SELF-DENIAL A NEED IN WAR

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 2, 3 January 1940, Page 8

SELF-DENIAL A NEED IN WAR

The Church’s Part WELLINGTON, Jan. 1. The need for self-denial and a return to Christian principles and Christian leadership to win the war and reconstruct civilisation was discussed by the Rt. Rev. G. V. Gerard, Bishop cf Waiapu and chaplain to the Forces, in an interview in Wellington at the weekend. He emphasised the disparity cf sacrifice between those who enlisted and those content to stay at home. “One has read requests that the Allied Governments should formulate a statement of their war aims and objectives, with a view to future reconstruction,” said the Bishop. “It has also been suggested that the days of the Christian Church are numbered, because such forceful leaders as the political dictators claim to have devised a mystical formula for the solution of the present ills of mankind. Soldiers’ Sacrifice “Too often it is those people who are themselves making no great sacrifices, either for Church or State, who are most insistent about what somebody else ought. to do. At present there is an enormous gap between the responsibilities accepted by those of our men who have enlisted in the forces and have thus accepted the consequent disruption of their lives, and the rest of the community who face at most a few losses or inconveniences. And at all times there is a somewhat similar contract between those citizens of Christian lands who accept the obligations of their religion, and do not merely claim its benefits when wanted, “The strength of the Church is dependent upon the loyalty of the individuals who comprise her active or nominal members. Many of her critics who expect everything to be accomplished by the clergy and a ‘faithful few’ are surprised of told 'But you yourselves are the Church: you are baptised members —and what are you doing about it all?’ “The Church can propose no short cut for a reconstruction of human affairs. War can be won only by much sacrifice pnd self-denial, and the same qualities will be required to establish a tfuly permanent peace. “Here in New Zealand we have as yet shown little inclination to surrender anything of our place in the sun, with its wonderful opportunities and high material standard of living, ior the purpose of improving the lot of less fortunate human communities. It would peem that some substantial gestures of self-denial by the favoured people of the earth will have to be included in the terms by which, we hope and believe, war will eventually be eliminated from civilised society. “There is much truth in the saying that nations as a rule get the Governments warranted by the state of public opinion. And Christians are convinced hat world affairs will never be righted till the peoples accepting Christ insist pon being led by men in whom faith is a practised realily. To rebuild a vigorous Christian public opinion, after a period of distinctively pagan materialism, must inevitably tak/ and labour. Moral Slackness “We clergy must accept blame for too readily condoning the slackness of die times. For example, the obligations of the faith are far too serious, if accepted at all as true, to be overridden -gnominously in the lives of our people oy % the Saturday night observances of an unenlightened public, the week-end meal-hours of a society hostess, or the Sunday call of a relative or friend. Yet any of these, with many of our people, will be the cause of breaking a spiritual appointment. “From a constructive point of view, there are two paramount needs to-day, in my opinion. The first is a widespread ‘big-brother-and-sister’ movement among the young people of the Church, and a willingness to surrender Sunday morning to help the children in learning the faith and practising the traditions of their worship. The second is a revival of religion in the home. Many parents are at pains to send their children to church schools, Sunday schools and Bible classes, only to perplex and discourage them utterly by a complete neglect in the home of all that been taught and' learnt. "However, encouraging signs aro already appearing. It must not bo thought that there is not vigorous religious life in the parishes of this Dominion. After the first three celebrations of Holy Communion at St. Matthew’s, Hastings, on Christmas morning, wo liad administered the Sacrament to 660 people, and there were other services' to follow. Church life is by no means dead."