The Dominion. TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1015. PLAIN TRUTHS IN PLAIN WORDS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2536, 10 August 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1015. PLAIN TRUTHS IN PLAIN WORDS

Plain, wholesome, direct speech was the oustanding ' characteristic of the addresses given at the intercession services held in Wellington on Sunday. A high level of serious thought was maintained, and, generally speaking, a true appreciation of the gravity of the situation was shown. Things that required saying were said in a striking and impressive manner. Comforting platitudes were conspicuous by their absence; stark realities were dealt with; grim'facts were steadily faced; unpalatable truths were uttered in tho plainest language. In the course of his remarkably impressive speech at the Town Hall, Dr. Gibb made ifc clear that the time ; has come for brushing aside illusions of all kinds. The dutv of the nalie said,vis to faoo the peril, to hide nothing, to gToze over nothing. The German newspapers in fchcir reviews of the year's war lay stress on the fact that the great aim of Germany' in this tremendous struggle is tho overthrow of the British Empire. Nothing short of our very uttermost can save us from humiliation and defeat; and yet if wo arc ready "to give all, and do all, and suffer all," victory will be ours though the fight may be a long and terrible one. The idea that we aro not fighting the whole German nation, but only the Prussian military clique, still, persists in sonic quarters. Tho Rev. A. E. Hunt gave expression to it on Sunday when he asserted that we aro not fighting tho German people, but tho German spirit. Nothing, however, is surer than that we aro fighting both the German people and the German spirit. This point was insisted lipon by Archbishop Redwood in his powerful sermon at tho Basilica. The whole Geruian racc is responsible for this war. The mad dream of the conqucst of Britain, France, and Russia, seems to have fascinated the mass of the people. They aro backing up their Government just as whole-heartedly as tha Britisii public 1 ' arc supporting Mr. Asquith and his colleagues. This is proved by the sacrifices they arc making, by the popularity of the "Hymn of Hate," and by the great jubilation with whioh the news of the torpedoing of the Lusitania was received throughout Germany. Their wish for our destruction is not merely a passive desire; the whole nation has been organised on tho most scientific principles for the purpose of destroying us and ours. Both Di!: Gibb and Bishop Sprott emphasised tho faofc that ifc is the imperative duty of all who are physically fit to be in readiness to go | to tho front il'needed. "Every, unmarried man should _ volunteer," said Dr. Gibb, and "ifc is coming to this, that every married man who is physically lit should report himself to* the authorities and_ say, 'When in your judgment the time is come, hero am I,_ send me.' " This is the spirit which alone can win this war. The same point was stressed by Bishop Srnorr with the strongest emphasis ill oil;.' of the jtreatesl sermons ever preached in ; 'Sk 3

I tho complete organisation and mobi-. , lisation of the whole of the resources of Use Empire would clash i with t/lio principles of British | liberty. The .Bishop's comment on this conception of liberty was as crushing as it was brief.' "If," h e said, "our idea ol' freedom is merely tlia liberty to do what we like there, is nothing- more to be said save this: That the British Empire will perish." Indeed, our Jimpire •would deserve- no other fate i£ its citizens should refuse to surrender the liberty of _ sitting in their easychairs while its enemies v.-cre battering it to pieces. The Bishop had no sympathy whatever with people who _ cxpectcd Providence to work special miracles to save us from our foes, when we already have sufficient power and resources to achievc victory and only require tho will and energy to make the fullest u«e of them. It cannot be truthfulfy said that the British Empire has np to the present put its whole might into this struggle. Ia a world-crisis like the, present, when tho very foundations of civilisation are rocking, it is of the greatest importance that people should bo taught, to see things in their true proportions—to [jilt first things first. The Church has a splendid opportunity of effective service to the nation at such a tinio, for ifc cap strike deeper nofco than the politician. It can influence the very springs of conduct, and can render powerful help in the work of mobilising those spiritual forces whioh count for so much in clays of ppril. In Britain the Churches arc giving the people a strong, vet wcllDalancccl lead, and the high tone and firm grasp of essential points which characterised the addresses delivered in Wellington on Sunday may fairly be regarded as a proof that the clergy of Now Zealand seo their duty just as clearly, and are quite as able and willing to do it. Ifc is impossible to over-stress the urgency of the need of putting away the "enfeebling things" referred to hv Bishop Speott, and of fighting with a determination commensurate with the greatness of the cause for which the Empire has drawn the sword.