RECONSTRUCTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 116, 11 June 1941, Page 6

RECONSTRUCTION

DOMINION CONFERENCE INAUGURATING ANNOUNCEMENT In company with similar activities in other parts of the world, especially in Britain, a conference of leaders,, officers and ' members of the moral and spiritual movements in Ncay Zealand is being convened to find, iiow the foundations on which the Christian reconstruction of the Dominion should be based. The conference has the patronage and. active support of many our Church Leaders. They have signed the convening order and circular letter to all who are thought able and willing !o contribute to its deliberations. The date and place of the conference have yet to be arranged. Like the Malvern Conference recently held in England under the presidency of the Archbishop of York, the assembly will discuss freely and frankly all moral, social and economic problems, the discussions being led. by men and women who have made a study of their respective subjects. The Dominion Conference, however, will be wider in its scope than the Malvern discussions, for those taking part will include representatives of all churches - and schools of thought. It is expected there will be frank discussions of the present social and economic order, but, unlike many Similar discussions, it will be directed to a frank examination of faults with the desire to find out and put into effect the necessary remedies. This Dominion Reconstruction Conference is designed to show the great degree of unity and common purpose existing in the minds of moral and spiritual leaders and in -he hearts of our people. It will therefore refrain from discussions on party politics and. detailed technical methods but will positively and constructively outline the fundamental Christian Principles which alone can provide a true basis for the people's welfare, and a better order. As guiding principles for the conference, the signatories of the convening' order believe that the wars and social and economic ills which afflict the nations arc due in the first instance to passive, and in some cases, active, resistance to God's plan for the development of the world and that this pian is available to those who seek it. Thej' believe, also, that prayejrs. for the safety and well-being of our nation must be regarded as hypocrisy unless they' arc accompanied by a sincere intention to find God's will for the individual and nation as a whole and to give effect to that will what' ever may be the apparent costs. In calling the conference at a time Avhen the Elm pi re is engaged in a struggle for its very existence, the conveners take the view that to defer deliberation on a plan for reconstruction until peace comes would be disastrous. They point out there are many ..visiblei signs of militant atheism Avhich has plans for the post-Avar period and that if these are the onl3 r ones available to a Avar-Aveary world they Aviil find a fair chance of being accepted. The Christian body must therefore get ready now, Christianity, being what it is, inevitably must be accepted. What can and Avill happen unless advantage is taken of the present opportunity, is that the extension of God's- Kingdom on earth may be retarded, thus creating more Avars and social and economic evils. Full information regarding this forthcoming Dominion Reconstruction Conference avill be most willingly fonvarded to all who Avrite to Box 914 Wellington.