Why Men Don't go to Church.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 1000, 15 May 1903, Page 3

Why Men Don't go to Church.

Ever and anon the above question forms the topic of discussion in clerical circles and in the press, and at the present time Victoria is much agigated on the subject, the newspapers of that colony devoting considerable space to correspondence on the matter. One of the contributers to the Argus—-a canon —^considered ifc " the duty, apart from the pleasure, of every man who called himself a Christian and loved his country, to "deny himself in order to help maintain by his manly and consistent, example the practice on such universal and high authority founded." There geems to be a confession here that it is not a plea-sure going to church, but a punishment, and as a matter of duty, a man should " deny himself," or, in other words, undergo that punishment. If the church is to depend on men going to church as a matter of duty only,;without an accompanying pleasure and profit, we are inclined to the opinion that the question " Why men don't go to church " will for iriany years still be the (JhuVeh's cry. It appears to us that the solution qf the problem is simple, a.nd we believe that if the church services were made more attractive the men would attend. Has not experience proved this ? It is a fact that cannot be gainsaid that when special services are held in the churches, such as anniyersary gatherings or occasions when particular music or iiu.^Viant and well-known public topics are Jto be discussed by the minister, the attendance not only of the male persuasion, but of the fair sex, : shows a decided increase. Afi many | of our readers are doubtless aware, some of the churches in America are adopting various novel methods of attracting congregations, and not the lease successful services are those held, in the .open air in the suburban parks, where music is jprovided by bands and orchestras, with refreshments at a nominal figure thrown in. But the Church as a whole has lamentably failed to advance with the*times, and the same methods and formula are at present in yogue as were existent half a century ago. All round us we breathe the invigorating air of advancement and progress, but too often there is a, philling atmosphere in our churches, the only tendency of which is to deaden the little spiritual life there might bo smouldering in the breasts of the congregation.---Exchange.