THE CHURCH AND THE CHILD.

Northern Advocate, 8 April 1931, Page 3

THE CHURCH AND THE CHILD.

To the Editor. Sir. —As a devoted member of the Church of England, there lias .been brought under my notice certain correspondence and articles in the 'Christchurch papers in reference to the neglect that so many of the Anglican clergy exhibit, towards the younger •'members of their flock, who, were they properly dealt with, would become the very salt of the church. In Christchurch, speaking at the last of a scries

of lectures initiated toy the Eev. Chas. Perry,-of St. Michael’s, in order to bring his congregation into touch ■with the lines of modern lay thought, Mr S. C. Cummings, a Mach or at the Christchurch Boys’ High School lately gave a very straight and outspoken address. In this he depleted the falling away of the young from the church and in no uncertain *erms criticised the church for its culpa Id; !e neglect of the elements that should, in the future, constitute its life, its strength and its virility. He cpioted a Congregationalist preacher who, at a conference, stated: “The Bible today, in many honies, is as dead as an antimacassar.” Mr Cnmings, is no lover of the Sunday Schools. He finds his groat source of Biblical education in the church and Ihe home. He warmly admires, as do all, the great untiring and magnificaut efforts of the Sunday school teachers, but the inspiration of religion is not

to bo found iii the .Sunday school alone. He put np a strong plea for the teaching of the ‘Catechism and the Bi'olc in the home life. Incidentally, he ironically asked how a church that gave £9OOO for a new organ, £15,000 for a Bishop's house, and £IOOO a year for music, could advance the plea of poverty when asked to do something in regard to the children growing up within its folds. But, sir, is the Canterbury diocese alone in its neglect.' Are there no places, elsewhere than in Christchurch, where the Anglican Church does not take care of the lambs within its bounds? Other

churches, are not so regardless. There ; are some that, in missionary parlance, arc veritable “soul-snatchers. ” They : regard their own churches as the whole < and not a part, of the army of Christ. Not such was a Baptist minister in ( Christchurch. A soul tormented by religious doubts went to him, seeking ; admission to his church. This he re- ■ fused, and told her that true faith was to be found in her church as well , as his, and he* gave to her that peace ; of mind and peace in her family that only a Christian could give. I differ with this man at almost every point but I bow to him in his noble and ; generous Christianlike advice. But ; not all are as Christian as ho. So our church leaves its tender lambs unprotected. These, thinking they are unvalued, see the children of other denominations —who too often are made too much of —and go with them to church and entertainments and pleasures that their church does not afford them. They grow “out of touch” with their own church. They often make friends with those who regard a convert as trophy of their religious bow a-nd spear. I know' of case after case in Now' Zealand where our church youth is made much of in other denominations, and grow 7 resentful af the seeming disregard in which they are held in their own church. The disregard is really only seeming. If only they knew', they are treasured as much and as highly in their own church, if they keep up to its standard, as they are in any other. But the church must, in those days, show an outward sign lof its inward love and affection, and j that it seems loth to do. I am, etc., ANGLICAN.