SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 62, 23 February 1934, Page 8

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

Effects of Excursion Trains

•DIVERGENCE OF OPINION By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTOON, Feb. 22. Sunday observance figured proniin ently in the Methodist Conference dis cussions when public questions wen under consideration. a divergence o opinion was disclosed on the Subject o Sunday excursion trains as organise, by the Bailways Department, som speakers vigorously opposing the traffi a» subversive of the spirit of Sunday others maintaining that the excursion conferred a physical benefit on thos who patronised them and also presente, an opportunity for service by th Church and ministry, who could carr the message of the Gospel to th beaches and other places of resort. That the church people themselve were offenders in the matter of Sunda excursions was alleged by Mr C. B Chapman, of Christchurch, who sai that be had been informed by th Minister of Bailways that there was public demand for trains and that the' were used by church people amon others. The speaker urged that th Church niust set its own house in orde before condemning Sunday excursions. Eesolutious were adopted deprecatin the action of the Bailways Departmen in promoting Sunday excursions an calling upon the Methodist people t resist the present-day encroachment on the sanctity of the Sabbath Day Other resolutions deprecated the ir crease in gambling propensities in th community, with special reference t art unions. The Government was urged to tighte up the censorship of moving pictui films. Whether Methodist ministers shoul be permitted to occupy civic position

was a question debated by the conference. Some speakers opposed the principle of ministers engaging in outside activities, urging that the ministry was a whole-time job. Others said that there were demands for social service from the Church. The conference resolved that no minister shall accept nomination for any civic position without the sanction of his circuit quarterly meeting and the approval of the president's Committee of Advice in consultation with the chairman of the district. Resolutions were adopted pledging tie Church to more effective support of the aims of the New Zealand Alliance and to strenuous resistance of any attempts to restore licenses in no-license areas. It was resolved: “This conference reiterates its declared belief of the Methodist Church that resort to war is not in harmony with the spirit oi Christ and is a crime against humanity. We express our abhorrence of increasing the output of armaments by private firms and corporations, which create and play , upon racial fears, suspicions and jealousies to reap dividends from increasing national mistrust. We urge all Christian people and men and women of goodwill to assist in every way the efforts of those who are striving, especially among our children and young people, to maintain the ideals of peace and to achieve disarmament and fellowship among the nations.” Mr. W. J. Bardsley, of Dunedin, president of the Baptist Union, waited on the conference aud expressed the appreciation of the Baptist Church of the magnificent work the Methodist Church was doing.