CHRISTIAN ORDER IN HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 50, 29 May 1950, Page 4

CHRISTIAN ORDER IN HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

In days of stress and strain men and women of goodwill turn their minds to the past and there find “precious memories” which give them inspiration and courage to endure, states the Rev H. Hogg, Whakatane, in an article to the Beacon. In order to tmderstand our present situation we think of Britain one hundred and thirty years ago, he continues. Napoleon had dictator of Europfr-He was; devising plans to deal a mortal blow at “perfidious Albion.” But his projected invasion of Britain was frustrated by the vigilance of the British Fleef. So he turned eastwards and invaded Russia. Here he met disaster and defeat, to be followed later by Waterloo. Many Dark Places

Yet while the Britain of 130 years ago was heroic, saving herself by her exertions and Europe by her example, there were many dark places in the land. There was much formal adherence' to religion and blatant evils reigned unchecked. But there were groups of people who were by no means satisfied with the general state of the country. Among them were Wilberforce, Hannah Moore, Carey and Henry Thornton, who in spite of the strains and stresses and dangers of the times in which they were living, had the faith an the courage to carry on and work for a better day. As a result of their labours slavery was abolp-'hed, mental hospitals were erected for the insane, prison reform was instituted, popular education planned and sionary enterprise embarked is really a magnificent and amafi mg fact that the great Societies and the Bible Soeietxes came into existence. Now what may we learr. from these, “Campaigners for Chriistijan Order” of 100 years ago? We note their - deep personal religion, their belief in and practice of intercessory prayer, their integrity of character, their sensitiveness to the needs of the downtrodden and underprivileged, their, hard thinking and their hard work and their vision of the world mission of the Christian Church. Growing World

Would there be a growing World Church and a Campaign for Christian Order today if these people had not ventured forth 100 years ago? Obviously no. The call to us is to get right on with our jobs, just in the small area over which we have some control, and to pray, think, study and act remembering that in Christ—the dynamic of Christian Order —Christians are promised guidance and power and that the Church which is His BodyJjMj -'a mighty mission to all niunkl^^B