SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21977, 12 June 1933, Page 14

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH —— • <| CLERGYMEN’S OPINIONS. The necessity for the Church to accommodate itself to the changing times and the recognition that the Church must face the present position so far as the observation of Sunday is concerned were features of the opinions expressed at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Archdeaconry Board at New Plymouth. A motion moved by Mr A. H. Martin disapproving of the violation of the sacred ness of Sunday by the organisation of pastimes for pleasure, moneyed reward or charity was withdrawn after, a full discussion. Mr Martin, iu support of his motion, said he looked upon Sunday competition in sport as desecration of Sunday. The Railways Department, a publicly-owned service, even contributed to the desecration of the day by organising picnics and tramping tours. Canon G. T. Beale (Stratford) said he thought a mistake was made in hitting so much at the many people w ho began their worship early and then spent the remainder of the day in amusement. There were just as many who did not begin their Sunday worship until late in the day. People should bo prepared to “ agree to differ.” Archdeacon G. H. Gavin (New Plymouth) said he thought the motion should be withdrawn. If it were passed the Church would be called a “ kill-joy.” It would only alienate sympathy from the ideals the Church was trying to inculcate. He was himself a lover of the old English Sunday, the archdeacon said, but he thought it was passing, and the Church had to face that fact. “Wo cannot inflict the expression 'Of opinion that this motion contains on the rising generation; it is too strong,” he concluded. t Mr G. Gibson (Okato parish) joined in asking that the motion be withdrawn. The question was a personal one, he said. They were not now in the old days of the English Church, and the Church today had to live up to the people. The Bishop of Waikato (the Rt. Rev. C. A. Cherrington) said lie could see a difficulty in the motion. Many people hart been brought up in certain ways on Sundays, and nothing would make them depart from them. But he was certain that the Church had to accommodate itself to When a clergyman could hold a service only once a week, or perhaps only once a month, what were religiously-inclined people to do? “I think it is perfectly right for young people to organise some activity for themselves,” the bishop added. “We must face , the different times, and 1 am glad the Archdeacon of Taranaki has pointed that out.” With the agreement of the seconder Mr Martin withdrew the motion.