PROBLEMS OF THE CHURCHES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3360, 15 August 1927, Page 2

PROBLEMS OF THE CHURCHES.

problems in a generation which is no longer content to accept unreservedly what in the past was taken for granted ; which claims new liberty: \thich has ideas of its own, and is infinitely more critical and headstrong than its forefathers.” These words were used by the Gover-nor-General (Sir Charles Fergussou) in his address at the laying of the foundationstone of the Methodist Trinity Theological College and Hostel at Auckland. “I suppose there was seldom in the world’s history a time which gave rise to more anxious thought than the pi’asent,” said His Excellency. “We are living in times of great changes, trying to adapt ourselves to new ideas, new schools of thought, a new psychology. In this rush of new ideas, and it is of the future and all this college will mean to it that we are thinking. The .churches have a difficult task, and infinite tact and wisdom are essential in dealing with the problems existing. “People nowadays can be led but they cannot be driven,” continued' His Excellency. “Leadership requires men not only with knowledge, wisdom, and education, but possessing personal qualities of sympathy, understanding, and vision. It is useless for a Church to-day to say ‘You must not do this’ or ‘You must do that’ unless it has established such confidence as to retain public opinion on its side and has gained such influence as will draw men to it and not repel them. “The question has often been asked in late years, why has the Church failed? What is wrong with the Church? But it is * at least as reasonable to ask what is wrong with the people? Why have they failed? In any case,” said His Excellency, “such questions ignore the fact that people themselves constitute the Church and imply that (here is some distinction between the two. So long as such a distinction is made progress is impossible. Morality, which often means little more than conventionality. mast not be confounded with holiness. The one is negative, not doing wrong; the other is positive, trying to be good. I think it is possible that sqmctimes in setting too much store by the former we are apt to forget the essential nature of the latter.”