BETTING ON HYMNS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 December 1927, Page 3

BETTING ON HYMNS.

YOUNG "BOOKIE” WITH INSIDE INFORMATION. CHURCHGOERS' EVILS LONDON, Dec. 2, Glamorgan clergymen are perturbed at the laxity of young people attending chapel. They declare that when walking piously to church, young Welshmen, lav odds as to whether or not certain hymns will be sung. One instance of a young man who bet on certainties is quoted. He became very friendly with the clergyman and showed a most praiseworthy interest in the hymns selected for coming services.

It came as a rude shock to, the clergyman when he found that, %his bright youth was making a hook and gave irresistible odds about all but a few hymns. The few always included those which later were sung at the chapel. Another thing that has upset Tie clergyman is the frequency with which young women use tlieir powder -puffs during prayers. Mocking sketches of the parson and prominent worshippers, which young men draw in the hymn books, have also- caused complaint. _ The position has become so serious that the clergy have convened a special conference to devise moans of combating the evils.