Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14th., 1930. CATHOLIC MISSION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 November 1930, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14th., 1930. CATHOLIC MISSION.

J7OR a Catholic church, to hold a special mission will .seem to many to be like gilding the lily, as such churches at all times appear to attract large congregations, the relations between clergy and laity being apparently close and cordial. Rarely is it necessary for the preachers to lament empty seats, or lack of interest in the church’s progress, and this happy state of affairs must occasionally be cause for envy in some other* pastoral circles where less enthusiasm prevails. The scenes at St. Patrick’s, Greymouth, this week, however, prove that there is scope for a special effort to remind the laymen of their profession of faith, the church being crowded, those present including jnany not members of the Catholic fraternity. It is outside the proper scope of this column to comment on the religious teachings by the visiting Missioners, but it is obvious that instruction of great social value to the whole community is being given, and that the efforts should be for future district betterment. There

is so much in the daily routine of

a materialistic and self-seeking character, that it is well to have the other side of life’s responsibilities impressively brought to the remembrance of those who might otherwise be forgetful of the higher things. New Zealand maintains

worthy standards of conduct in many avenues, but in others there

is a national tendency to slackness. Special calls to effect reform are opportune, and those endeavouring

o arouse the community to potential social dangers,-should be en-

couraged. No question of any particular church need arise, nor the value of the message be discounted because of any differences of opinion regarding the methods of public worship. On the subject of missions generally, there is controversy as to their value, some claiming that the

‘motions and the penitence aroused ire ephemeral. That may be true in nstances, where the ground has iot been previously prepared, and

vhere little appeal is made to the ntelligence. Where the missioners ire educated, honest and zealous,

and where church organisation is sound, there can be no question of a mission-harvest being worth while. In the U.S.A., for instance, missions, revivals and campaigns have become “stunts” rather than earnest soul-helping movements, but British lands, and especially our own country, have not yet been overcome by that type of evangelist. A well-conducted mis-

sion should be as a boon and a blessing to the district it is endeavouring to serve, aiding the individuals as well as the community to develop the best that is within them.