ST. MATTHEW’S CHURCH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 May 1939, Page 8

ST. MATTHEW’S CHURCH

UA'DIES’ GUILD MEETING. A- STIRRING ADDRESS. There was- a good: attendance- at the first social afternoon of St Matthew’s Ladies’ Guild held: in the Parish Hall yesterday. A. bright programme- which was greatly- appreciated, was presented by Mesdames Coleman, Bennett, Jaine and Snowsill, and a novel competition was won by Mrs Bennett. Af--tenroon teff was'served'by 7 Guild 1 members; The- speaker for the day was' Mr J. Snell, M:a-„ LL.M., of Wellington, who in the" course of a striking addressanalysed movements of thought and l action during the last fifty years, and dealt in trenchant fashion with props man had devised: to support life; Attacks on Christian faith- had issued: in the loss of fundamental rights of liberty and justice and the growth of a: morality based on license' which had ended: jp despair and degradation. Economic solutions and? political readjustments aTone"could'not give a stable basis'-to" life, though the economic and 1 political systems' should be the best possible. The" idea of the inevitability' of human progress' had proved a delusion and' there was bafflement everywhere. Trouble was due to- a tainted human will. There was hone because people in all walks of life were recognising that the tide of failure and moral anarchy could only oe turned 1 by a real return to the Christian life. There was in man an infinite capacity for evil, but there .was also ah infinite capacity for sacrifice and' nobility of character. Just because" Christianity was a redemptive religion it could transform the evil and cause the spiritual to triumnh. There was'evidence of a returning tide of faith and in individual, national’, and international life witness to the redeeming and transforming power of the Christian faith would show the road to happiness and human well-be-ing. Mr Snell received a warm vote of appreciation for his address.