CASTING THE VOTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1922, Page 4

CASTING THE VOTE.

THE MORAL RESPONSIBILITY. REMARKS BY BISHOP AVERILL. “What this country needs for its legislators, first and foremost, are men of honor and men of principle,” said the Bishop of Auckland (Dr. A. W. Averill) in the course of his sermon at St. Mary’e, New Flymouth, last night. The Bishop was urging on those present the great responsibility they had when they went to the polling booths this week. “1 am not a party politician,” the Bishop continued, “but there is a principle behind the casting of a vote of which it is my duty to remind you. We need men who will not deny their God or their religion when they take part in the nation’s Parliament; • men who will have the moral courage and backbone to oppose any proposed legislation which i.a dishonorable to God and disloyal Uo the teachings of Jesus Christ. There is a limit to loyalty to party, and a man who is loyal to God before party is a country’s best asset. “As Christian mon and women,” he continued, “we cannot lay aside our religion when we go to vote. We have to record our vote on proposals designed to mitigate the evils resulting from the abuse of intoxicating liquors. It is not for me to tell you how to vote, but it is my duty to tell you that you cannot divest yourselves of the great responsibility for the vote you cast, and that you cannot forget God and your neighbor when you record your vote. The highest principles of God must not. be allowed to become overridden. Remember this week the words of Gladstone, who said, ‘Whatever is morally wrong cannot bo politically right,’ and beware of that false principle, ‘my country right or wrong.’ Beware of it. because it is often interpreted to mean ‘my party right or wrong.’ ”