Religion and Morals

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6294, 15 February 1892, Page 3

Religion and Morals

At the Presbyterian Assembly at Auckland the Rev. G. B. Monro read the report of the Committee on Religion and Morals. It stated that the committee had made a special effort to secure reliable information regarding the state of religion and morals within the Church, by issuing a circular to all the ministers, student preachers, and homo missionaries. The state of thing s, as indicated by the replies received, was of a nature calculated to awaken gratitud e and increased earnestness. The special feature of the majority of the replies had been hopefulness. After referring to the evangelistic services which had been held, and to their effects, the report proceeded to deal with the prevalence of gambling, which many considered was sapping the stamina of the young by awakening the desire to secure wealth without the inconvenience of long and laborious toil. It was appalling to hear of the vast sums of money squandered on horse-racing, billiards, and card-playing, and to learn that these were encouraged by individuals holding high social positions in the colony. As to social impurity, the committee stated that its evil influence was widespread and extremely disastrous, and expressed regret tnat nothing special had been done by the Church during the past year to lessen what some considered to be the outstanding and revolting sin of the colony. The whole of the Presbyteries united in lamenting the prevalence of the evil of Sabbath desecration, especially in the form of pleasure-seeking on the Lord's Day in driving, riding, shooting, risiting, "bus and tram travelling, etc. There was a general agreement throughout the Presbyteries that the duties of family worship and training of the young did not receive the attention that might have been expected, and the Committee believed that the work would have to be done in the homes if it was to be successful. It was evident from the reports from all quarters that there was not so much ground as some supposed for the statements about young men drifting from the Churches, and the constant cry about the growth of scepticism in the colony was not consistent with the facts forwarded to the Committee. Amongst other things the Committee recommended that Presbyteries be instructed to hold conferences on the state of religion and morals within their bounds, and that Ministers and preachers enjoined to direct special attention to the evils of gambling, Sabbath desecration and social impurity.

The Rev. Mr Treadwell moved the adoption of the report, and said it was cheering to hear contradicted the commonly expressed opinios that the young men were drifting away from the Church, but on the other hand there was much to deplore in the wide existence in this new land of the evils to which the report referred, He urged the necessity for supreme effort to combat these evils, and particularly desired to raise a note of alarm in regard to the Sabbath Day. The great day of the Christian Church was in danger, and he knew of nothing more necessiry than that as an Assembly they should issue a direction and an appeal throughout the land to watch over and defend the Sabbath. In conclusion, he moved: — "That the Assembly adopt the report, with thanks to the committee, and very especially to the convener ; recognise with gratitude to God the many reasons for cheer and encouragement in "the present state of the Church ; recognise also the alarming extent to which the evils specified in the report prevail throughout the land ; call upon all ministers and elders to persevere in the work the Church has in hand, and especially in accordance with the wish of the committee, repeat the direction of last year as detailed at the end of the report." The Rev. A. McCallum seconded the motion, and in doing so spoke of the impure literature, which he said worked secretly as a means of corrupting the minds of the young. He considered the best remedy would be found in an endeavor to raise the tone of public morality and Christian life. He commended the example afforded by the Society of Christian Endeavor in the United States to the emulation of New Zealand Christians.

The Rev. Mr Gillies said the Church of New Zealand could only be blamed for those which drifted away from it, and many arrivals from the Old Country lapsed from the Church because they were strangers, and were not thrown into communication with it. He considered the ministers at Home should be warned of this state of things, and asked to take precautions against it. He also thought the Government should be approached to prevent the mails being used for gambling purposes. The Rev. Mr McAra did not think th« Church had as much reason to complain, as it had to be thankful for the many intelligent and earnest workers it possessed. The Rev. Mr Paterson said he did not take so sanguine a view of matters as some of the other speakers, as he had personal experience that many young men were drifting away from the Church, mainly through love of amusement.

The Rev. Mr MeKinney said gambling was increased very much in the colony by the publications in newspapers of reports of sporting events, and" the insertion of advertisements that encouraged the horrible social evil to which reference had been made.

The Rev. Mr Blake also spoke, deprecating the growing tendency to disregard the sanctity of the Sabbath. The resolution proposed by Mr Treadwell was carried.