SLUMP IN CHRISTIAN VALUES

Chronicle (Levin), 9 October 1946, Page 5

SLUMP IN CHRISTIAN VALUES

. — Press Association

By Telegraph

AUCKLAND, Oct. 8. The importance of tlie ehurches combiuing in action to represent jointly the views of the Christian community, was emphasised by the former Bishop of Wellington, Itt. Rev. H. St. Barbe Uoiland, in an interview. With Mrs. Holland and a member of tlieir household, JMiss K. B. Robson, . he will leave this week for Englaud where he will becoine Dean of Norvvicli. "Tlie Government. takes far more notice of the ehurches' minds than it used to because of a coinbined approach," Bishop Holland said. "To bring the ehurches together in aetion has been one of my great ideais because when we begin to work together we appreciate and understand eacli other and iind tliat things on which we differ are not things that prevent coope ration." As an example of the manner in whicli men of diH'erent religious beliefs could combine to acliieve a major result, Bishop Holland nientioned the lieip given in tlie Mellington cathedral projeet bv several mpn prominent in the city's lif'e who were pot Auglicans. He said everv assistanc'e had been given by two Presbyterians and also by a Methodist, because they realised that while tlie cathedral would be pnrely Anglican, it would be also a national institution of lirst importance. "There is such a slump in Christian values in tlie world today that unless the ehurches ean get together and Sliow themselves to be a'strong element in national lif'e, the wliole thing may go by default," the Bishop eontinued. " Individual ehurches cannot do it on their own. The wliole thing is trembling in the balance. Is the world going 1o becoine. pnrely materialistie and absorbed in the view that lif'e ends at tlie grave or is it going. to aecept those values that make sense of our life in this world!" Bishop Holland said he had tra"velled extensively during. his ten ycars in New Zealand and had motored 100,600 miles. He had oome to lovo the eountry and greatly regretted his health made it impossible for him to remain in tlie Dominion and ultimately live. here- in retiremeht. • The kindliness of both pakeha and Maori had greatly irn pressed liim as also had the resourcefulness of the average New Zealander. "I love the eountry and its beautv but join in the regret at the erosion that is oecurring and the deterioration of some land brought in from bush, " the Bishop eoncluded. He tliought New Zealand 's future lay in the land and erosion seemed to be lirnitiiig tlie eountry 's prospects of prosperity.