BAND IN CHURCH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19365, 23 July 1925, Page 2

BAND IN CHURCH

POPULARISING SERVICES SYDNEY. July 9. Even if religion appears to be losing something of its dignity because of the devices of some clergymen nowadays to attract people to church, it can be said a< least that something of tho old gloom is being cast out of it. and that a little more joy is being brought into it. Und, after all, the true religion is the one that renders men happy. To elevate tho soul, to inculcate the Divine virtues, to bring man into communion with the spiritual, with the aid of a band in church, seems a little out of place, but, by an accidental circumstance, it is being attempted by at least one church in Now South Wales, and not without some success, judging from tho large concregation. The band was imported into the service, not n.s a novelty, but as a. necessity, and the congregation, accepting the portion in that spirit, have not wandered from tho old faith, but h*avo stuck to the chnrch and their clergyman. Church organs, like all other things, have a habit of going wrong and getting out of repair. and music is to dry theo’ogy as the sweetness of sugar to tea. St. John’s Church at Young, a prosperous country town, is without its organ, which is being repaired. A band has come to its rescue and is accompanying all the hymns. What is more, it is filling the breach so successfully thUt the old notes of tho organ are not greatly missed. But even more interesting is the personnel of tho band. Two of the players are Adherents of the Church of England; one is a Roman Catholic, land another a Methodist. Thus are the broadly tolerant folk of Young seeking the kingdom of Heaven [until the organ again takes its allotted i place in their worship.