CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21598, 19 March 1932, Page 16

CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA

KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMES SERVICE ON THE BEACH. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 10. The harvest thanksgiving service, held on the Bondi (Sydney) beach last Sunday afternoon, was an instance of the modern trend of religion, which is finding it more and more necessary to keep up 3 with the times. Beach services are not new to Auckland, but that opportunity for extending religious knowledge has never been seized in Australia. Now there is talk of a great national service at Bondi as part of the Bridge Week celebrations, with the surfers marching in their costumes. The sponsors of the scheme have not met with much encouragement from the ministers of the various denominations, and they fear that they may lose a splendid opportunity for a great public thanksgiving on a spectacular scale. An appal is now being made to a wellknown city preacher to carry out the service—a preacher who is not averse to publicity, methods. There are many church leaders in Sydney who believe in the slogan, “It Pays to Advertise,” and they select as titles for their sermons controversial subjects with a popular appeal. Modernity, however, has its disadvantages. One church in a great industrial suburb decided to display a suitable moving picture as a means of attracting an audience —and some money. Unfortunately the church was crowded early with children, who stamped and shouted and whistled. They did riot contribute 5s to the plate, and the experiment has not been repeated. Some ministers insist that sensationalism has no permanent value, and are content to go along the well-worn path, accompanied, for the most part, by small congregations. The Rev. W. J. Grant (Presbyterian) is one who believes in the power of -advertisement, and it was with considerable opposition that he chose for his sermons titles that catch the public eye. He is rewarded with a crewded church. He also believes that churches should be made more comfortable, and. he holds that there is no earthly reason why women should not bo permitted to enter a church without a hat should they choose to do so. As much care should be exercised in the design of a church as in that of a place of entertainment. There should be fans in the summer and a heating installation in the winter.