“PREFER WAR TO PEACE.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5947, 10 July 1906, Page 6

“PREFER WAR TO PEACE.”

ANGLICAN ( IiIUU'H AND UMLi--OIOC'S TR-U-NTNG.

nrsuop "wallis's views

THE Cl f DROITS DI’TV. Ili'hop Wallis last night at: the Anglican Synod made some pertinent comment# iqion the question ol the religion# training of tie young. Referring to tbe decay ol Sunday school -work in the Wellington print nee, the llisiiop paid :

“I need hardly dwell on tho gravity of the positon. fn the Home country, in tho Hoard schools, as they used to be called, children have nearly always been taught, and, I believe, taught well, the historical facts which He at the foundation of our religion ; in tho national schook; they bare, also received instruction in tho element# of church doctrine. The Sunday school teacher’s task has, therefore, been easier in I'.ngland than in: this colony, for lie has nearly always been entitled to ii(-smne in that country, as ho is not entitled here, that his class possesses an elementary knowledge of the < V.tral truth# of the ( hristian revelation. '■ Onr State schools arc ns we all know, alieoliitely secular, in nipsl: ol llieiti, though not in all. the author.ties have been willing to allow the use of tho rooms for religion# teaching outside school hours; and wo may he lhaiialiil that the number of children receiving such Leaching has grown in the last six years from 2,‘8 to 028. Our clergy have, therefore, not been so neglect!ill or apathetic in this matter as is often assumed ; but all who have made tho effort well know the extreme ddlicnity of tho task. Children are the same all tho world over. Wo have ucen young oumelvos, and know that it is not easy to pcri.iia.de a boy, after a good day’s work, to remain in school for an additional has son when his companion# arc playing outside. 1 do not propose to speak to-day about the objects of our iiThlmui-sohoolH movement, lor they iiro familiar to you all, and 1 have not forgotten the strong and almost luianimoufl support which the movement received from this synod last July. •' Thu iuuinouy which has reigned among the i cpicsciitari'. c-. of the various (Jhrisalan denominations with regard to this matter (I am not speaking of tho Homan Catholics, who naturally claim a separate treatment for their own Hchools) has taught mo to have no dread of sectarian- bitterness: but even if it. were otherwise, f would a thousand times ovor refer war to peace—aye, even each a war as is being fought im England to-day, though the issues are very different from our own —to a peace such as prevails amongst ourselves, if _ that peace means a sluggish, cowardly indiflerenco to tho real welfare of the coming generation. ‘•Conflicts between opposing bodies of Christians are the most hateful of all conflicts, for they belong to civil war in one of its worst forms; but the issue may be great enough to demand a eonUiot; and just as no one would dare to say tliat tho battles between Puritan and Cavalier, between Eederai and Confederate, should have been left unfought; or that such men as Hampden and Rupert, Abraham Lincoln and Stonewall Jackson w'ere no better than quarrelsome fanatics, so we Christian men, who bolievo that tho only strong and abiding motives for right conduct aro the fear and love of God, must not hesitate to face the risk, if there be any, of battles amongst ourselves, lather than allow this colony which we love so dearly to be inhabitated in days to come by a heathen population, or Christ’s Jambs to grow up in ignorance of tiro Shepherd who shed His blood for them.

“It become®, therefore, an imperative duty to make every effort in our power to extend and develop the usefulness of our Sunday schools, but tho task would be considerably easier if w© could first discuss together tho comparative advantages of tho various methods that suggest themselves to our minds. As no opportunity is likely to be afforded this year for such discussion, it will, I think, be best that a strong and representative committee should bo appointod by myself, unless, indeed, the synod thinks lit to make such appointment, to consider the during the recess, and offer recommendations.

“Remember that we cannot hope for God’s blessing on any part of our work, if this duty is neglected. Yet this call to fulfil it, like other calls from God, demands real self-eacrificc and earnest prayer. The clergy must go on, hoping against hope, with their efforts to persuade men and women who are fitted for this work to deny themselves leisure' for cho sake, of His little ones. Time and labour will have to be expended in preparing, either singly or in groups, those who are willing to offer this sacrifice, for the discharge of a task for which, in most case®, they have had no training. More frequent services for children must be held. The account which has appeared in the 'l'uurcli Cirouiclc’ of the attendance in one of our churches at children’s services during Holy week shows that we' need not despair of worshippers. If such services are to be held, and if the clergyman is to visit the Sunday school frequently. it is obvious that in many places the number of other services must be diminished: and I ask you, the lay members of this synod, to try to persuade your brothers to consent cheerfully to this sacrifice. And as we pray that our zeal may bo quickened, and that we may sec the path, God means us to follow, wo are absolutely certain that tho Father of Him who said 1 Suffer little children to come unto Me,’ and who commanded his Apostle to ‘ feed Hie lambs,’ will not reluso ue the help of His Holy Spirit.’’