RELIGION TO-DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 278, 24 November 1936, Page 9

RELIGION TO-DAY

UNIQUE GATHERING ROUND-TABLE TALK QUESTION DEBATED AT SANSON | I From Our Own Corrcsiiur.dint. j SANSON, Nov. 23. A meeting of an unusual nature was held in the Sanson Methodist Church vestry last evening to discuss the attitude of the men in the district towards religion. At the outset the Rev. R. E. Fordyce explained that he desired a frank and free discussion so that he could get to understand the Sanson men’s attitude to religion and the church. He stated that as far as he could see religion was essential to true living and to the production of good citizens, and he believed that religion should teach people how to live this life and that it was a mistaken idea to regard religion, as some do, simply as a narcotic to make the ills of this life more bearable by the promise of a better life hereafter. The speaker’s constant aim was to build up Christian citizens. Feeling the urge to this work he had renounced his ideas of becoming a school teacher and had devoted himself to this great work. He was constantly seeking to set forth and to practice Christian ideals of conduct and sought to help others to do the same. Because of his conscientious beliefs he felt frequently compelled to hit hard what, he regarded as the social evils of dancing, drinking and gambling, and Sunday sport. Although ho believed in young people indulging in sports it was always his aim to urge them to avoid swearing, drinking, gambling, and dirty play. Church and homo duties loft him but little time for indulgence in sport and because of this some, no doubt, regarded him as being opposed to sports. In connection with his work the Rev. Fordyce explained that he had visited the sick and dying besides paying pastoral calls in very many homes and had helped people in their troubles, but in spite of it all there was but little response as far as church attendance was concerned, yet he found that people who never darkened Iho church doors at other times, wanted him and the ordinances of religion at weddings, baptisms, funerals and in time of sickness or other need. It really meant that people who attended the church and supported the minister did so partly for the convenience of those who never darkened the doors. He, as a minister would no doubt bo condemned as very unchristian were he to refuse to attend to non-church-goers in their times of trouble, but it hardly seemed fair that such a state of things should exist. He maintained that if the church and religion were worth having, then they wore worth supporting by moans of church attendance. He did not want people just to give donations to a church they did not attend. In conclusion the Rev. Fordyce said he had called the meeting to endeavour Io discover why the men did nnt attend the church, and hoped to receive suggestions as to moans which he could conscientiously adopt to attract them to the services. Frank Opinions A very open, frank, and friendly discussion followed. Each speakei commended the minister’s courage k calling such a meeting. One speaker maintained that an attempt was beinf made to receive attendance at toe many services and he believed that one .service a day, or fortnightly or even a monthly service would be well attended and do more good than twe services every Sunday. He considered that the men of the district, most ol whom had some religious training, were as really religious in principal as were the regular churchgoers of this and other days. Modes of living! had changed, but: he feared the church had not (‘hanged its mode of appeal sufficiently to meet modern conditions and believed that, many people who attended church regularly in these days only did so from force of habit, not because of any real sense of need. The speaker advocated the dealing with practical modern problems from the pulpit in common everyday language and was of opinion that ministers should attend dances and by their presence exert a restraining influence on any who might be inclined to make the dance an occasion of moral evil. On somewhat similar lines were the remarks of two other speakers, the opinions being expressed that the non-attendance of people at the church was the result of their reaction against the Methodist Church’s relentless opposition to dancing, drinking and gambling, which had led the minister to keep aloof to a great extent from the social life of the people thereby creating the unintentional impression that he regarded himself as in some sense above them. One of these speakers also advocated a much freer form of service and greater variety. He could not bear the awesome hush which some people imposed upon themselves when in the church and the look on some of their faces did not create the impression that they were eny ying their religion which they ought to do if there was anything in it. He was convinced that the church tended to exaggerate the evil influence of dancing and considered the minister would do more

good by conducting fewer Bible classes for young people already in the church and by using his time thus made available to him for getting around to the social functions in the town and district and forming friendly contacts with young people who otherwise would never enter the church. One speaker was of the opinion that in the past there had been too much churchianity and not enough Christianity. Minister’s Questions The minister asked several questions which were as follows: “Did those present think that the people would like to see the church closed down?” The opinion was that they would not. “Would the people like to bo deprived of the ordinances of religion for marriages, baptisms, funerals, etc? —One speaker said a good many would not care, and another said 1 people would go to Feilding or Marton or elsewhere. “Did those present think that a minister, while being sincere, could unintentionally he over conscien-tious?”--The meeting considered that he could and could thereby do harm while only desiring to do good. The minister expressed willingness that people should suggest both texts and subjects to him, and said that he would like to see an opportunity given for a discussion of the subject of a sermon occasionally at the close of a service, as he was anxious to get to know people’s problems in order to endeavour to help solve them. One speaker remarked that young people lived too fast to-day to have lime to think about having any problems. He considered they had not. yet awakened to them. It was stated that the minister had to get down to the level of some of lhe people in order to get them up Io his, and the opinion was expressed that he would not be lowering his standards by so doing. A number of the speakers referred to the respect in which the minister is held by the community and expressed the opinion that, by calling the meeting, and by his utter fearless and frank declaration of his position and his desire .to help all concerned he had done something which was bound to have beneficial results.