THE SIN OF STANDING ALOOF
SELFISH NEUTRALITY WAR SERMON BY THE REV. C. I'. ASKEW. In many of tho Wellington churches reference was mado yesterday to the anniversary of tiio declaration of war. In his sermon at the evening service ot St. Mark's Anglican Church, the Rev. C. F. Askew declared that "no student of tho Bible can read its pages without seeing that where moral and spiritual issues are involved neutrality is regarded with Divine abhorrence. God will accept no excuse for being neutral. Tiro years ago Britain took her place in the fight to uphold the sanctity of treaties, the right of smaller nations to preserve their national existence, and the maintenance of the eternal principles of truth, libcrty, and justice. And I venture to think that when this war is only a sad mem. ory, Britain's action will be regarded as worthy of a nation which stands for theso great principles while the finger of scorn will bo pointed at that great Republic across the seas, which officially has never uttered one word of protest against the barbarities and outrages proved to the hilt, and of the violation of that treaty to which she gavo her assent. If history teaches any lesson it is this: The nation that forswears itself, that remains neutral in a matter of right and wrong, that is more concerned with dollars and dimes than the tears and anguish of a smaller nation, will havo to pay the penalty with its own lifo blood, and be left to work out its own salvation. And what applies to tho nation is equally true with regard to the oliurch, which cannot take up a position of selfish neutrality to tho world's bet* tor needs. What are we dbing as a o_iurch or individual members of tho /lurch to remedy tho great social evils, such as intemperance, betting, gambling, prostitution, which are eating like a canker into the very heart of our national life to-day? Are we prepared to legislate to end theso evils? What are; we doing to help that legislation. Aot only does this apply to ? u \r s ? cial Tho Bishop or Madras' has been reproaching tha Church for its selfish neutrality, its want ot. zeal for the missionary cause in general, and particularly for its failure ill India. Ho tells us how last year, in one single province, a hundred and fifty thousand converts were baptiscld, fifty thousand more were being prepared for baptism, whoso preparation was being delayed for want of workers, whilo one hundred and forty thousand more had applied for. instruction, and had to be refused because there were no teachers to instruct them. 'Great as has been the movement among the outcast peoples in the past (ho says) it is as nothing to what we shall be confronted with iij the next ten years, and I hope that the Church of England will'tako its missionary work in the great Indian Empire seriously, and riso to tho wonderful opportunity which God is now giving it there.' These are weighty words from such a.leader—words that should arouse tho whole Church to action. And what is true of the nation and >the Church ii true of the individual, both with regard to moral issues and the present conflict. What are we as individuals doing at the present crisis? Are wo doing all .we can? Speaking generally, this Dominion has responded splendidly to' the call for men. It mii; given most' generously in money and kind. It has never failed to respond to the many demands mado upon it. But we all know that thero are plenty of men, able .'and strong-bodied, who ara standing aloof—men who havo nothing to keep thwu back—and yet through sheer selfishness they refuse to fake their part in t'he fight until compelled to do so. And we know, too, that there are people who have been literally coining money as a result of the war and haven't given a penny-piece to a sipgla fund for patriotic or other purposes. To them wo may apply tho words of Obadiah, the words of bitter scorn: "In tho day thou stoodest aloof and camo not .to the help of the Lord," for every man who is fighting for freedom and liberty and giving of his substauco is doing God's work.' In conclusion Mr. Askew said: As I havo been speaking the thoughts of many have been turned to dear ones far away —to those who did not stand on the other side, but havo gone forth to fight for King and country.. We do not forget them; we honour, them fori their devotion and unselfishness; and we commend them into the keeping of tho Eternal Father, as we say: Where are you sleeping to-night, my lod? Above ground or below? The last wo heard yon were up at the Front, Holding a trepch, and hearing tho brunt;' But that was a week ago. Ay! that was a. week ago,' dear lad, And a week is a long, long time, When a second's enough, in the thick of the strifo ' To sever the thread of the bravest life And end it in its prime. But this we know, dear lad, oil's well With the man who has done his best. And whether lie live, or whether he die, He is. sacred high in our memory: And to God wo can leave tho rest. . 6o—wherever yoii'ro sleeping to-night, dear lad, This one thing wo do knowWhen "Last Post" sounds, and He makes llis rounds, No one of you all will bo out of bounds Above ground or below.
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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2843, 7 August 1916, Page 7
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937THE SIN OF STANDING ALOOF Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2843, 7 August 1916, Page 7
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