CONFIDENCE AT HOME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20083, 1 November 1939, Page 12

CONFIDENCE AT HOME

BRITAIN AND THE WAR “AMAZINGLY CALM” TONE FRUITFUL 1939 SEASON "It is truly amazing how calm England is. 1 think that behind the calm is the full knowledge that we have very strong leaders both in politics and in the three arms of the services, army, navy and air. Also we are quite at one in the knowledge that the

safety of the whole world is at stake," writes the Rev. L. Dawson Thomas, a former vicar of Holy Trinity, from his home at Amerton Rectory, Huntingdon, to a friend m Gisborne.

"Hitler aims at world domination, and sooner or later Britain would be menaced. Wo are ready, far more so than was ever dreamed of in 1914. Germany, on the other hand, is bankrupt now. Her people are starving, and one wonders how soon it will be before revolution breaks out there.

"Out here, and in almost every rural district of England, we are sheltering cvacues from crowded London. Our own house is crowded, ana fortunately with decent, well-behaved children. Amongst our lot we have a typical lunuioner, a proper ‘character’ but a splendid woman and just selling to do something. We look it a poor littie woman just out of hospital, with two babies. Her health was such that the doctor felt she might have to go to a mental home, but both my wife and I forbade it. She is making amazing progress, and we have had the two children put into a home until site is able to take care of them. The young husband has been called up." Spiritual Rearmament Discussing the need for moral and spiritual rearmament in the nation. Mr. Thomas stated that lie wished he e/as 30 years younger, and able to stump the country calling people to crowd their churches. "It may well be that in Germany die poor kindly peasants will bring back to their country that spiritual force," lie says. "It is there now, and 1 was quite amazed to see along the Rhine last year the lovely old churches packed, and largely with men off the land. In pouring rain they crowded, and in some places they stood or knelt in the rain as tiie churches were not large enough to hold all. And this in the mornings!” "The United Kingdom has had an especially bountiful harvest,” the writer adds. "The fields are full of golden grain, and the farmers are at their wits' end to find helpers to gather in die crops. Never have we seen in the past 10 years such a glorious yield of fruit. We simply don’t know what to do with t all.

"I heard over the w.reless to-night ihat New Zealanders are flocking to enlist for service anywhere. Your grand little country is so splendidly loyal, and I am sure that Australia will not falter. The Empire is one .n the light for liberty and freedom. God will help us in our warring.”