Compulsory Churchgoing

NZ Truth, Issue 890, 16 December 1922, Page 1

Compulsory Churchgoing

Several months ago /"Truth" commented on tho punishment Inflicted on a girl offender by a.\ New Zealand magistrate, fthat she 'should attend church regularly during'the currency of hor good behavior bond. A Yankee politician bettered this, for he introduced into the- Massachusetts State l.eglskitut'o a Bill making church attendance compulsory.- America, which stands for many freak Ideas, could not swallow this proposal, and the Bill was Iguomlniously roJected.'A witty writer thinks that the Idea had good points, especially In these days of unemployment. "Just think of tho vast army o( new parsons, pew-openers, bo.'idlos, vergers, acolytes, - bollringers, makers of cushions, pictures, and other church garniture that would be required! Conceive Ihe number of new churches requisite, and tho consequent bricklayers, masons, carpenters, archilects, timber-getters, horse-drivers.' rail und tram men. ferry-hands, otoel-wotkers, and sundries., Then there'd be ti llors to make Sunday toj;s; milliner. 1*.,1*., frippery designers, mlntcrt* (to manufacture small silver). Why. we'd never be nblo. to do all the work that would have tn be done—lf wo all went to church." From tho fctump: "Never woro there longer stays In Government ofllce than m the lust ten years." Now, what sort of a way Is that to talk About the ladles m Government Uulldlngs? Anyway, tho term "stays" \a now hopelessly out of duto,