INTOTHE HIGHWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 549, 2 July 1909, Page 6

INTOTHE HIGHWAYS.

■'. ( ■■':■ ;■;;.., - . ;.' o;. . ..-.■', ...;:■. ''./' ■ •.':; '.4 NEW: CHURCH SCHEME. ......... ' 1 SUGGESTED' ANGLICAN BROTHERHOOD. ■ The Rev! C.'Young-Woodward, of Foxton, will bring before the Diocesan Synod next week : a soheme for dealing .with considers ; the.'three greatest; needs of the day,, namely,'l'the' : "religious■ education of children, street ■'missions," and!'■ systematic religious work among bodies of labouring men. The scheme,'he states; has.been Very caro-, fully' considered;: and > haying been: placed before men of all schools of thought, has.been welcomed as a means to supply a lack. The sTiggestion'"is,thfit the: diocese shall take steps to organise , a society, the characteristic feature of which shall, he the promotion of voluntary Service -.-amoiig its members. \ Hβ proposes to 'establish.'■ay; "Society.'■_.of .St. ■Prancisj" consisting of twelve Brothers (who are laymen) iundera Brother Surjerior; , They. Would live in a'ilargp'houso,! and undergo; a special training to fit thom ; for cdar work.' The priest in whoso', pariah the society^had'.ite'iheadquarters would 1 act ashonorary chaplain.- Those Brothers,who. were" adapted to teaohing.woukLbe sent.to a parish where it was.impossible to conduct a church school, the liability of the particular parish being confined to providing, the; Brother or Brothers with boaru.: Where church'schools were not practicable/ tbejßrothers would conduct a series of ohildren's missions, and by lantern illustrations and othermeanE instruct tho young in the life of Christ, 'Those-who are specially gifted in dealing with men would be. sent to work among bodies of men, such as those employed; in the railways, flaxmilUs,- , sawmills, sheep- stations,, factories, ; etc. Miose who were distinctly preachers would> be sent-ont .to -hold street' missiona in towns and townships, and so, reach elajee bodyj of people which at present the Church does not influence.,.', '■.'■.'■'-'■■■.: ■■~,■•'.■■■ .•■■' ! .. '■.■'■'■.'■:'.',■ .: The object of , the'.brotherhood woald t« to reaxsv that part;of;the community which the Churoh at present is not; able to do.' "There are hundreds of men," Mr. YonngWoodward writesk. the .."Church;Chioniclo, "who ■ seem, tiirougb force of circum stances, to be separated from the Church; and it is to .these': men that the 'society will send its members. , .■■;■• :.■ 'And then;there: is that large band of> street'loiterers and idlers who very rarely ■ihear the ■ \Gospel , message proclaimed , by. men under" the authority of the church.":^,-;. , : - : ;:>: ':.x--.-.^.-.;--.- : The question would.be asked: If.' suoh an institution were ■ organised, would_ men offer themselves for, voluntary:' service? \ Some months ago a young fellow did :6ffer himself, and was willing to place some £150.t0 the benefit of the. society. A leader was wantedWa faithful and tried man from one of. the great brotherhoods in England—who could adapt a religious Grille to tne need of New Zealand.' -■'■.'.'. ■. : The cost of suoh.asocioty is oomputed at about £500 a' year, made, up- as follows:— Rent of house—a disused hotel or somo'arge building, £60; board for twelve membors, at 12s.' per week, £374 ;• lighting;'£s; clothing, £61; To meet annual expenses, Mr. YoungWoodward would -provjdo. , . as followa:— Graduated, tax on parishes, £200; subscriptions; ]£300.,, The fitting and furniture of, the society, would be given, and no doubt a. small library would also 'be. supplied v : The matter of cost and constitution of the society would be the work.of a special;committoe. • '