WHY DO NATIONS FALL?

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2691, 10 February 1916, Page 6

WHY DO NATIONS FALL?

Sir—l wonder whether a friendly voice may express a certain degree of misgiving in regard to the letter in your issue of February 8, "Why do nations fall?" The sense of doubt is brought to a head by the final sentouce: Many believe the sure road to victory lies through the way of national penitence." Unless 0110 is fully persuaded that the victory of the Allies ls ,, essential step in the furtherance or „he Kingdom of God, can one take the lead the letter offers? "Would not such an assumption be rather presumptuous; 1 'Tennyson teaches us that Merit lives from man to man, And not from man, 0 Lord, to Thee." »e are right to strain every nerve to wm the war. But the moment wo turn to the final Judge of all wo must icmember that we are only one out of a multitude of nations, to all of whom belongs the need of repentar.ee. would it not be a truer spirit to pray for repentance—not that we may win out through such means to victory, but that God ma.v be enabled to work' out through us the great ends His eternal wisdom has in view. These may be best attained by an Allied victory, , a general settlement, -or even an Allied defeat. The matter is in higher hands. Our immediate and paramount duty is plain— to strive in every fibre of our being to win. But we shall do this m the spirit of the old battlecry, "May God defend the right." In this case our repentance will spring not from any fear of defeat, but as the resultof the manifest judgments that are falling upon the world to-day. Io repent with an eye to victory is not surely quite the thing. To repent under the sense of chastisement so that God may be glorified is, I think, the attitude of a purer Christianity. Religion and patriotism deeply rooted in us all are yet distinct. Let us exalt the one. but be careful not to touch tho final truth of the other.—l am, ctc A BROTHER. CONSCRIPTION THE CURE, k' r > To-day another company of brave men, both married and single, go into camp, and we honour them for it. But what of those they leave behind ? Are we caring enough for those mothers and helpless little ones? Are *vo giving sympathy and all the kindness they deserve? When one hears « young mother with a dear wee girl or three and a baby boy seven weeks old, alter travelling from far north of Auckland to Wellington in order to sa-v the last good-bye; having to wander about the streets looking for lodgings until quite lato at night, does it appear that wo care much? Whv must marned men with young children go? Have tho men who govern tin's land no care for tho women and children when they betray tbeni to the power of the shirker, when they consent to the noblest, gentlest, <uid best of our manhood being sacrificed, whilo those others indulge themselves in games, races, and theatres, sharing the protection only duo to the helpless. Women of New Zealand! Think, and then you will rise up and demand conscription for all, and not allow the grabber to .continue Ins cowardly grabbing of oiir brave men's lauds and homes, and their positions, often at raised wages. There are post-women, milk-women, and women conductors and drivers in England and France—why not here? I have seen a returned—invalided, I presume—nurse stoud, in a tramcar, while half-a-dozen ' alleged men sat.—l am, ctc., A SOLDIER'S MOTHER,