SHOULD THE CHURCH AMUSE?

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3229, 27 May 1911, Page 10

SHOULD THE CHURCH AMUSE?

CLERGY MEN \SI I) IV ERG ENT OPINIONS. '

“Should the Church provide amusements for its young people.-' I his question was argued at the Congiegational Church. Prabran. Ihe local literary and' debating society, sonic weeks back, asked 22 of the leading ministers of the various denominations for their views. 'Twelve of these replied,and the replies, as follow, have been published in the “Argus’ . , Archbishop Carr said that msteaa of expressing ail opinion on the abstiact idea presented, lie would point out them the Catholic Church had spent m parish £20,000 in erecting halls and club rooms for men and boys and guls. While they spared neither money nor labor in providing for the social enjoyment of the young, they never fell into tlh-e error of ‘believing t*liafc tiie. Cbiucli was established primarily or principally for this purpose. The Rev. F. C. Spun- said that the Church should provide a social liie tor her young people, and recreation roust, of course, be part of this social life. But the Church should not attempt to provide the whole of such recreation. The work of the Church was to teach principles. Many amusements and recreations could not be offered. Specialists provided these, and not all of them were pure or helpful. The greatest difficulty was in persuading the young people to regard life as a sacred trust The Rev. C. Tregear wrote that Ins instincts and experience unhesitatingly said “Yes.” Make the Church a. home or rallying ground of the young. Yeung folk were always on the lookout for pleasure, hence hotel parlors, billiard-rooms, dance-halls. Could the Church not present them with amusement free from such moral peril? Amusement might come first, and might lead some folk first to church and then to God. The Church must meet the need of providing the cleanest, sweetest, and best amusement it could. The Rev. E. S. Hughes was in ravor of the idea. If amusement were not provided 1 in a wholesome manner, it would be gained in an illegitimate v ay. The Puritans had tried to repress human nature, and had only succeeded in creating a reaction in the wild excesses cf the reign of Cileries 11. He wished they could establish in Australia something on the linos of the German beergardens. Vo had one of the finest climates in the world. Electric lights should be provided in the open spaces, and municipal bands might easily be provided. The Rev. Professor Adam was of opinion that the Church should seek to organise its young people into societies for the promotion of their intellectual, moral, and spiritual welfare. The danger in Australia seemed to be that the Congregational cricket or football teams existed only for amusement, and’ often included many who were not really connected with the Congregationalists or interested therein. The Rev. J. W. Jones complained that he had not been provided with tho definition of tho word “amusement.” Let it be, however, remembered that man was made to play as well as work. Religion was no longer regarded as a thing of gloom. He could not agree with Archibald Brown that “Amusements were of the Devil.” “Abusement” was of the devil, and, unfortunately, there was a great deal of that in Australia. It was the business of the Church to care for the whole being of its young manhood and womanhood. The Rev. E : . Davies said: that his position had 1 always been one of indifference to most pleasures and amusements, on the principle that while they were liot wrong, they were really not worth while. He had known churches which: ran even cards and billiards, and got some gooo out of them. He had never tried. Almost any church could draw numbers of young men with a billiard table. It was a pitv, as “General” Booth said, ‘that the devil has the best music.” It was a pity also that lie should have all the best games. The Rev. G. A. W. L-egge said that : t was no essential function of the Church to provide amusements, but the man,u sance of right relations between God ami man. He had heard songs sung in connection with church entertainments which were tainted with base and' lewd suggestions. Amusements countenanced by the Church should always be pure and elevating. No young person over 17 should give more than one evening a week to amusement. The Rev. W. T.C. Storrs said that lie could' not conceive of Paul or Peter, or the elders of the Church of Ephesus, providing amusement for the young people of the Church. We wanted to get back to their ideals. He believed that a. pernicious example had been set in the “Pleasant Sunday Afternoons,” and other shows by which the love of amusement had- been fostered. The Rev. A. R. Edgar held that the true ideal of the 'Church was “Tire Secret -place of tho Most High.” The soul could only be developed by the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing else could enter that holy place. The Rev. Alexander Marshall said that the true ideal of the Church was “The secret place of the Most. High.” Tire soul could only be developed by the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing else could enter that holy place. The letters were discussed at the meeting held at the Congregational Church. Considerable diversity of opinion was expressed. Tho president (Mr A. M'Mieken) said that he was a wowser, but be certainly thought the Church should a,muse. On the- other hand, Mr W. 0. Mill mot t held that touching billiard's was touching the devil. On the whole, the meeting was against the proposal. One of the leading church members remarked ' subsequently that this was only the thin end cf the wedge. _ It would only bo a matter of time before the choir girls were in tights.