WORK OF THE CHURCH

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 79, 2 March 1929, Page 12

WORK OF THE CHURCH

RELATION TO EDUCATION. AIDING GOOD CITIZENSHIP. AUCKLAND, March 1. Various aspects of the duty of the Church were discussed at a public meeting held in the Pitt Street Church under the auspices of the Methodist Conference last evening. Rev. Dr. C. H. Laws, principal of the Theological College, presided over a large gathering. “It is fitting we should question ourselsve as to what kind of training we should give our young men,” said the chairman. “AVho is the ideal minister we should seek to produce to fill the needs of to-day ?” There had been, a time when the Church was venerated as an ancient institution and when a minister was held in respect simply because he was its representative. That time had gone forever. The Church had to prove it was a valuable element in the community, and the minister must justify himself. There was to-day a widespread disparagement of the Church, not only by “publicans and sinners,” but by men of excellent character and keen mind. This'disparagement had risen in two ways —because the .professedly Christian character did not conspicuously exceed in virtue that of the world unaided by religion, and because Christian service so largely spent itself on second-rate things and trivialities. These points of criticism, even if fundamentally wrong, had produced a deep effect. COURAGEOUS MEN AVANTED. “Yet, if we only knew it, these are times of great opportunity for us,” continued Dr. Laws. “This is an age of great intellectual freedom and great intellectual independence. You say why cannot our young people accept what they are told without question? The important fact is that they do not. There are men who say that an age with this mind is going to the devil. Ido not like a man-who disagrees with the temper of the times. I would far rather have a son given to think and question and examine, and so work the way to the truth himself, than have him swallow unthinkingly what I told him, believing himself to have faith. . “AA’e must have in the pulpit men ot candour, men who will speak out —not men who go nbout with religion as a close secret, but men who will take courageously a leading part in the large, free-thinking world. JNor is this all. A minister must have an evangelistic passion at heart or he had better be breaking stones or adding up a column of figures. I covet the blend of scholar and evangelist for our Church in Now Zealand.” FOUR MAIN PROBLEMS.

The function of the Church to educate for good citizenship was dealt with by Professor H. Belshaw, of Auckland University College. This is the great problem of modern civilisation, and I cannot do more than-.touch on one or two outstanding points, ho said. “At the outset I would remind you that a person’s education begins when he is born and continues until he dies, and that education is not confined to schools. Society is alive with educative institutions, of which the Church is among the greatest.”. Dividing the problems of education into four, Professor Belshaw said that the first was to develop the capacities and habits of mind of the citizen so that he might achieve the maximum economic efficiency related to which was the question of placing him in the most suitable occupation. The second was to develop his powers so that he might use liis, leisure to his own greatest happiness and the enjoyment ot others. A third problem related to personal morality—they way a man be haved to himself and other persons, the extent to which he played his part in community responsibilities and political life. The fourth problem was to select and educate for leadership those who were endowed with the necessary capacities for it. GREAT POTENTIAL POAVER. By virtue of its central spiritual purpose tlie Church was an educative factor of peculiar importance and tremendous actual or potential power. In consequence a serious responsibility was thrown on leaders of religious thought. In modem communities the influence of tlie Church was limited as to the economic efficiency of the individual, but it could greatly affect the manner in which he utilised his leisure. It also provided a social centre round which might be grouped cultural activities of great importance.

As a belief in the world to come was a common belief among Christian Churches it became difficult for preachers to avoid concentrating unduly on this to tho neglect, of the social implications of Christianity. AVith their eyes on the world to come there were too many who were satisfied with passive piety when what was needed was a more active interest in earthly affairs. Preparation for the world to come had overshadowed the preparation for this life.

“In the past we have left the control of civilisation of men of action,” concluded Professor Belshaw. “There is a challenge to the Church as well as to our schools and universities to provide leaders of thought who will make a beneficial impact on the whole community.”