RELIGION AND THE WAR.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 October 1916, Page 3

RELIGION AND THE WAR.

(To the Cditor). •Sir, —War always brings religion into the arena. It is required as a scapegoat, an excuse, audi a peg to liang a speech on by cranks of various kinds—while that human error, "the conscientious objector - ' —embraces it as an excuse for his shirking and a plea for his .selfishness. Professional politicians. Parliamentary ''comrades," and several Anglican bishops whoso Colds flv before "Sazol." Sore throats are soothed by this proved and popular remedy. Gfet "Xazol" to-day. Is (id buys GO doses. Ad. stock-in-trade is a supply of platitudes, bemoan the fact that religion has failed. Has it? It is prominently before the people ,no\v as an excuse for shirking responsibilities, and the heroic

Christ is dishonored by those who claim His authority for their cowardice and selfishness. Tho sublime courage, patience, resignation and obedience to the call of duty—tho whole battery of lights ih.it illuminated Calvary—offer a stern rebuke to tho muddy hypocrisy which to-day enjoys the comfort of the gospel and ignores its duties.

"Sacred memories'' of the superbully! Most of the English bishops and the sectarian divines are dumb or notoriously pusillanimous. Do they imagine —can: anyone imagine—tho Christ standing bv apologetically while b-stinlity is running riot? Ca.n anyone with Christ's gospel in his hand conceive of Jesus silently acquiescing, or unwilling to strike a blow, when women and children are being made the victims of unprintable infamies? fs this a time to dwell on the "sacred memories" of the devilish kaiser? Ts it a time to flatter this arch-fiend of bh'O'Vlust nnd rapine by assurances ■Jl*siL he shall not lie humiliated after his orgv? Tn the name of Christ's h->lv religion, which so many of our I'e-ksiiifr.; in theology have repudiated •v!ii!.< tb-v still mouth their sectarian !'■'>,-l'et h>:. let us be done with this

j ■ f orccd. Christ was a pnif he v-cpt for His country, ho or .pr-1 to die for it. The time li t;•— <> - -enk out. The eccentric , v i 0 f orm tI )P Cabinet in V 7, • ■'-i■ ul and Australia as well as Gr - ; it 1? 1 tin play the game of "wait and •" "' while British and colonial manhood pays tho price in terms of sacrificial blood. The real followers of Christ are fighting. Politicians talk of unity: and the pool - deluded voter thinks they mean unity of purpose in th'.s tragedy of war. All the time, with their tongues in their cheeks, our eccentric political comedians ar:- playing for the unity of miserable Party. The safeguarding of the empire must give way to the safeguarding of Party interest, and some of them find in religion an excuse for that. A churchman's duty is to flalit. (Religion is I war. and war and religion are synonyI mnus terms. Religion is the fight against injustice and wrong, deviltry, lust and rapine, not forgetting hypocrisy. Religion means more than pious platitudes, palaces, and the baiting of ritualistic curates and. the converting of Jews. It is time to remind our bishops that the first essential of membership in the Anglican church they represent —and most of them betray— is the acceptance of militancy, and not acquiescence in pusillanimity .and apologetics for sin. iThe first essential a churchman must recognise is to fight. In the baptismal service of the Church of England the child is received "to fight under Christ's banner against sin. thd world and the devil." and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and ser- , vant until his life's -end. Tf this be | not a bugle-call to duty, to fight against deviltry let loose, what in God's name is? Tn the olden days, when bishop's were loaders, instead of humble followers of the "wait and see" gospel, the ficrv cross preached by bishops would have raised Christendom. "With a few exceptions, no bugle blast comes from them. Christianity is no sloppy sentimeitalism. no effeminate emotionalism. it is n strong and manly creed, and therefore god-like. Rut what do we fp'd in Now Zealand? Drunkenness is rampant : the divorce courts are always busy. Drink is the cause of evervone of these cases. And when we ask Parliament to shorten the hours of the sale of poison we are laughed at. Wo ask for bread, and we are pelted I with stone in the shape of "anti.sliout:ng." which Massey. Ward, and Myers, and many others, know is inoperative. Say what you will, but no eewnrd. no slacker, no soft, pitiful, deeping character, can be truly a Chlistia-i. though he be a cardinal, moderator or a brewer. Why, birds and beasts will put up a fight for the f'Uiale. for the nest, for what represents home. "Quit you like men." do not suffer to moulder' away the faculties entrusted to you as part of the image of Godi, our create!'. — I am, etc., ,

An HONEST SCEPTIC No. 2 TTontherlea. October 12, 191 G.