“OLD WOMEN AND CODDLING SAINTS.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18959, 3 January 1930, Page 9

“OLD WOMEN AND CODDLING SAINTS.”

8.8. C. CHIEF ATTACKS METHODS OF CHURCH. (Special to the “ Star.**) LONDON, November 10. A scathing criticism of the methods of the Church was made by Sir John Reith, Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation, at the Coventry Diocesan Conference at Leamington. Sir John said that statistics compiled by impartial observers who studied the correspondence and general reaction of listeners to wireless programmes, showed that the Sunday night Epilogue and religious services generally were among the most higjily appreciated items during the week. If the 8.8. C., in its early days, had given no place to religion, but had broadcast jazz music on Sunday, church people would now—after seven years—just be waking up to the damage being done. No initiative came from the Church, continued Sir John, and not much encouragement, either. There were clergymen who were more concerned about the possible diminution in their congregations than about the spread of a religious message to over 15,000,000 of people. “A Scandal.” Sir John said he marvelled at the exhibitions some clergymen were content to make of themselves in the pulpit Sunday after Sunday. It was largely the fault of the people in the pews, who expected no more, and got what thewyeree m fw-y vmwky got what they were entitled to expect. He thought it was little short of a scandal the burden Church of England people imposed on their parsons. . It was a damnable thing that the Christian religion should be so much a thing of old women. Bible classes, and coddling saints. Why was it, he asked, when they had Generals and business men ready to testify that religion was the strongest weapon in the armoury of a practical man to-day? Son of the Manse. Sir John Reith, who is forty, is himself a son of the manse, his father being the Rev George Reith, D.D., of Aberdeen and Glasgow. He served his engineering apprenticeship in Glasgow, and then came to London. He became general manager of the British Broadcasting Company in 1922, and since it has been a Corporation under Government has been its director-general.