LOST ART OF THINKING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1940, Page 8

LOST ART OF THINKING

A MODERN TRAGEDY TREND TOWARDS MOB PSYCHOLOGY. INTERESTING ADDRESS BY MINISTER. There was a good attendance in the Masterton Y.M.C.A. rooms last night to hear an address by the Rev. J. T. Holland, Vicar of Featherston, under the auspices of the Masterton branch of the League of Nations Union. The Ven. Archdeacon E. J. Rich, vice-presi-dent of the local branch, was in the chair.

Archdeacon Rich apologised for the absence of the president, Mrs T. R. Barren, and Mr J. Robertson, M.P. He emphasised the need of carrying on with the League’s work, stressing the fact that if the League had done no other work than it had accomplished for social welfare it would have justified its existence. “I feel that it is necessary to keep the light burning through these dark days,” he said. “It is one of the tragedies of the modern world that we have lost to a great extent the art of thinking,” stated Mr Holland in speaking on “The Peace of Tomorrow.” We must beware of cowardice in mental strife. There is today much glib talk about the future. We had to think how our ideals could be given effect to. It was no use planning for an ideal world. We had to be prepared to jettison old ideals which we had .treasured so long. We must be honest in our thinking. That was not usually comfortable.”

“Largely as a result of losing the art of thinking there is an increasing trend towards mob psychology. That trend is just as prone here as it is in Germany,” said Mr Holland. He commented on the part played by the Press, the cinema etc., in thinking for the people, with the result that they were ready to follow any leader who gave a definite or popular lead. Thus the people fell easy prey to false or idle ideologies. It was essential that the Christian Church should give a lead. Mr Holland touched briefly on economies. and stated that when food was burnt in South Africa while millions were -starving in India the present system must be wrong. “Now is our opportunity. If we seize it and go forward in the guidance and love of God each one of us will play our part in ensuring that the peace of tomorrow will indeed be peace, justice, freedom and truth for all time,” concluded Mr Holland.

On the motion of Archdeacon Rich a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the speaker for his instructive address.