CHRISTIANITY AND HEALTH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 42, 20 February 1943, Page 4

CHRISTIANITY AND HEALTH

“DISCUSSION EVENING” AT CHRIST CHURCH "Let's talk it out" is the keynote of the purpose behind the "Discussion evenings" inaugurated last year by the Church of England in Wanganui during a series of six "Campaign services.” The first of this year s such services, stated Archdeacon J. R. Young yesterday, will be held to-mor-row evening, when the topic of discussion at Christ Church will be "Christianity and Health." The discussion leaders will be Dr. R. E. T. Hewat, of Wanganui, and Mr. C. R. Bach, of Wellington, chief physical welfare officer of the Department of Internal Affairs, Both are specialists in their particular line of health preservation, and each is a strong churchman. "We tried the scheme out in October and November, and those who took part in it found it so worth-while that they sent in a unanimous request that such discussion evenings be held once a month throughout the year,” said Archdeacon Young. “It's simple work. We have a brief period of worship at Evensong, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting a quarter of an hour. Then the topic of the day is presented by two speakers, rigidly limited to 10 minutes each. The congregation is then invited to adjourn to the schoolroom, where, divided into groups, they discuss the questions previously prepared and typed out, prepared from the addresses. In these discussions ail can join, but discussion is limited to 45 minutes. The groups always clamour for more time, but we have to adhere to schedule. Finally, the groups come together to pool their findings, and the chairman—that’s my task—tries to sum up.” Dr. Hewat will speak from the angle of the Christian's duty to his personal health, added the Archdeacon. Mr. Bach is to speak on the Christian'* social responsibility to have a real concern for the health of the community. "I’m hoping that he'll tell us »omething of the Government’s concern for national health, and how we of the churches can most effectively join in,” concluded Archdeacon Young.