PROBLEM OF YOUTH

Southland Times, Issue 19501, 16 March 1925, Page 6

PROBLEM OF YOUTH

“SOUL IN THEIR FEET” THE CHURCH’S DIFFICULTY. TIMARU, March 13. Addressing the Congregational Union, the Rev. W. M. Holland, dealing with the subject of “The Problem of the Young Life and the Churches,” said: “What at one time were considered blessings, now are problems. In past times the young were an asset, now they are looked on as a liability. The problem is to be found in this: that in many Christian homes there are few or no children. This is also one of the reasons for empty pews. In addition, a large proportion of the young life of the Dominion is not in church, and of those in the Sunday schools the majority do not become members of the church or even adherents.

“Why should they?” said the speaker. “It is one of the things that “is’nt done.” In this is the greatest difficulty of all Christian work. To become a church member, even to go to church, are things which lie outside the life of the majority of the people. The church, then, does not appeal to many of the young people because it is not attractive. Consequently, there is but little deepening of the soul in the growing generation. There is little deepening of the soul, because it seems to have its soul in its feet, to judge by its obsession for dancing. Some churches make brave effortS to let the world know that there is no opposition between Jesus and jazz, and some clergy gain a certain popularity by their skill in the fox trot. Somehow the majorty of people still feel that there is a difference made when one is a Christian.”

The speaker thought that the problem with the young might be solved by a system of graded church membership.