CHURCH REFERENCE

Opunake Times, 21 February 1939, Page 3

CHURCH REFERENCE

TO FITNESS CAMPAIGN

SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE

Prominence was. given to "Fit ness Week'' at both services o the Methodist Church on Sun day. Suitable, hymns of a ckal

lending and vigorous nature were used, while prayers and Scripture readings Avere of an appropriate character. At the morning service, Rev. J. H. Bailey emphasised the necessity for a sound body as the fitting medium for the full expression of the threefold personality, body, mind and spirit. "At the same time, we should remember that we are created in God's image, and lor spiritual ends, so that physical fitness ought to be a means to the larger end of spiritual development, "said Mr.

I Bailey." Body, mind and spirit were essential to true human personality, and the well-trained body, the well-developed mind, controlled and directed by the spirit in fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, rounded out. in fuller capacity the personality God intended should be ours. At St. Barnabas' Church, the occasion was suitably observed, the services including special hymns. The choir was under the direction of Mr. J. Humphries, and Mrs. Hickman played the organ music. In his address, Rev. J. Harold Datson, referred to the dual personality of man, the human and the divine. "The development of the human personality is al-1

ways a firs.t consideration," he said. "Man always lives before he thinks, and matter, time, energy, force, space, cause, law and freedom are meaningless without experience. As the physical character is developed, so these things take on their meaning, and enable man to appreciate more fully the benefit of a sound body." The other side of man's nature was obviously that which was akin to the spirit, and it was necessary that l\e develop the three things which formed the basis of that personaity—reason, will and

emotion. "Man's duty is to attain to the highest and best," Mr. Datson declared. Without

the development of the three fundamentals, he could not rise to the highest conception of God. Reference to the campaign also was made during the service at Pihama, where the harvest festival was celebrated by a

large, congregation. The organst was Miss Pettigrew. "When we studv the teachings of Paul, we find noble and

beautiful standards set for Christian conduct, designed to create fitness of body and soul, and to produce character in the truest and highest sense of the word. Our bodies are God's temples, and must never be defiled by the things which may destroy them," sjid Rev. G. Wood at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, in referring to his text from I Timothy 4-8: Train yourself for Godliness. Exercise for the body i« not useless, but Godliness in useful in every respect, possessing the promise of the present and the future life. The need for physical fitness in this country was demonstrated bv the fact that every year, •'ISOO 'children of pre-school age were found to be physically defective in some respect. Of Jthis number 15 per cent were in need of medical attention, 15 per cent required and twothirds, needed dental treatment. An examination of High School entrants at New Plymouth had vevealed that a large proportion suffered from physical defects which could have, been corrected at an earlier age. Physical fit-

ness was taken too much for granted, and the attainment of fitness and the elimination of preventible ill-health were objects to which we should work. Am Archdeacon Gavin had said, a fit and healthy body was an asset to the individual and to the nation. Since a youthful body responded more readily t.Q_ exercise, physical fitness should be

tlu* aim in the training of the young, but it was important to admit religion into all strivings alter moral fitness. The God-

VI an had said: "I am come that he.y might have life, and that thev might have it more abund-

ant." Tq be fit to live, fit to serve and fit to take u yiopor place in human society should be the aim of man, and the importance of moral and spiritual

fitness should not become of lesser consideration than that of

physical fitness. Bodily health,

mental development, spiritual soundness and social service formed the foundation of human endeavour.