guilty of making :uch a statement as this: “I think the time has come when clergymen should be versed in psychology to meet the needs of their people.” Good heavens! What does Flora A. Smith think students are doing with their brains and time during the years of intensive study in preparation for the work in the ministry of their Saviour. Any Christian will know that any ecclesiastical study consists mainly of these subjects. Christianity would have been wiped out long ago if it had not been for the understanding of these intricate human problems. I beg the readers of “The Press” to forgive me if I do not come up to their standard of grammatical and literary intelligence, as I can only boast a primary education, but I feel that after the hundreds of years clergymen hav - given to humanity in poverty, self-sacrifice, and denial, I could not allow this affront to pass.—Yours, etc., MOTHER OF SIX. January 13, 1937.