BEARING WITNESS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 147, 6 June 1936, Page 12

BEARING WITNESS

Bishop Speaks to C.E.M.S. Members ZEAL FOR RELIGION In his presidential address at the Dominion conference of the Church of England Men’s Society, held at Cambridge, tho Bishop of Waiapu, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Williams, stated that it was the duty of the members of the society to bear witness. Bearing witness was not a. matter of merely testifying verbally. it was incumbent on all members always to bear witness by example, and when tho opportunity offered, by precept. They were to bear witness in their very lives. “On an occasion like this,” continued tho speaker, “wo nearly always tend to congratulate ourselves and ) look back to tho good we have done. Wo are not doing as well as wo should. The Church of England Men’s Sociejjy in New Zealand is not what it shield be; it should be larger.” Dr. Williams considered that, one reason why tho society was not strong numerically was that it was yot sufficiently attractive and there was something wanting. Tho speaker stated that it was his experience and that of fellow clergy that men were not adequately represented in, th o church. “The man in the street,” added the president, “does not regard religion as a man’s job. Ona reason why men don’t show religion as they should in lives is that religion is not real to them. Religion is not mere adherence to some creed. It is necessary that we have a true faith formulated in proper words but religion does not end there, fho man who leads a truly Christian life is ruled in his whole life by God’s will.”

The speaker expressed the opinion that men were too apt to live religion in the past. They recalled that in their preparation for confirmation they received spiritual uplift at the time. They were inclined in the matter of religion to live on their reputation. In conclusion the Bishop denied that tho church was ineffective as some people were inclined to think. Some members rather were ineffective. They were not full of zeal for religion. Zeal was necessary. If all were as keen for Christianity as many non-religous men were in spreading their belief they would be doing more for the spread of tho Word of God.