MODERN TRENDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22657, 19 February 1937, Page 11

MODERN TRENDS

DRIFT FROM RELIGION NEEDS OF THE CHURCH METHODIST PRESIDENT'S PLEA FAITH AND EFFICIENCY With the Churches appearing powerless to stem the tide of irreligion, many seemed to be living by their wits rather than by their worth, said the Rev. F. Copeland, of New Plymouth, who was last evening inducted as president of the Dominion Methodist Conference. In his presidential address, Mr. Copeland referred to the post-war drift from religion, but pointed out that the astonishing vitality of the Christian faith had been abundantly demonstrated in history when critics had deemed it to be on its death-bed. They were at present confronted, Mr. Copeland said, with what might be called a world slump in organised religion—a secularisation of life which post-war years had accentuated, but which really began long before 1914. No matter how unpalatable it might be they were faced with the fact —and he hoped it was found a profoundly disturbing one —that tho main stream of life was flowing right past the Church. Convention of Weddings and Funerals Many, though owing so much to it, appeared to regard the Church as something which did not really count —a useful kind of adjunct, to the conventional observance of weddings and funerals, but having no place in the pulsing life of every day. No facile axplanation could disguise the stark reality that, for all practical purposes, the Church had seemed powerless of late to stem the tide of irreligion and to turn men and women from their semi-pagan state to the Christian way' of life. Many of their Churches seemed to be living by their wits, rather than by their worth, Mr. Copeland added, their only articulate message to a famishing world seeming to be, in Dr. Russell Maltby's words, " You're hungry, and we're hungry; come inside and let us be hungry together! " Vitality of Christianity " With few exceptions this generation of Methodism has been marked by an absence of adventure, a succumbing to the present day love of ease, weariness of purpose, and an aversion from anything heroic save talk about heroism, and admiration of it in others," Mr. Copeland continued. And yet, these facts notwithstanding, there need be no fear that the purpose of God. expressed in the Church of Jesus Christ, would be ultimately thwarted: for the astonishing vitality of the Christian faith had been abundantly demonstrated in history, in periodical glorious resurrections and selfrenewals of the Church, so often by critics and croakers deemed to be on its death-bed. Need For Confidence They could not with any heart face the future as a Church without confidence —faith in God, in their own call and commission, and in the ultimate outcome of the task to which they had put their hands. But spiritual equipment, Mr. Copeland emphasised, required supplementing with efficiency. One felt that Church people were not serving God with their brains to the extent that His work demanded. There was urgent need, in the interests of efficiency, for a detailed survey of the Church's resources, for the overhaul of connexional machinery, for an adaptation of methods, as in business circles, to changed conditions of times. As to personal discipline, the measure of their efficiency as a Church in the future would be the faith that not only inspired spiritual courage and adventure, but was expressed in sacrifice for the Church and Kingdom of Christ —sacrifice of persona* inclination, time, money and vital energy, Mr. Copeland added.