BISHOP AVERILL ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2595, 18 October 1915, Page 6

BISHOP AVERILL ON THE WAR

SOME CANDID CRITICISM LESSONS FOR THE BRITISH The most interesting section of the charge delivered by tho Bishop of Auckland, Dr. A. W. Avcrill, at tho second session of the '21st synod of llio diocese, says the Auckland "Herald," was devoted to the war and to tho lessons the Church and the people might gather therefrom. "Germany's shame will, indeed, Lo writ large, in the pages of history," said Dr. Averill, "for her deeds ' of treachery and devilry have' stained her once honoured name for all time: What lies behind this pagan idea of destiny, this tremendous preparation and lnd for world supremacy, this absolute disregard for tho oteriul distinction between right and wronjj, this will to powor by brute force, this policy of lying, subterfuge and deceit, this contempt for Christian ethics ? 1 Nothing less than a lost God and a spumed Christ. Tlie writings of Germany's prominent historians, statesmen, soldiers and philosophers—and even some of her theologians—are capable of no other interpretation. The doctrine of the superman and tho supernation call bear 110 other interpretation."

The Bishop emphasised the terrible seriousness of tho war, and the gravo danger that all that was best in the world might be destroyed by a nation "ready and willing to make any sacrifice for the_ actualising of its distorted vision and ideals." He feared that the indefiniteness of British ideals and principles had been a source of weakness and an encouragement to the enemy, and that the spirit of service and sacrifice had been sadly wanting. "Have we not been prone to exalt-our national virtues and minimise or ignore our national failings?" he asked. "Is it not the case that what we are in face of is nothing less than the breakdown in a certain idea and hope of civilisation, which was associated with tho liberal and industrial movement of tho last century? There was to ho an inevitable and glorious progress of humanity, of which science, commerce, education were to be tho main instruments, and wliicli was to be crowded witli universal peace. • Older prophets like Thomas Carlyle expressed their contempt for the shallowness of this prevailing ideal, and during this century we have been becoming more and more doubtful of its •value. But wo aro witnessing its downfall." Much as they could do, science, commerce, and education could not oxpel from human nature love of self, self-interest, selfishness, individual and corporate. "Where is the Nation's Patriotism?" "We are appalled at the spirit of men who can strike when a shortage of munitions and coal means a. death-blow to the Empire," tlie bishop ■went'on. "We aro appalled at the thought of men building up fortunes out of war profits, when these profits aro so olosely allied with the terrible toll of suffering, bereavement and death in our own Empire, and in the countries of our allies. We are appalled to read such a cable as one which appeared in our daily papers, dated September 17: 'Britain's drink bill for tho June half-year was £88,000,000, an increase of £8,000,000.' Where is tho nation's honour., the nation's self-con-trol, the nation's patriotism? We are appalled to think'that there should bo any necessity for Earl: Kitchener's appeal to tho public to- refrain from supplying soldiers with drink, or for the noble example and sacrifico of our King, in order to encourage and stimulate self-control and sacrifice in his subjects. i

Something to be Thankful For. The bishop, however, said that the nation could be thankful for the evidence of the Foreign Office White Paper; for the proved value of Britain's democratic principle of diffused power in the various units composing the British nation as against autocratic centralisation; for the response already made_ to the call for service to enable Britain to uphold the sacredness of treaty obligations, and to defend the weak and oppressed; for the splendid loyalty of the Allies to one another; for the wonderful perseverance and recuperative. power of Russia: for the quiet heroism' and patient watchfulness of the indomitable navy: and that the military position of the Allies was as good as it was when they considered what niight have been on account of British military 'unreadiness, lack of munitions, and miserable industrial squabbling when coal and munitions wer R the very sinews of war.

"It is the spirit of the nation which needs revolutionising, and bringing into lino witW the 6pirit of the men who are offering their services, and with the sacrifice of wives and parents who are offering their priceless gifts on. the altar of sacred dirty," said the bishop, and he added that if there was no other way, conscription must he adopted.

The Church and Labour The formation of an evangelistic council for organising extra parochial work had eventuated. The council arranged short services for men at the Chamber of Commerce and the wharf last Lent, and, in response to a. request, had continued to hold weekly l services at the wharf with satisfactory results. Th® work and vision of tho council miglit he described as aii attempt to give expression to a real desire on the part of the Church to strengthen and sunport the aspirations of many real leaders aud members of the Labour movement for a truer ideal in life and service than materialism could possibly provide. "If this war docs not help to break down superficial class distinctions and entrenchcd positions and open the way for a truer and' more unselfish conception 'of brotherhood by substituting the principle of mutual service for selfish individualism—thousands of our sons will have diedin vain," said the bisliop., "Mutual recriminations aro worse than useless,"