CHURCH ENTERPRISES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17074, 29 August 1917, Page 7

CHURCH ENTERPRISES.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I have followed with interest the articles re the **G. F. P. Hostel, culminating in to-day's report of the Y.W.C.A.'s deputation that waited on Archdeacon Reeve on Saturday. I would ask your readers to consider the following Doints:' (l) The Clmirch of England rightly, or wrongly is seizing tb* present time to collect money to build a cathedral. i,2) The Church of England is rightly or wrongly seizing the present time to start Hhurch of England day schools. The Church of England is rightly or wrongly seizing the present, time to start a G.P.S. Hostel in Wanganui. Take the first point—the' Cathedral. In connection with this and as a part of it a Memorial Chapel is to be built for those who have laid down their lives for tlieir country, and there are to be lists on the walls with all these names engraved in letters of gold—irrespective of denomination ■ —so that all may participate—Anglicans, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Methodists, Church of Christ, etc., etc. It soundb we.ll! A big, broad, high ideal; but, Mr. Editor, if you or I had lost a, son in this war, would it help us or comfort up in any way to have our son's name in a memorial chapel where the minister under whom he was taught was not allowed to officiate, and further, where the teaching of religion differed from what he was accustomed to. No, sir, it would not: and if the Church of England is really in earnest about a memorial to our fallen heroes, let it be carried out in a way in which all can help and partake and, if need, be officiate in. (2) Church of England clay schools. Sir, will not these still further Aviden and prolong and deepen the divisions that qause ! such harm spiritually, and so much overlapping and consequent waste of time, money and energy—e.g., a township of,.say 300 souls and four, five, or even six different churches with their different teachings,\ and a mere handful of a congregation in each one S'iinday affer Sunday? I need make no fuftner comment, (3) TheG.F.S. Hostel versus a Y.W.C.A. Hostel, the latter large and broad and high in its ideals, with -its matron chosen from any denomination,'as long as she is a Christian and is well fitted and trained for her duties. The other— Well, sir, the other is Church of England, with its matron and officers Church of England by constitution and Archdeacon Reeve says: "run on strictly Church of England lines." As a-people now we New Zealanders are plastic as regards our religious feelings, ready to fall in with almost anything that is put before us—for we are losing our dear ones daily—but, is it quite fair to take advantage of this mood, and is it not exactly this which the Church of England in this diocese is doing now? I wonder if it is quite fair? Why, it seems to me theChurch. of England is doing what anti-Prohibitionists accuse Prohibitionists of doing, viz., using the war, or the conditions and atmosphere caused by the war, to further her own ends. Yours faithfully AN- EARNEST THINKER, Marton.