THE NEEDS OF THE HOUR

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 479, 7 November 1919, Page 2

THE NEEDS OF THE HOUR

Through Chautauqua Eyes An " Uplift" Address By Judge G. Alden Judge George D. Alden stepped forward with the presence of an accomplished public speaker, and without notes of any sort, delivered an inspirational address crammed full of judicious instruction and freely besprinkled with delightful whimsicalities, which found great favour with the large audience in the Premier Hall, Pukekohe, on Wednesday night. Being a polished, cultivated man, the speaker did not rudely accuse the people of New Zealand of being prone to certain vices common the world over. He tactfully informed the audience, as each point was being driven home, that being a stranger in this Dominion, he could not say what tha defects of the inhabitants are, nor what their needs are, he was just describing conditions '' away down under, in the United States of America." When he had driven the nail home, he reaffirmed that hi 9 remarks applied only to the land famous in recent times for the production of Buffalo Bill, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, chewing gum, and the crowning glory— Chautauqua : But the expression in his highly expressive face said plainer than were words " If the cap fits any of you people in Pukekohe, well, you may wear it." The audienco "took a tumble" every time, and being Britishers and therefore " sports," they just laughed. And the harder they were hit the heartier thoy laughed. As tho Fiunkux AM) Pukekohe Timks is not as capacious as the New York Timos, the Saturday Evening Post, or the Boston Transcript, we will have to give points from the address in tabloid form. Here goesThe four primary needs of the hour are:—The banishment of commercial corruption; the. ousting of political dishonesty; the acquirement of domestic happiness; the passing away of indifference to religion. An unhealthy state in respect to these things is in every case due to a lack of self-respect The conscience and conviction of the early English pilgrims was the leaven and the foundation of America and its greatness. But the old virtues have weakened, and it is a sad thing. All history tells us that the nation which turns from God to gold goes down. The central fact of Christianity is Christ. What we need is less theology and more Christianity. We have substituted new-fashioned affluence for old fashioned influence. There is too much prosperity among the rich, and too much pos terity among the poor. Settle unwise marrying and you settle the divorce courts problem I wish the words, " love, honour, and obey," in the marriage service were deleted and "stop, look, listen" put in their places.