Thoughtful Moments.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 56, 22 May 1942, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments.

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

patriotic funds The news, that the , Wellington Committee of the Patriotic* 1< und Board has decided to base its appeals i'or money on direct giving methods instead of the gambling methods so ■widely used last year, will he welcomed. by all people who have the true interest of New Zealand at heart. In common with all Christian 1 people we welcome it because our Church was wholeheartedlv opposed the gambling method. It was, we believed, subversive in that it attacked the moral foundations of character upon which this country of ours must be built. It was both un-Christian and un-patriotic.

The very strength of our purpose In opposition to the old and bad method must, in this case, be transferred in support of the new and good method. The members of the church must not only respond to the call upon their financial resources, they must also answer the call upon their energies. The welfare of the men and women who are facing the dangers of war on our behalf is an urgent and personal call upon each one of us. The suggestion of the Wellington Committee that one day's pay should be regarded as the basis of giving for this purpose is reasonable. Some may be able to give more: few should expect to give less. The maintenance of our standards of living and of our own personal incomes depends upon these men who are making great sacrifices in our country's need. Hence their welfare is the immediate concern of each one of us.

We are aware that so far this change of policy has affected only one or two areas in New Zealand. CKher areas have as yet made no decisions. It is not too much to hope, however, that the good example will be followed in every centre. The success of such a policy in one centre will be hampered if other centres do not follow suit. The Church people can without doubt do much to help to this end. They can use their in!!uen?e upon local committee, and use the example set by the Wellington Committee as a means of persuasion. More than a mere change of method, however, is neccssary to make the appeal successful. It can have success if the same energy and enthusiasm is put behind the organisation of the appeal, its publicity and collection as was given to the various gambling devices used so widely last year. There can be no doubt of the people's Avillingness to give their money for the purposes of this appeal, but they mus't be mado

fSi.,jpiied by ihe Whakatnns Ministers' Association)

aware of the need and must be given opportunities of making (.heir donations. This means expenditure of time and effort in organisation and publicity.": it means the lavish spending of money. Given this, the results should surprise all of us. Without it there can be nothing bu! dis'mal failure. Christian people must, therefore, pull their weight in this new venture. It has been our part to criticise, now it must be our part to act. Criticism is easy. Any fool can stand by and point out defects in any organisation. Christian people in the past have declared that tlieri is a better Avay of collecting patriotic funds than by gambling. New that this better way is offered to us, we must prove not only that it is better but that it is more effective. If patriotism is a virtue possessed by New Zealandcrs, then the appeal for patriotic funds on 1 this new basis cannot fail. If it fails, then it proves that our patriotic fervour is shallow and empty. We do not believe it can fail, for we believe that the people's interest in the welfare of the soldiers, seamen and airmen is vital and alert. An old favourite which sends our I thoughts Hying to dear ones overseas:— I cannot tell, why there should come to me,. The thought of someone, miles and miles: away, In sweet insistence on the memory Unless there be a need that I should pray. Perhaps just then my friend has fiercer fight, A more appalling weakness, a decay of courage, Some lost sense of right; And so, in case he need my prayer, I pray. Friends do the same for me, if I intrude Unasked, upon you in some crowded day. Give me a moment's prayer as interlude, 15e very sure I need it. therefore pray. "Studdert Kennedy said rather finely during the last war: 'The first prayer I want my son to learn to pray for me is not "God keep Daddy safe," but "God make Daddy brave, and if there are hard things to do, make him strong to do them!" ' And he addedc 'Life and death don't matter, Pat, my son; right and wrong do. Daddy dead is Daddy still, bul Daddy dishonoured before God is something too awful to mention'."