FATHERS’ NIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1939, Page 8

FATHERS’ NIGHT

GATHERING AT THE PARISH I HALL MASTERTON LEAGUE OF MOTHERS ADDRESS BY BISHOP BENNETT. There was a large attendance of members of both sexes at the Fathers' Night held by the Masterton League of Mothers in the Parish Hall last evening. Mrs L. B. Maunsell (president) was in the chair. The speaker of the evening was the Rt. Rov. F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, who was accompanied by Mr Hepa Taepa, who had been, ordained that day as deacon for the work of the Maori mission in the Wairarapa. A number of choral items were rendered most melodiously by the League Choir, under the baton of Mrs Miller Hope. A vocal duet by Mesdames Speight and Showsill and a recitation by Miss Betty Coleman were both encored. At the end of the evening the numerous company present was entertained at supper. Bishop Bennett said it was a great pleasure to him to be thereto address them that evening. He had heard of the League of Mothers and had hoard of its work in different parts of New Zealand, but had never before attended one of their gatherings, so that this was a red letter day in his experience. The subject of the Bishop's address was the need of extending the Christian faith and the influence and responsibility of parents in bringing up their children. No one looking around today. he said, could be anything else than tremendously struck by the critical nature of the times we were passing through. It was a terrible time. Might it not be that the world was suffering in this way that something great might be born of all this suffering? He felt that God was calling upon them all to draw nearer to Him. God seemed to be saying to us as a people and an Empire "Your ways are not My ways.” Our inventions were very wonderful. Man seemed to be coming up to a position where he forgot that there was a God. Yet we must remember that our life was not based on material things. Man did not live by bread alone. Perhaps what we nvere now passing through was a preparation for the birth of a new world, a spiritual kingdom, the Second Advent of Our Lord. How did we stand? Were we prepared? Personally, he did not; think we were. Travelling, as he did, all over New Zealand, he was perhaps in a better position than most people to judge of the belief of the people of this Dominion with regard to spiritual things. He had been told by a clergyman in the Wellington Diocese that only about three per cent of the adult population of New Zealand were to be found in the churches today. He did not know how far that was true, but he had been told that it was practically true that 97 per cent of the population were not to be found in the churches. We were magnifying our civilisation and leaving God on one side. The world crisis would never pass away until we, as an Empire, and the people of the world had got together on these eternal principles. God must be the centre of our life. So long as it put God on one side the world would never know peace. The solution of our international troubles was in the eternal principles of the Christian faith'. Love was the greatest power in the world. It was for individual Christians to see that they were in harmony with God's pifrpose in canning out His will.

Speaking of the responsibility of parents, Bishop Bennett quoted the words of St. Luke: "As Jesus grew older, he gained both in wisdom and statute and in favour with God and man. That was the essence of true education. What were we doing today with our young people and what did they leceive from an intellectual education I | He thought a great deal more should be done for the spiritual side —the building up of spiritual life. He did not forget that many teachers were people of a fine stamp, but many of our schools were bringing up our children as heathens, with no religious instruction. no Bible reading. If religion were absent from, the schools, how much the more necessary it was that fathers and mothers should carry out the duty enjoined in one of the rules of the League of Mothers. Bishop Bennett said he often wondered whether we of today were as far ahead as the old Maori people who had a clear perception of the necessity ol putting divine things in the lead. There was an ancient Maori proverb which might almost be translated as: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all other things shall be added unto you." Some of the old Maori people wore ennui pals, but even in their cannibalism they sought an increase of spiritual power.

Urging parents to use the opportunity. while they had it. of influencing their children for good. Bishop Bennett made apt use of another Maori proverb —one which declared that a flat fish never returned to the place from which it had been disturbed.

Speaking alternately with eloquent and moving power and with merry humour, Bishop Bennett held the close and earnest attention of his hearers. He was applauded.warmly on concluding his address. On behalf of the fathers and mothers present, the Vicar of St. Matthew's, the Rev. E. J. Rich, expressed gratitude to the Bishop for his address. Bishop Bennett. Mr Rich observed, had had a very strenuous time lately, travelling widely over New Zealand. He had come from the far north to be with (hem that evening. Many as were the calls upon the Bishop's time, they Iwould be glad to see him often in Masterton. ,