THE PREVALENCE OF CHURCH-GOING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14156, 7 March 1908, Page 14

THE PREVALENCE OF CHURCHGOING.

fem.-Your sane and reasonable article on "The Prevalence of Church-going" is one that should be .appreciated by representatives of the Christian Church, because it places the matter dealt with in the light of impartiality and in a correot perspective. It is only too true that a great many people—especially men—nevor attend-a'church service. I am not'feoing to make the sweeping statement that all these are heathen. I know 6ome in this oity who are sincere in their Christian" faith and Christian life who are very rarely to be "ouna in any congregation on the. Lord's Day, although physically able' to attend. They have their reasons, and'un-: fortunately one that is very often advanced i 6 the lack of consistency and Christian love within the churches. It is a. serjous question whether these reasons justify tliem in remaining aloof, for it is just possible that they themselves are not perfect, and their own unity and effort and Christian love in the Church would be more conducive' to making both the Church raid themselves a greater force for righteousness. Unity is strength. Many people forget, too, that tho Church, like pur earthly life, is only a school; and it would be just as foolish to growl because boys and girls attending a 6011001 have not yet attained to a perfect education as it is to grumble because people who attend church services—and even church members—have not yet attained to the perfect life. But sometimes fijprres aro misleading, and you have very wisely pointed out that the figures quoted by the president of the Methodist Conference will not bo accepted without qualification. Every church has a number of aged and feeble who can never attend its services, and many whom circumstances prevent from attending often. Then there is a largo number of people who go to ohurch occasionally, but not regularly, and the average attendance docs not by any means represent the number who actually attend in the course of a vear. Many of the children who attend our Sunday schools do not attend the ordinary services .of tho church-in many cases, unfortunately, because their parents do not. But all theso children have 'to be added to the number of older people who aro disciplos in the 6chool of the Christian Church; so that, while a great number do not attend at all, it fs difficult to estimate that number, but I submit that it is considerably smaller than three-quarters of our population. Thoro is i power in suggestion that makes it adverse to the Church to bo pessimistic in puhlio estimates.

My main reason, however, for writing this, Sir, is to criticise the statement that comparatively few of tho great army of toiling- men and women attend the churches; and I <lo so in behalf of the toiling men and women themselves. It is said again and again that tho workers ck> not go to church.- I cannot, help feeling * that is unjust to the workers. In some fashionable church you might look for them in vain, but the majority in some of our congregations are t)ie very yeople of whom it is alleged' that they do not. go to church. Anyone, too, who knows the history of our Free Churches knows that Nonconformity in the Old Land has gathered its strength from the working olasses. A worker is not only a man who uses a pick and shovel. There are thoughtful, earnest people among our toilers as well as those who are content, with the froth of life; and there are many Christians, and also members and oflicens of our churches, amongst them. Would to God there were more; and there will be when tho churches give intense and practical evidence thai we want them, qjkl the hea-rt6 of all Christian people are aflame with the love of their Divine Master.—l am, etc., William llay. Ilanover Street Rarrtist. Church, March 6.