WORKERS AND THE CHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8186, 30 July 1912, Page 1

WORKERS AND THE CHURCH.

ONE REAbON FOR THEIR DRIFTING APART. PREACHERS’ LACK OF ELOQUENCE. SPECIAL TO THE “TIMES. - ' CHRISTCHURCH, July 29. One of the reasons given, bv Mr .1. A. McCullough (a member of the Arbitration Court) in an address on tho alienation of the workers from tho church was £he quality of the men occupying the pulpits. “I am aware," he said, "that the gift of eloquence is not the only, nor the main, qualification; but at least it should be considered of some little importance for a preacher. One only needs to attend and hear some of the sermons that are delivered, and more often read, to realise how little thought has been given to the questions discussed, how little of the saving grace of commonsense there is in the effusion, the parrotlike reiteration of pet phrases, and the ajparent lack of worldly knowledge or wisdom displayed. We have not yet got rid of the younger sons of respectable families who, being unfitted for the legal profession, the army, or commerce, are prepared for holy orders. Seriously, 1 1 contend that the church authorities ought to insist on those who are set \ apart for tho work of the ministry being I given a course of elocution, and unless j a candidate comes up to a certain standard he should be refused admission to the pulpits.”