"SELF SACRIFICE"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 138, 9 December 1930, Page 11

"SELF SACRIFICE"

THE WORLD'S NEED

HOW RELIGION CAN HELP

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, Bth December. The assistance religion can give the world in its present troublous period was referred to by Archbishop Avevill in the course of a sermon in St. Mary's Cathedral last night. Archbishop Averill, referring to his impressions abroad, said that while it was difficult to see how England could have overcomo the nightmare of lier unemployment except by heavy taxation to supply tho wherewithal to provide what was known as the dole, yet undoubtedly the dole system, necessary as he believed it to be, was calculated to weaken the moral of the nation and it had increased the taxation of employers to such an'extent that in many cases they had reached' the breaking poiut. The burden of taxation had so reduced the spending power of those who once found employment for hundreds that they were no longer able to contribute to the support, and, in many cases, the happiness of their fellowcitizens. "It seems surprising to us who in this country have been endeavouring to help England by trying to find suitable homes for boys on the land, and to save them from the dole and its often evil effects," added His Grace, "to find that it has been vqry difficult to gefc sufficient boys in England to meet our modest demand. Parents object in many cases, and simrjly say: 'Oh! well in this country, at any, rate, they can depend upon getting the dole.' " Discussing the question as to whether tho Church is pulling her weight in the midst of the present conditions, tho Archbishop said it was not the duty of the Church, to endeavour to find specific remedies for the existing economic distress, or to take sides in politics, but to witness to the' principles and teaching of her Lord and Master, and to build up character and to endeavour to point to the signs which heralded the dawn. The present economic depression in the world could only be met by sacrifice, and the Church must be prepared to help the world by' witnessing to the fact that sacrifice was the very essence of religion. It was only vital religion, the spirit of self-sacrifice, tho spirit of the Master, which could really help the world today to face its problems equally calmly and confidently.