EVER-OPEN CHURCHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20105, 16 November 1928, Page 16

EVER-OPEN CHURCHES.

PLEA BY A BISHOP. NO FEAR OF HATLESS GIRLS. In a recent letter to his diocese the Bishop of SI Edmundsbury and Ipswich urges all his clergy to keep their churches open all day. ''ln fact." lie says, "in many places no harm would he done if the church wens unlocked day and night. "It is not at all likely," he continues, "that an open church will be misused; if it is a possibility 1 think it is a risk worth taking, and if occasionally some mischief is done that should be sei against the general good.

"if occasionally such churches are used just as places of rest where is the objection to that'! If I»y chance they might he used on some occasion by people whose garments were not of the cleanest, again is that a reason for keeping them out of God's house? Even if a wayiaiei ate his bread and cheese there would he bo committing any serious breach of decorum'/ "Nor am 1 disturbed at tho thought of hfttless girls going into a church. St. Paul's words, as students of the time know, wore addressed to very different circumstances and had a particular application and ,at all analagous to the custom of wearing hats —which, by the way, neithoi veil nor are a sign of authority—ill our own day Wo are far too apprehensive, of misbehaviour, and Ldo not think that people who ca/o to enter a church are o) such a character that tbey cannot be trusted to behave themselves. If it should be tho case they will learn better by the example ot those who conduct themselves with propriety.

"I do not at all mind if people go into a church for the sole purpose of looking at, it and appreciating it. Our churches are well worth inspection. 1 uo into many a church niyselt for no other puipose. There are few heller interest's than an interest in tho architectural features of our great heritage. It is no profanation that buildings possessing so much of historic value are allowed to afiord the interest. and in the long run the teaching that a study of litem implies. It ought to be encouraged in every possible way."