SABBATH DESECRATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16876, 14 June 1918, Page 6

SABBATH DESECRATION

OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM.

GROWTH OF MATERIALISM

The necessity for organising the various | religious denominations to secure a stricter observance of the Sabbath was emphasised by a number of speakers at the annual meeting of the Lord's Day Alliance of New Zealand last evening. The annual report referred to Police Court case* during the past year, of breaches of the lawregarding Sunday trading in refreshment bars, and pointed out that two magistrates —Mr. S. E. McCarthy, S.M.. of Wellington, and Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., of Auckland—had recently expressed the opinion that tinder the present law a person who could show lie had a legitimate excuse for keeping his premises open on Sunday could sell almost anything at all. so long as the police could not see from the street what he was doing. The report also stated that considerable correspondence had taken place m reference to the regular Sunday picture entertainments now given at Ohakune. Greymouth and other towns in Westland, but the result from the point of view of the alliance was unsatisfactory. Dr. A. \V. Averill. Anglican Bishop of Auckland, in a stirring address, said he felt very strongly that the alliance must not only fight for the rest of bodv for the workers, but for the honour of God and the principles of Christ. " I do not think.'' he said. that there is anything more important at the present time than the public acknowledgment of Almighty (rod. God has no place in much of our society, and political, industrial and Sunday life. I believe that the secularisation of life lias much to do with the fact that there is so much desecration of the Lord's Day. Many people who are pleased to call themselves Christians have a superficial belief in God. but if analysed it is found to be a mere phantom of the mind. Materialism is growing, setting up as 113 gods, ease, pleasure and wealth. Our soldiers are righting and giving their lives fur right and all it means, against might, but T cannot help questioning the sincerity of the efforts of many who remain at home for the attainment of the high ideals for which our gallant men are fighting and dying. I believe the people mostly responsible for the neglect of the Lord's Day are those sometime* called the well-to-do. They generally cause the most work on that day and have little knowledge of the meaning of true patriotism, or much realisation of the rights of others." Mr. Edward Smith and the Rev. C. H. Laws delivered addresses emphasising the. necessity for a stricter observance of the Sabbath 111 the interests of the family, the individual and the nation from a plivsical as well as spiritual standpoint. Mr. Laws strongly urged that the alliance should seek the closer co-operation of the churches in the direction of having the law regarding Sunday trading amended. °