WAR OF IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1940, Page 4

WAR OF IDEAS

PEOPLE READY TO FACE RECONSTRUCTION FAITH IN .CHRISTIANITY. BISHOP OF WELLINGTON SPEAKS IN MASTERTON. There was a large gathering in the St. Matthew’s Parish Hall last night, when the Masterton League of Mothers held its annual Fathers’ Night function. The president, Mrs L. B. Maunsell, was in the chair. Many apologies for absence were received. An address was delivered by the Rt. Rev H. St. Barbe Holland, Bishop of Wellington. The combined League Choir, which included choirs from Masterton, Carterton and Greytown, was heard to advantage in choral items under the baton of Mrs Miller Hope. Mrs E. J. Coleman was the -accompaniste. Mesdames Snowsill, Heyden and Speight responded to an encore for an artistically rendered trio. Miss D. Jamieson was in her usual good form and was encored for the patriotic songs she contributed. Mesdames Snowsill and Burke also rendered a duet. Following prayers for peace at the commencement of the proceedings, all present stood in silence as a mark of sympathy with Mrs W. Gemmell in the death of her son. “The world today is the scene of the most terrible clash it has ever known —a clash of ideas,” stated the Bishop of Wellington in the course of his address. “The war of ideas is not a mere episode in the hostilities of today, but the hostilities of today are a mere episode in the war of ideas,” he continued. It was nonsense to say that NewZealand was not really in the war. The war was being fought in the hearts and minds of all. The clash of ideas was real and as active here as in the heart of London. There was an urgent need for all to pull together and move together in thought on the way of progress. The cauldron in which the world found itself today had been heated up by two new forces —the revolution of destruction and the revolution of construction. The Bishop then referred to the evidence contained in letters he had received from people in bombed London of the readiness shown for the revolution of construction which was arising from the Nazi revolution of destruction. He quoted many examples of steadfast faith in the ultimate power of Christianity to emerge from the dark days of war “The last war was not in the same street as this one,” said Bishop Holland. “This one is a contest between two irreconcilably opposed philosophies of life.” He emphasised that none could answer the question of what had made the world go wrong after the last war. The outcome of this war should, and would be different.

Bishop Holland urged all parents to prepare their children for the revolution of construction which had to be faced by the coming generation in their efforts to create a better world than had been created by their parents and grandparents. The reconstruction had to be faced up to and the time was approaching when all Christians had to ask themselves the question, were they prepared to go back to the way of living in the years before the outbreak of war? A. Christian could not and would not wish to go back to the old order. The future stabilisation of world peace rested in the Christian youth of the world —peace could never be secured by “isms" but by following the leadership of Christ. ’ On the motion of Mr C. R. Mabson. Bishop Holland was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The supper hostesses were the president, vice-presidents and committee of the league.