OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 332, 20 October 1908, Page 7

OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY.

WEDDINGS, . BAPTISMS, AND FUNERALS.

AN ARCHDEACON'S PROTEST. ,) IDT TSLEQRAFH.—STKCIAI. CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, October 19. Preaching at St. Michael's Church last, evening, Archdeacon Averill inveighed strongly against tho lovo of ostentatious display characteristic of religious ceremonials today. Ho felt that those all important events in the lives of all—baptisms, marriages, and funerals—were in great danger of degradation and dishonour. If they were going to allow those great religious rites to sink into mere social functions they could expect nothing but indifforenco and vagueness, and perhaps something worse. Referring to baptism, he said that too often the sponsors shamefully neglected their duties and responsibilities.' They had undertaken tho sacred office of sponsorship, but in many cases it was an absolute farce. God-parents were not selected for their fitness, and many gave not the slightest consideration to tho promises which they were called upon to make. It would bo an excellent thing if every parent had a body of earnest people who would undertake for God and His Church the sacred duty of sponsorship, and thus rescue tho Church's great safeguard,- infant baptism, from contempt. The only other alternative was for tho Church to absolutely refuse, oxcept in cases of danger, to baptise infants unless suitable sponsors were forthcoming. "In regard to marriages," the preacher continued, "the majority of people still like the outward appcarancc of religion, but there, I fear, it ends with many, and we can hardly wonder at the increase of unhappy marriages, the desire to relax the binding nature of marriage, and to escape from- its obligations, when wo see tho spirit in which men and womon so often take upon themselves lifelong vows. The behaviour of the spectators at weddings is often deplorable, and even people who do know better seem to forget that they are prosent at a solemn. religious ceremony in a Christian church. I sometimes wonder, where God comes in. The sooner wo can get rid of the social function of a wedding from the house of God tho better for the sacredness of marriages. If wo are. not going to allow our marriage coremonies to sink down to tho lowest level, wo must bo prepared for some self-sacrifico for the sake of God, and striko a blow at tho presiding god at weddings (fashion)." With referonco to funerals, the archdeacon said they could be thankful for tho absence of pagan ceremonies which once were associated with funerals, but fashion had found substitutes which were nearly as bad. Too 'often there was the samo love of show and parade which disfigured weddings. Since wedding presents and funeral wreaths became the fashion they had lost all meaning, and in these days of telephones and florists they were in danger of killing tho beautiful significance of putting a few flowers upon a coffin as a symbol of tho resurrection. Ho asked liis hearers to_ set their faces against Sunday funerals, which in many cases wero absolutely unnecessary, and only fed the } morbid sentiment and unhealthy mania to attract tho crowd.