SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23970, 10 June 1943, Page 6

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

MINISTER DEPLORES PUBLIC APATHY From Our Own Reporter OAMARU, June 8. “I am shocked that so many people Just do not seem to bother about the sacrament of baptism,” said the Rev. Dr. T. Paterson, when reporting for the youth committee at to-day’s meeting of the Oamaru Presbytery. Dr. Paterson said it was amazing that even church people, brought up In Christian homes, neglected observance of this sacrament. Since coming to Oamaru he had had to perform several adult baptisms. Dr. Paterson then commended papers on this subject and on profession of faith. “Very often young people are married outside the Christian Church and are dragged away by an unbelieving partner, for which reason we must encourage Christian marriage and train young people as to the obligations of Christian marriage,” said Dr. Paterson. He added that there never had been such a time as now, when it was more necessary to impress on young people the seriousness of this question and the grave responsibilities that were involved. “Even more irresponsible than adolescent youth at present is the young married section of. the community,” said Dr. Paterson. The Moderator (the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh) commended Dr. Paterson for “his timely criticism,” and said that at present a lot of free literature was being issued on the subject.