“ART AND WAR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 February 1942, Page 2

“ART AND WAR”

EXPRESSION OF SPIRITUAL LIFE CONFLICT BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. ADDRESS AT ROTARY CLUB. “Art and War” was the subject of an address given at today’s luncheon of the Masterton Rotary Club by Mr A. E. Clemas. The theme of his address, said Mr Clemas, was that expressed by President Roosevelt, that art and other kindred societies should in no way relax their activities during the present trying times, and should endeavour to extend their efforts, as they, as the guardians of their privileges, should see that the legacy they passed on was in no wise less or inferior to that they had received. War, he said, was much the same in all ages and in all places. All that was worst and all that was best in man came to the surface. No theme offered wider scope to the author or the artist. Mr Clemas proceeded to draw the parallel he desired from history and gave instances of how artists had created unrivalled masterpieces out of the horrors of war or sordid events in which spiritual expression of life and hope were uppermost. In the war between good and evil it was often so. Hitler might rob, murder and trample under foot the oppressed people whom his spawn of hell had mowed down but their faith in ultimate deliverance was the Resurrection that would see their liberation and Hitler’s doom. The faint glow of hope which smouldered in their hearts would one day fan into a brighter light of the coming dawn—-the dawn of a new day when the tired weary, war-wrecked world would once again enjoy peace and security. In that peace and security they would once again enjoy the fruits of art, music, drama and literature. “Until that day, said Mr Clemas, “let us hold on and carry on.”