RELIGION'S LEAD

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11470, 26 October 1931, Page 2

RELIGION'S LEAD

A SYDNEY REVIVAL

CROWDED CHURCHES SYDNEY. Oct. 10.

There has been further evidence during the past few weeks of something approaching a religious revival in Sydney. More and more are the churches entering into the discussion of highly controversial subjects, and the people seem to be developing tho habifc of looking to the pulpits for a lead in these troublesome times. Many of the city and suburban churches are now crowded beyond their capacity, and as the Church is feeling the depression as much as any other section Of the community there is difficulty in deciding how to meet the situation.

In a number of churches the seating accommodation has been increas,ed, and particularly has this been, necessary where the minister i-s a man who 'deals with modern questions, toriebjing. the everyday life of hie eongrecation. Purely ecclesiastical sermons are no more popular today than they were, hut the people will listen with the greatest interest to a ‘ discourse on Communism, or the : need of sacrifice, or an examination of the hundred-and-one -political problems that are uppermost in the mind today.'

.; "The Church needs you and you heed the Church,’' is the effective slogan s that has been adopted by many relictions. In the big city churches, ;where there are so-called "popular” ,pteachers, it is a ease of "early doors’* almost any Sunday night. St. Presbyterian Church is out every Sunday, and the congregation has developed an 'enthusiasm which is a revelation. Tho devotional spirit Has been most marked there; as has been the Case tfith -the Pitt''Street Congregational Church where people stand in the aisles throughout a Sunday night service. In the great St. Mary’s Basilica Hundreds of additional people are now attending the daily Mass.' Of <y>urse, many of. them but of work, but their devotions are marked with fervour seldom before seen in Sydney. ; The Rev. S; Y. Cocks, - the leading Methodist preacher, reports that more young -people are attending the Church thnn oyer before. Methodist leaders he Said,' believed that. Australia' was bit the verge of a great religions revival. The pebplfi ns a whole were turning to God. Tim vicar at a seaside suburb said that both the morning and evening' services were now crowded. Many people' went, to church before they enjoyed their day op the. beach.' Thero was iio; suggeStibn of despair among those who were now turning; their thoughts'to religion but a definite desire to pay. greater heed to the big things in life. In short, the Church was rapidly coming into her own, and Was playing an ever-increasing part in thij general welfare of the community,.,