POORLY-ATTENDED CHURCHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5883, 1 April 1915, Page 9

POORLY-ATTENDED CHURCHES.

Sir,—May I suggest that another reason which accounts for the poor attendauco in the churches of our country districts is the lack of united effort among the clergy? The district in which I live, of over 1000 inhabitants, contains three places of worship, besides the Roman Catholic church, each of these churches being dependent on the services of a minister who also officiates at another church some miles away, where ho also resides, the consequence being that a morning service is a most unusual occurrence. What good can we expect dono in a place in these circumstances? One church would amply suffice to hold the united congregations, and a man who would come and live among the people would exert more influence over them. Another obstacle in the way of a good attendance in our Anglican churches is to bo found in the permanency of the vicar, who may possibly bo an unsuitable man for the neighbourhood. Surely it would be fairer all round for our country parishes to have the chance of a turn of our more eloquent preachers, and a man who enters the ministry from the right motive would feel he was doing his Master's work as much in preaching to the few as the many. One of the necessary qualifications for a man entering the ministry should be a clear delivery, with the ability to preach a good extempore sermon. Unfortunately country parishes are often obliged to put up with men who fall far short of this standard, thereby causing people to neglect the churches. An incapable mechanic taking a responsible situation would soon be asked to resign, and should we expect a lower degree of proficiency in any trade or profession to which a salary is attached? Lover of a Good Seiwok.