Cathedral Crowded For Dean’s Fourth Address To Young People

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27990, 9 June 1956, Page 2

Cathedral Crowded For Dean’s Fourth Address To Young People

“Man is made for fellowship and friendship: he is a social animal, and not meant to live by himself," said the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. Martin Sullivan) in his fourth talk on “Your Problem" to young people at the Cathedral last evening. A few minutes before Dean Sullivan began his address all seats had been taken and latecomers had to stand at the back • Men’s lives were like little ships tossed about on a stormy sea, but >f Christ was invited on board He would take the helm, set the course, and then hand it back, standing nearby Himself, said Dean Sullivan. “Thus we could sail in faith under His orders," he said. “We would know the joy of joining a convoy of oth -r ships, sailing on the same course, and heading for the harbour. We would be going together, and it is of this going together that I want to speak to you tonight." The painful experience of real loneliness could be felt when in the midst of other persons who were on their way to meet friends or hurrying io some appointment, he said. Loneliness could be suffered at its worst in a big city with thousands of persons around. “I’ve felt like that,” he said. "In the city of Wellington, years ago. I arrived as a student from Auckland. 1 had breakfast with my hosts. They gave me a boiled egg; it was bad and I’ve been suspicious of boiled eggs ever since, for there is no experience worse than finding yourself in the middle of a bad boiled egg. Tfyen I was left alone all day and felt utterly

niserable and lonely. A few years igo, I had something of the same experience in New York. Allied to loneiness is homesickness, and these things put a deep sense of despair in your leart. Is there anyone in this congregation who feels like that tonight? If :o I hope that this service and the social hour later will do something to :heer you Sharing With Others

“With Christ at the helm of your [ife and when you come under His jrders. you find there are others who ire sharing the same experience. Because we are not able to live by ourselves or unto ourselves we want now o join the new fellowship. We will vant to share not only with those who ire travelling v>ith us, but also with :h

lose who have not yet joined us.” he lid. Speaking to young men and women Iready in the fellowship of the

church, he said: “Don’t be casual, careless or irregular at church, in your Bible claisS, or in your youth group, but be truly in its life—always there, always playing your part. Be a true steadfast, loyal soldier and servant Put your heart into the services, sing with sincerity, whether you be in tune or out of it. Listen to the Word of God and wait for the sentence which speaks to you: it will be there. Make a disciplined and regular rule for your attendance at the Holy Communion service: whether it be daily, weekly or monthly does not matter, but make it regular. Prepare for. it. Use your Prayer Book and follow the service carefully. If you give to the service you will receive from it” Lonely persons would always find fellowship in church in any part of the world he said “These services on a Friday evenins are givins vou some indication of what you might do in the life of the Church. To young men who are present I want to offer this indication. Will some of you consider coming forward into the ministry to help us?” he asked. “That means to love, serve, help, comfort, to get alongside people for the sake of Christ. We want some of you Will you come?”

“Don’t Hesitate” To those who had felt attracted to the Church, possibly at the Friday evening services, he said: “Don’t hesitate, don’t hang around on the outer edge. Join the fellowship, give to it and you will receive from it. “Has it ever occurred to you that the Church wants you?” he - asked them. “When you are absent God is robbed, and so is your neighbour. If you stay out, part of you is undernourished and underfed, and in a real sense you are incomplete?' Finally, Dean Sullivan said, he spoke to those who were not sure, to those to whom the call of Christ was as vet faint and far away “I have more yet to say to you as indeed I have to the others in the two groups I have mentioned. But I myself shall not'say it. The final address next week is actually the call of Christ to you all. It will be as if He stands here, or walks through this cathedral, sits by you or comes to you, as He did to - the people of old, and speaks a private word just for you. Will you be here to hear it?” he asked. The Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K: Warren) welcomed the large congregation to the cathedral and pronounced the benediction at the close of the service. After the service most of the congregation accepted Dean Sullivan’s invitation to supper and a social hour at a Christchurch restaurant, where Mr Colin Campbell sang several songs. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) attended and joined the Sydenham parish group for supper.