SOCIAL QUESTIONS

Evening Post, Issue 86, 8 October 1936, Page 14

SOCIAL QUESTIONS

PURITAN ATTITUDE

GUIDANCE OF CONDUCT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND. October 7. The Puritan attitude to conduct and its relationship to the important moral and spiritual questions of the present day was the main feature of the presidential address •on "Puritanism and Today," delivered by the Rev. A. Anstice, of Christchurch, at the' first session of the fifty-fourth annual assembly of the Baptist Union of New Zealand, which opened tonight. There are nearly 200 delegates from the Baptist churches of the Dominion. Appreciation of the services rendered by Dr. Charles North as president was expressed in a resolution. "The break-up of Christian home life is a sad and disastrous feature of today, and presents a most pressing problem to the church, Sunday school, and social worker alike," said Mr. Anstice. He said the honour of the creation of home life as it was known at its best belonged to Puritanism, and was so credited to Puritans by impartial historians. He dealt at length with the history of Puritanism and the principles that guided Puritans in their faith. '

"This is where a quiet but very real conflict is in process today in our owji and other communions." said Mr Anstice, referring to the Puritan attitude to conduct. "There is a very definite sphere in the realm of conduct in which this conflict is evident. ft is in sex relationships, including the sanctity of the marriage tie and the integrity and dignity of home life, recreation, and pleasure, and chiefly its relation to Sabbath observance drinking and gambling, the uses of the drama, and the effects of suggestive works of fiction, and business probity and sincerity in all human relationships." Mr. Anstice said the list might be enlarged and much said under each heading, but the issue with the Baptist people might be stated in a few well-defined queries. Should Christians dance, play cards, gamble, or mix in world frivolity? How much of the Christian's time should be devoted to sport and amusements? Should not a church member be scrupulously honest and truthful? These and others might be at this moment live issues in different churches.

- "The word prejudice is lightly used in a careless age. but we must not lose sight of the truth that the Puritans were Bible-lovers and their prejudices are Bible prejudices." continued Mr. Anstice. "Have we, who have been spoken of as the extreme wing of Puritanism, a word of authoritative and intelligent guidance to give today on these important moral and spiritual questions? For not alone is the attitude of the Christian to worldliness involved. Sociology and, in fact, science generally, as it is exercised concerning the well-being of mankind, must take note also of conduct."