"MEEKLY KNEELING."

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VIII, Issue 13, 1 July 1918, Page 101

"MEEKLY KNEELING."

(To the; Editor);

Sir,r-rl have- -lately; vyisited. several churches m this : Diocese and have noticed what a small number of people 1 know how to kneel. Is it ignorance, cussedness, or laziness? I am of opinion it is a combination of " all three. If .' f kneeling . means, anything ait all it surely means, going down on one's knees. There are two generally recognised attitudes fox prayer, standing and .kneeling. In early times standing was compulsory for prayer on the Lord's Day, kneeling oh general occasions. The old Presbyterians used to insist .upon this position at all times and our Prayer Book still allows it for certain parts of the service. It emphasises the right of the sons of God to come boldly before, their Heavenly Father and make their requests. But kneeling is the- usual attitude for prayer because it is a position of penitence and humility.

The abomination known as "the squat" that is so popular seems to have been borrowed from certain religious bodies where prayer has been so turned into an indirect sermon by the minister that nobody knows any longer. what real prayer is. In the same way "worship" has been lost and "hymns" of pious musing on one 's own spiritual condition, or harmonised sermons m verse addressed to fellow "worshippers" have been substituted.' Let us be. clear m our minds, prayer is communing with God, worship is the praise of God and the contemplation of His Majesty and Glory. Kneeling is the ordinary attitude for the former and standing or kneeling with bowed head for' the latter. The "squat" surely indicates a want of appreciation of God's presence and of the meaning of prayer, and is slovenly and grossly irreverent whether the squatter's face is buried m a hat or otherwise.

Unfortunately some of pur churches have sueh r dirty floors or such uncomfortable, ;high and hard kneeling benches that it is impossible to be reverent without dirtying one's clothes or breaking one's back. '

Would it be impertinent to suggest that at his annual /visitation the Arch- .' deacon should inspect the churches and . demand the. removal of ; such "furniture " as makes kneeling impossible; ■ Why can 't ' " all -: out 1 churches have kneeling pads like those m Hastings .church and m the: : Cathedra l?. And, while. l ani. about it, : why-do country .organists' m churches where the, psalms are ; read and the prayers and creed said sit during the service: .

■ like secular lonlopkers instead of taking part'lDy standing and kneeling at the j)roper times?— 3 am, etc., ■ ,::.:•; • hassoce. :