Laymen Responible for Church Progress, Says Primate

Grey River Argus, 17 December 1948, Page 6

Laymen Responible for Church Progress, Says Primate

CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 15 The Primate or New Zealand (Archbishop Vvest-Watsonj to-uay expressed a personal conviction (supported by landings or the juamoetn vumeienue and Amsterdam Assembly) that the progress ot the church would depend on virile action by laymen. He was addressing the Christchurch Church of England men's Society. Millions or people in the world today did not think God was necessary in their scheme of life and doubted the spiritual nature of man and his survival value, he said. They could see little difference between the conscientious church member and the decent fellow outside who followed closelv Christian standards. It should, by now, be apparent .m nine discarding Christianity,, meant loss of personal respect for others, leading to disturbing carelessness and sometimes appalling cruelty. The rocks were not seen at ■XX Aue; out tney appeared during the ebb. There were too many waiting for the obsequies of the Christian faith and doing nothing to support it. ... , Throughout the world there demands for security and for the recognitions of human rights—too often with disregard for personal Responsibilities, Archbishop said. Security tended to encouiag easy living and a deterioration stamina. , , ~ At Lambeth and Amsterdam it was agreed that the cutting edge ot church to-day must be the In their businesses they m ust demon strate the Christian H e ra ii v which the younger P e °P le fn c °H l A They must have regard foi the we fare of their neighbours at home, c t work and at .P 1 ~^ an n V care people to-day just did not care whether they ever got to. know' tlw fellow men. by do ! nK 1 _S I }.w g them and Way 10 au ,i tC”?hJrchls St w« ? e thft U abated with different churches unaei me with aiiierein , tivelv small proS wa C s\;tively engaged in active constructive Christian —•