A NATIONAL CRUSADE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 290, 6 July 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

A NATIONAL CRUSADE.

There came to the people of this Dominion a few days ago a call from the trenches—a call to duty voiced by a noble-minded soldier who gave his life for us while yet his written message was speeding to his beloved country. The spirit of Captain Atkinson's inspiring appeal finds expression in the ideals of" the Empire Service League, a branch of which was formed in Wanganui last evenin.;. In its essence, the object of this League is to arouse among the people a keener and more personal recognition of their individual responsibilities as citizens of the Empire, and to induce them to take an active interest in all movements destined to make for a clcser unity, a better understanding, and a higher sense of duty among all clrsscs. Although tho cruel war has been in progress for nearly three year*, there are still many thousands of peooie who have failed to be touched by the chastening iniluen:e of the avalanche .if so? row and suffering which has deluged the world. In this Dominion, as rn other parts o[ the Empire, there : s still evidence of the laxity, the easy-going carlessness, induced by the long yearj of peaceful security which preceded the war. This fact is eloquently- emphasised by Mr Percival Wrtherby in an interesting and stimulating essay, "What Freedom Means," which be read at the inaugural meeting of the League a fesv months ago. Mr Witherby's paper, now published <n lamphlet form, is at once an indictment and an inspiration. In it he remind -as that the long period of peace and piosperity which, with minor interruptions, followed Waterloo in 1315, and the fall of Sebastopoi in 1855, conferred inestimable benefit* on the United K ngdom and the worldwide Empire, which born of it wa-a growing into manhood. But it had this great disadvantage—that as the direct results of '.he comforts in which we lived and tho privileges which we enjoyed—comforts and privileges won for us and not fo us, but by the sacrifices rnd efforts (f our forefathers — not only did our rational consciousness hecomo dormant, but the spirit of responsibility became dangerously weak. The mission of the Empire League is to awaken and uplift, and to that end the privilege of membership, while entailing no pecuniary responsibility, involves an obigation to endorse and practise tho principles upon which its platform is base!. The measure of that obligaticn is shown by the formal statement of the League's aims and objects' - To unite mors thoroughly for the defenco of the Empire and for the extenion of the freedom we have inherited. .o extend our personal sympathy and active suppo.'t to all reasonable efforts to improve the moral and material conditions or ale iu this Dominion.

To promote the closer and more earnest exercise of sympathy and mutual trust between employers and employed, and a better understanding of each other's aims and aspirations. To discourage waste arising from extravagance in living and recreation among all classes. And above all to fulfil our most urgent and sacred duty by ensuring that those who a: 6 now giving their services and risking their lives for us at the front shall be properly supported in the present crisis, and shall not bo sacrificed or abandoned through thoso of us who remain here in safety selfishly occupying ourselves in promoting our own intend; or pleasures, forgetful of our duty. It would be d.ffieu'.t to conceive a nobler platform. But if the Empire Service League s to accomplish its almost idealistic purpose, if it is to prove a real and forceful rower for good, then its platform must be materialised into something more }.iactical than a mere profession of fa th. There are many dragons to be sla'K, but they will not be slain !y tho unaided power of Thought. A thousand mind.-, may harbour the same gnat Thought, but it is the one who transatos the thing* thought of into th;- thing accomplished who is the real 'ctnefactor of his race. Beyond nil question the Empire Service League is capable of becoming a power for good in the community, but in trder to ro so its members must see to it that its dynamic ideals are linked up to the machinery of action. It is simply a question >Y applied power, of giving the organisation something useful to do and e>]i ipping it with the means to do it. Ail Witherby has certainy demonstrated that the objects <•.:* the League are ivorthy of the seppor'. of the citizens, and the endorsement of all the best I'duc.itive agencies of the Dominion, and .0 that extent at least ho bus nn.piy justified the formation of the League. Tt now jemnins for th" League itself to s'mpp its destiny: t •will either 311000:! or fail, according to the wisdom or -.nvisuom of its policy and the measure of its aggressive action ns c. combav.'uit of moral, social, rud polit'ci! evils, and n champion of truth, justice, and onnitv.