FOR REACHING MEN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 803, 28 April 1910, Page 8

FOR REACHING MEN.

AIMS AND OBJECTS OF C.E.M.S. STATED BY REV. H. S. WOOLLCOMBE. A meeting of tho Church of England Men's Society was held in St. Mark's Schoolroom last night. There was a largo attendance of Wellington members and delegates from all parts of the ■ Dominion, about 40 different branches being represented. Tho meeting was called in order to give the Rev. H. S. Woollcombe an opportunity of addressing Churchmen on the aims and objects of the society, and to say something concerning the coming conferonce of delegates. The Rev.- A. M. Johnson presided. • Mr. Woollcombo was engaged to speak at the Seamen's Mission, and in consequence did not arrive until 8.30 p.m. During the'interval .the Rev. J. D. Russell, diocesan secretary, extended a welcome to the visiting dele-

: gates. He remarked, inter alia, that it was edifying to note that the 'spirit of the society had led members to come i from districts - and centres so widely separated to attend the conference, at' their own expense. Mr. Woollcombe, in opening his address, thanked those present for their cordial reception, and stated that he would go away with a very strong memory of the hospitality extended to hint in New Zealand. He wished first to mention the main subjects of the conference to-morrow evening, and the principles of the society, so that' delegates might come prepared to discuss th means of carrying them out. Three points in particular he would enlarge upon. First, the spirit* ual basis of the society; second, mis- , sionary work to reach outsiders; third, federation, fellowship, and organisasion. Touching on the first point, the 1 speake rindicat-cd that the society was " not to be a mere literary and debating 1 assemblage. The spiritual basis 1 was " the wholo foundation of it. There 1- were those who held the opinion that - the Church of England's Men's ,So- } cioty. should admit as many as ; pos--1 sibl© to membership and from that--3 number select a few . best fitted to f carry out .the mission work,' but. he i lielieved in always -putting the' highest • ideal before men x and waiting till they d were ready to accept., it before, admits 3 ting; them to :the society. Quality was f wanted rather than quantity. A small - bunch of, say, 10 or 15 keen men were 1 likely to' do more -good'than/a larger i body of uninterested members:' He was s perfectly suro that the great princib pie was to build' slowly and build 1 strongly. The society ought to get ins, touch with every-man in the, parish,' ;- but they should ~ distinguish b'efcween - those to be caught and those who had ; to do the catching: He emphasised .- the- essential importance' of each i, branch being a praying branch, so that e members ; might know God's will and 3 obtain grace to carry out His work, r At the conference he wanted members i. to discuss the question of meetings' t for prayer for members. He preferred ,s tho title 'Tneetings for prayer" to that g of "prayer meetings," as the latter s title, was sometimes the .means of keepe ing shy men away. He also.stated that, e sometimes, ' wbere the title might be t satisfactory the method was. not. The r idea that it was the parson, and he if alone, who was in a position to meet and exhort men regarding morals was a false one. Laymen had more opportunities than clergymen to bring men to church and to meetings. In.the past the ? Church of England had been weak in missionary work, but it was changing now. It had been in danger because of its starch and respectability "What 1- : :— : ■

the Church of England wanted to do was to take off its coat and face the work. He was an enthusiastic beliver in'these meetings for prayer for men. In large populations there were a great many men who did not attend church because they felt a sort of shyness about attending a service where there was a great deal that they did not understand; In these bigger oentres of population why oould not the parishes combine to conduct a united mission to reach "the men? This -wa-s a point which ho wished to hear discussed at the conference. Then there was tko very important question of work among •the lads. The society was not meant for lads or boys, but it should do its utmost to win them and to keep them true to the Church. Another, question to bo discussed was the best means of keeping people in isolated parts in touch with the society, and, finally, there was the question of fellowship and federation. The speaker prooecded to mako reference to the social work wlrich : was being accomplished by the society in Australia, and to the necessity of attending to. immigrants eo as jio__getr-hoH -of-. -Churchmen when -th^Ei

first arrived in the Dominion. As to tho organisation of the society, they should bo careful not to over-organise, as many religious societies had died from over-organisation, but poor organisation was equally bad. Branch organisation and diocesan organisation should come first, but thoy wanted to look forward to the day when they would have not diocesan organisation, but a central organisation of their own that would bind the brotherhood together from north to south of the Dominion. ~ - i