SINS OF THE CHURCHES

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 August 1928, Page 4

SINS OF THE CHURCHES

• 1 won SHIPPING MAMMON.

(Special to "Star.”)

AUCKLAND, August 27.

“In many cases, the churches are worshipping mammon, and if you have £lO,OOO a year, you can have any church office you like, so long as your life has not been startlingly unchristian,” said Rev. J. F. Jones, of the United Evangelical Churdh, in an address last evening on some sins of Auckland churches.

'Hie. speaker prefaced his remarks with an intimation that he intended neither to pour vitriol on the ministry nor to belittle the work of the .

churches in grappling with sin. The sins of the city were only too obvious, but he said his indictment would be confined in a constructive sense to he since of the churches.

“The one great sin of the churches is inordinate love of money,” said Mr Jones.” In some churches we find the minister receiving £BOO or £lOOO a year, while another man in the Same denomination gets £l5O or £2OO with which to keep a family and help those about him. Churches often boasted of the financial success of the year, but laid no stress on the spiritual progress. It is a disgrace that we .should, when, there is money, forget to consider character.”

The speaker referred to the vulgar display in the erection of very expensive churches when the mission field was parsimoniosuly treated. There was a lack of zeal in many church activities. If only the church was loyal and consistent, it would have a tremendous power in this sinful generation. “We must clean up our own back doors before we commence to talk about the sins of the people.”