THE BROTHERHOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 189, 9 February 1914, Page 4

THE BROTHERHOOD.

ADDRESS ON PATRIOTISM. A meeting of the New Plymouth Brotherhood -was held in the Good Templar Hall yesterday. Mr C. Ahier presided. The Rev. A. 'Reader, of Stratford, delivered au address on "Patriotism." ' | . The speaker said patriotism was one of the master forces in the life of any nation, and without it no nation could preserve its characteristics or fulfil, its destiny in tho world. The patriotism that exuberated in the music-hall or conceived that its best expression waa in military exploits, was not the type that was calculated to do the beat or most permanent work for the nation. The patriot was one who was inspired by the memories of a great past. As he read the story of the expansion and growth of the British people, and traced their rise from comparative insignificance to the uniquo position they occupied to-day, lie could not 'ail to see the evidence of a Divine Providence which led to the creation of such a nation, and in much of its story the signs of the finger of God. The true patriot was a man who loved his country and was prepared to make every reasonable sacrifice for its safety and prosperity. A sane patriotism would recognise that the chief foes of a people werj their sins, ft was little good for us to prepare for the possible invasion of our country by another, unless we evietoJ those enemies which have entrcnchol themselves in our. national life. We could never be at our best or do our best if we closed our eyes to those insidious evils which are worse than an invading army.