RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 241, 4 July 1908, Page 12

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

CLERCYMEN'S NOVEL METHODS. UP-TO-DATE PLANS TO ATTRACT WORSHIPPERS. Ono of tho chief problems' that confront tho modern clergyman is tho need for discovering some means of attracting thoso who are usually non-churchgoers. An oarly morning service for tho benefit of cyclists, golfors, hockey-players, etc., is one of tho latest ideas. It has been started by tho Rev. J. C. M'Donnell, curate of St. Andrew's Church, Surbiton. On a recent Sunday, in St. Andrew's Church, at 9.45 a.m., tho first "sportshion's" servico was held. Mr. M'Donnell bfficiated, and the service, which ■ included a ton minutes address, lasted just half an hour. A representative gathering of golfers, cyclists, otc., formed the congregation. Thero were some fifty people present, and it was noticeable that nearly all. tho men carried twoed caps and tho ladies wore motor or golfing hats. Three men sitting at tho back of tho church wero conspicuous figures. They wore white flannels and coloured blazers. A largo percentage of the worshippers wero cyclists, and stored by tho vestry door wero nearly twenty, bicycles. ■ _ " These services for sportsmen .will be continue until tho end of July," Mr. M'Doniioll said in an intetrviow. They havo been formed for tho benefit of the hard-worked city man, who needs recreation on Sundays. It has been complained that tho timo of tho ordinary morning service is inconvenient to men. who wish to.spend a day in open-air recreation. This ear'y service has been instituted, therefore, so that men can attend on tho way to tho golf links or tho river." Original methods for attracting worshippers to church services are also ' -boing adopted by tho Rev. Frank Swainson; vicar of St. Barnabas', Holloway. Tho current " St. Barnabas' Monthly Mazazine" contains the following notice: —"Notice to men who walk up Hornsey Road on Sunday afternoons with birdcages done up neatly in handkerchiefs; also to cei'Jiin fierce-looking gentlemen with equally fft.rce-looking bulldogs: Your birdcages and. bulldogs can be carofully looked after by. tho stewards in the porch whilo their owners get inside the church and have a straight talk from tho ricar." ,

Many men availed themselves of tho vicar's invitation,'tho birdcages and bulldogs being carefully guarded in tlio porch during tho service.

In tho near future the same enterprising vicar will visit all tho public-houses, in his parish on Sunday just beforo 3 p.m., closing timo. Ho will bring out as many men as possible to join _in a procession to the church, which will be proceeded by a band. Th» following notice has been inserted in the. parish ma«azino: — "Notice to frequenters of pubs, within a mile of St. Barnabas' Churon: Tho pubs, close at 3.0 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Our service starts at 3.15 p.m. Any man who is anywhere near sober can walk a milo in fifteen minutes." ' ."This parish is comprised mostly of working people, and, in order to got in touch with tbom, one must adopt novel methods," says Mr. Swainson.