THE New Zealand Herlad AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, MAY 11, 1896.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10128, 11 May 1896, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herlad AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, MAY 11, 1896.

The proceedings of the Church Congress, now drawn to a close, have realised the anticipations we had formed of the useful purposes that may bo served by such an assemblage. The papers read have covered a range of interesting subjects, and have been characterised at once by ability and careful thought, and it will be much to be regretted if they are not made to serve something more than a mere ephemeral purpose, by being reproduced in a permanent form, to be disseminated and perused in the homes of the people. The discussions, too, have elicited a large amount of interesting thought, showing ,he subjects treated in various lights and from different standpoints, while the diversity of opinion expressed showed the elasticity of thought existing among the membership of the Church of England. We have already referred to some of the larger questions discussed at the meetings ; and the subjects considered en the closing day of the Congress, though not of so general interest, perhaps, as the questions of the reunion of Christendom, and the place of religion in a State system of education, were not less practical in their bearing on the general welfare.

The place of the Church in relation to national life, cannot be said to be a settled one as yet in the Church of England, while that Church maiutains the position of being the national Church in England. But it must be admitted that in the papers and discussions on the subject the situation was frankly accepted as for the colonies, and the influence claimed to be exercised on the Government and life of the nation, only such as pertains to any religious organisation using its spiritual influence in purifying the sources from whicli all actions political as well as others proceed. It was held that the Church should not, save in exceptional cases, concern itself directly with politics as in legislation, but should seek to impress the mind of the community with a sense of the religious solemnity of obligation, to make men feel the responsibility of life and the sacredness of duty, and to touch the inner spring which suggests all high morality and prompts all noble conduct. The bearing of the Church on commerce opened up a subject which was treated trenchantly. The paper on the subject dealt with prevalent lapses in commercial morality with much plainness of speech. No special clairj was made, of course, for the Churob, as such, to exeroise any specific authority in such matters ; but the conduct of churchmen and other professors of religion in participating in commercial wrongdoing was denounced, and adulteration of goods, reckless trading, reckless borrowing, and fraudulent bankruptcy were painted in lurid colours. Some home thrusts were also given to the Church itself for sanctioning large and embarrassing church debts, while overlooking oftentimes the duty of paying to the labourers in the Christian vineyard their stipulated and honest dues. The question of the Church in social life was treated on the wide basis of the duty of all Christians to comfort, protect, and rescue, following the lines laid down by the Saviour, who went about continually doing good. But of the subjects dealt with in the closing hours of the Conference the one that invites most comment was that treating of public worship-its methods, causes of its neglect, suggestions for improvement, the shortcomings of clergy and laity, and other matters bearing oft religious services. The views expressed on this, as on all other subjects, were diversified, but the public generally will be taken somewhat by surprise at the general tone of disparagement of the importance of the sermon, which characterised the papers and the remarks of most of the speakers. It is known of course that the Anglican Church does not attach so much importance to the sermon as do the adherents of other Protestant j Churches, and few will be disposed to deny thai sermon* aS a rule] 1 Without

making any distinctions is * between the cliSf 9m do not prove" as attractive adjjittptetbVreligious services as they might bt $ u to whatever extent this may b.ftrue, there can be little doubt that. abolition of the i sermon would, in % case of a great number of peoji| be an additional reason fotpheir absenting themselves from pli|>b, The Church of England service is one of great beauty, and to those accustomed to it, and with all fr,g endearing associations that are connected with it in memory, it has attractions. But even to the most devout member of the Church of England, Unless, perhaps, in the case of extreme ritualists, it has not that character of being a meritorious sacrifice, such as in the Roman Catholic Church, for instano-jmakes attendance at Mass in itself 1 meritorious act sufficient to bring the faithful to the Sanctuary. Public worship is of course recognised as a duty, but it is a duty that will hardly present obligation enough to the average Anglican Protestant to overcome the perhaps indolent, perhaps indifferent, sense of his ability to worship God in spirit and in truth; without putting himself to the trouble of dressing himself for church. Depend on it, if there is no longer even the little modicum of action cr of variation oflered in the sermon, more prominence will be given to the

question of cui bono 1 and the formal services, however beautifully intoned, will haw an ever-narrow-ing circle of those who are retained within the infiuen:e of the Church.

Besides, where are ;he members of the Church to get thei 1 religious instruction ? We admit ill that has been said about the valui of the teaching of the newspaper pr«s. But we do not profess to teac| religion save the religion of humanity, and if the Church of England is to! retain any distinctive doctrinal principles, or theory of religious duty and worship, surely some opportunity must be availed of for reaching the intellect and the reason of the worshippers. Besides, whatever may be said to decry the value of sermons, what an opportunity is afforded in at assembled crowd of worshippers to do something to enlighten their pinds, and move their consciences ana hearts. It may have been neglccteq; it may be still so neglected that [people may think the sermon had better be dispensed with. But would it I not be better far to improve the sermon, to raise it to a higher intellectual plane, to bring it more in touch with the things that are stirring in men's minds, and so not only make it an attraction additional! to the service, but also a mediunl to move the people to higher and nobler things than the mere humdrum of their daily lives. The Church of England has given as many proofs of the power of eloquent preaching to lift men out if themselves, and to inspire them witi the noblest motives of religion, asiany other Church on earth ; and wit: an educated and cultured clergy suci as it generally has, to drop to the levelof the priests of the Greek Church, and be content with the mere formal performance of acts of worship, as seemiigly advocated by

some of the speakeis at the Congress, would be a stage of decadence thai would place the Church of England in the rear of all tiii Protestant Churches. Of course these nre not the views or

sentiments of the Church of England,

but the expresssion of them should have evoked a more marked protest at the Congress. , i