HOME AND NATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 999, 16 June 1930, Page 14

HOME AND NATION

INFLUENCE OF PARENTS FALSE IDEAS OF GREATNESS At the Church of Christ, Ponsonby Road, last evening, Mr. H. R. Urquhart, M.A., speaking on the theme: “The greatest possible inheritance from great parents,” said that such a subject turned our attention to the home. It might be a commonplace to say that the home has ever been the bulwark and the foundation of all national greatness, but the saying was nevertheless a true one, the speaker said. Whatever tended to undermine the sanctity of the home life tended in like manner to undermine the strength and stability of the nation. The moral stamina of a people depended upon the nature of the home life, and that home life was moulded for strength or for weakness by the parents. If the Christian religion was true, then the greatest of all parents were those who had sought and found God, and who had done their utmost to translate some of the light they had found into the lives of their children. On the other hand, false ideas of what constituted true greatness of parenthood would inevitably result in an artificial, inglorious and impotent individual national life. In the Gospel as recorded by Luke was an account of the parents of John the Baptist, the speaker said. To his mind Zacharias and Elizabeth were among the greatest of parents in tlie best sense of the word, and that spiritual greatness told in the marvellous life and work of their only child. The best gifts were always spiritual. The greatest gift of God to the sons of men was a spiritual gift, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. And the nature of the parents* gift to their children eternally determined their claim to true greatness of parenthood. There were false ideas of greatness. Usually when parents were asked about the welfare of their children, the answer given often depended upon the progress being made in the affairs of the world. Without condemning the measure of success thus attained, without progress in things spiritual the material greatness counted for nothing when this life was ended: but rich in fellowship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, parents were in a position to pass on to their children the greatest possible inheritance, and so help to build a nation which fears God, and which seeks first the Kingdom of Heaven to the end that Christ may reign in the hearts and lives of men. HELP FOR UNEMPLOYED WORKS AT TE KUITI From Our Own Correspondent TE KUITI, Saturday. The member for Waitomo, Mr. W. J Broadfoot, has received advice that 20 relief workers are to be employed in re-forming Boddie’s Road, in order to provide a through route between the Oparuro and Tumu Tumu Roads. At present three miles of the road is formed, and the men will be engaged In forming the remaining two miles. The road will connect with the Tumu Tumu Road near the Ruakuru Caves, and will provide a circular and alternative route to the caves. In addition, it will give a direct route to Te Kuiti to settlers in this district who formerly had to take the long way via Hangatiki. a distance of about 18 miles. When completed it is expected that the settlers concerned and the Waitomo County Council will take steps to have the whol& road metalled.