BROADCAST SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20491, 17 February 1930, Page 11

BROADCAST SERVICES.

- -V • • '..1 GRfAT/ VALUE lTO: BEL!G;LOJ&

- ■ ' • •* ■ ' < EXPERIENCE. IN AUCKLAND^

ENGLISH STATEMENT FtEFUTED*

Strong dissent from the statements of .Dr. E. G. Selwyn,' csmon of Portsmouth, who, according to a cablegram published on Saturday, said that thu influence of broadcast religious sea-vices was superficial and ephemeral, creating a ■ class of passive worshipper, is expressed by, Church leaders in Auckland who have availed themselves of radio broadcasts in connection with their Sunday evening services. Prominent Churchmen in Auek« land, while, willing to admit that the broadcasting of services possesses certain disadvantages, are unanimous in their belief that the benefits far outweigh any, drawbacks.

"My experience of broadcasting religious services is that it is of wonderful value," stated the Iter. Lionel B. Fletcher, of the Beresford Street Congregational Church. Alter mentioning' thati he was the first minister to broadcast in the Dominion, and that he carried on for two years before any other minister's service was put on the air, Mr. Fletcher said that he was thoroughly in favour of it.i "I suppose that every good thing can ba put to a' wrong use and can thus I ba spoilt, but while there may be some disadvantages, I am sure that they are thoroughly outweighed by the benefits," he added. "In the pa:>t six years I hava had thousands of lcitters of appreciation from !isteners-in, and after one broadcast alone I received as many as :350 in fact, 1 have had up to 40. in one post.'-5 The Sick and Suffering.

Mr. Fletcher referred to the, way .in which the sick and suffering, who could not be reached by the Church in': any, other manner, could! hear and take part in religious services;. On Thursday ha had met a deaf woman at Howick, who had not heard a voice for 20 years, buil who was able to he ir a broadcast sermon through the ear-phones. Similarly, broadcasting meant a great deal to those in the back blocks where services were rarely, held. If ministers would take the opportunity they could reach many who had not gone away from, the Church, but who could not otherwise be reached by. it. . A possible explanation of the doubt which Canon Selvvyn had casu on -tha value of the services was that m England sermons were often broadcast from ■* tha studio without the remainder of the accompanying serviice. If the bare serin oi.' were put on the air the service lost much of its value, as listoners-in could not take part in the service as they could when the whole was broadcast. The singing of the congregation, the music of- the organ and the prayers and anthems, all combined to increase the value of religious broadcasts as they wero carried out in New Zealand, and to make it possible for people to draw-the full benefit from the service. . •

Mr- "Fletcher did not think that there was any danger of a passive type of worshipper being created, as , broadcasting did not take people away -from tha Churches to listen-in at home. On tha other hand, many who had heard -a preacher over the air would go to heat I the spoken word.

Larger Congregations.

The Rev. D. C, Herron, of St. David'# Presbyterian Church, concurred in tfie opinion that thero was no danger of worshippers remaining at home to hear the wireless service in preference to attending tho churches, He w£is inclined to think that Canon Selwyn'is estimate wis superficial. He had always had: as lartfe if not a larger congregation when he was > broadcasting as oil ordinary Sunday evad- ; ings. People did not remain at home-if , they could go to church, irat rather went i with the added idea that they shdirid ; help in the service because they knewr'jt would be appreciated by those i| the > back blocks and the sick, who could not! ! attend a service. r "Some people have, the idea that the • Church is out of.'date," Mr. HerOn COn- ' tinued. "Not knowing much about it* teachings, they believe that' it - has not kept abreast of modern thought, and that it is not strong intellectually. .By. listening-in they find this is not true and are then inclined to attend more frequently. A great deal o:f the prejudice against the Church has been broken down in this way. Many who did not know what was being sairii in the Church to-day and were not prepared to attend to hear will listen-in, and • then realise what we have to offer them."

"I think that' broadcast religious services are of vei-y great value, • because they reach many people whom the Church would not influence in. any other way, except by booksj" said Canon Fancourt, of St. Mary's Cathedral, t'ln fact, they reach those with whom we could not come in touch in any other way, because services on the air reach thiDse who do not read seriously."

Reaching the Children. Canon Fancouit corroborated Mr. Her- \ ron's statement that congregations weris , not decreased, the tendency being toward i an increase, as those who had heard <m ! the wireless often went'to taike full par.fc [, in the services. Listening-in could no more replace personal attendance thai! broadcasting could replace concerts and plays. No person who could attend a ) stage performance or a lecture on a sub-! ject in which he was interested would be ' satisfied to istay at home and, listen-in., , He considered that the Church should J take advantage of broadcasting in dis- ! sominating religious knowledge .just .'as \ other bodies spiread knowledge of theii subjects. "It is my firm conviction that success t has been achieved in this direction," said, the Eev. W. Walker, of the Pitt Street' | Methodist Churdi, in commenting on Canon Sehvyn's remarks. One of the j most useful functions of broadcasting was ■ the way in which it was possible to reach ( children, either in the back blocks or tha i sickroom, who could not. attend - Sunday i school. Those who could attend' church ! would continue 'to do so, attracted by the , singing and tho music, while the radio , would serve those who were unable : to reach a church. .• - ■< < "Canon Selwjrn may have had an un« i fortunate experience," :said the Rev,, Joseph W. Kemp, of the Baptist Taber-t nacle. "In every communion there are passiveworshippers—in fact, everywhere they are in tho majority—and -I do nbti know that broadcasting services have added to their numbers.. My own experience does not tell me so, It is true thati some folk listen to a sermon while lonnging on. their couches instead of being' at! the place of worship, but'it occurs to me that'they would be in that attitude, wireless or not. . A broadcast service .is ■ the best, for it lacks the fire a.id fascination of the. personality of the HvinfC preacher. But it is a good second.