CALL TO SCOTTISH PEOPLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 3

CALL TO SCOTTISH PEOPLE

“SHAPING THE FUTURE.” A St. Andrew's Day “call to the Scottish people" was recently issued by 12 prominent Scotsmen. It states:— St. Andrew’s Day brings Scotsmen together all over the world. What can be our contribution in these anxious times to save civilisation from collapse? If we do our duty, the present uneasy respite may become the turning point in history; a new spirit may overcome the world. It is evident from the way in which crisis has followed crisis that we have not yet faced the fundamental causes of world unrest. We have followed too long the dead-end policy of blaming other people, other classes, other nations. That we have been so close to shipwreck is tragic evidence of spiritual bankruptcy. We have relied on material resources almost to the exclusion of the spiritual energies on which alone true life can be built The appeal is being made oy national leaders in many countries for moral and spiritual rearmament. Inner discipline, founded on absolute honesty and unselfishness, must liberate us from a false philosophy, a socalled freedom based on moral anarchy. Obedience to God must replace self-will and slavery to convention. This higher loyalty will surmount differences of class, creed, and faction. So armed, so united, a nation can face the future with assurance.

This small country of Scotland holds a unique place among the nations, for she has given leadership to the world out of all proportion to her size. A turbulent spirit combined with an unquenchable thirst for things unknown has driven her sons and daughters to every corner of the earth. But this is no time to rest on past achievements; we must bend all our energy and faith to the shaping of the future. The pioneers of yesterday pitted themselves against the rugged forces of nature, and won. The pioneers of to-day must conquer the lawless forces of human nature.

In town and village the soul of Scotland is stirring again at the call of an enterprise greater by far than the crossing of continents, and the launching of mighty ships. Moral and spiritual rearmament calls forth that strength of character which has always been Scotland’s greatest wealth. It demands for its fulfilment a nobler effort and self-sacrifice than Scotland has yet required of her sons. The voice of God must become the will of the people. The signatories are: —The Earl of Airlie, the Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale, Sir lain Colquhoun, Bt., of Luss, Mr. P. J. Dollan, Labour Lord Provost of Glasgow; Sir John Fraser, Regius Professor of Clinical Surgery, Edinbugh University: Mr. W. Hamilton Fyfe, Principal and Vice-Chan-cellor of Aberdeen University; Lieu-tenant-General Sir Charles Grant. Commander-in-Chief. Scottish Command; Sir Hector Hetherington, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. Glasgow University; the Earl of Home, K.T.. Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire; Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel; Sir John Boyd Orr, Director of the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen; Sir Cecil M. Weir, chairman of the council of management of the Empire Exhibition.