ELECTION AFTERMATH.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1922, Page 4

ELECTION AFTERMATH.

THE MORAL ASPECT. "COUNTRY’S PERVERSE MOOD.” Reference to the general elections of last week, especially in connection with the licensing referendum, was made tby the Rev. W. J. Elliott in the course of his sermon at the Whiteley Memorial Church, New Plymouth, last evening. The preacher based his remarks on the words of the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 12, verse 5, "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how can at thou contend with horses? And though in a land of peace thou art secure, yet how wilt thou do in the pride of Jordan?” “One is almost entitled to be angry because of the perverse mood of the country during the past week,” said Mr. Elliott. “We are just emerging from one of the greatest moral conflicts ever waged in thia country, and the ancient enemy of the human race has scored another temporary triumph. But unless God is not God, right is not right, and righteousness is only a thing of sound, and fury signifying nothing, the doubtful victory will be but momentary. The prohibition cause is penetrated with a victorious temper, and must finally prevail in some beneficial form. It is not for me to forecast the conditions of the next engagement, save to say that we can brook no truce in such a beautiful battle. This supreme ?trugggle for the sake of humanity ia going to survive all the assaults, because it is inspired With the greatest heroism of all—the heroism of endurance.”

"Some of yon may feel inclined to aak: Is there to be no end,to this warfare, no cessation of this struggle in the social endeavor? Must we burden ourselves for ever, and stiffen ourselves for ever to endure? Must we protect for ever against this awful crime of our civilisation? Forever, if need be, yes, for ever! We must brave ourselves for a greater battle. We stand on a fine moral elevation, but we must take higher ground still.”