QUESTIONS IN CHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 24

QUESTIONS IN CHURCH.

INNOVATION IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, July 4. For many people church makes no appeal. They cannot feel joy in religion, as they find it in church. The sermons are often long and monotonous. And the road to the Kingdom of Heaven, tliornv enough ordinarily, is made harder by the labyrinths of creeds and theology in which they find themeelves enmeshed. That there is an indifference to the ordinary church service on tho part of' many people is recognised in a practical way by at least one clergyman in Sydney—the Rev. Mearns Massie, the sorvices at those Congregational Church in the populous suburb of Newtown Tiave been made brightly attractive by the introduction of a “Question Box” on the last Sunday in each month. Questions on which information may be sought are placed in the box, and they are read out and answered from the pulpit during the service. Tile questions cover an extraordinary - ango The clergyman would need the wisdom of Solomon to answer them all, but he does his best. “Do you think it just that children should be punished for the sins of their -arents ?” was one of the questions presented at the latest service. Here was another question: “Cam a person achieve success by saying, ‘Success is mine?’ ” “Not if lie lies on his back and says it," was tile minister’s retort, “He must work.” That was straight and to the point. He was asked also to solve this little domestic problem-: “Who should carry the household purse?” The answer was worthy of a diplomatist, for Mr Massie, of course, includes both sexes in his congregation. “The one who knows best how to us© it.” was the neat reply. Among a score of other questions was this one: “Why is a religious man so often distrusted in busi ness?” “Because often he talks religion but does not practise it,” was the reply. “The man who puts his religion off with his Sunday suit is not religious.”