Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1919. NATION'S RELIGION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9652, 8 July 1919, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1919. NATION'S RELIGION.

Whatever may be the 'ordinary experiences of. churches,; large attendances are invariably secured on occasions when people are especially prompted to acknowledge a debt to, or dependence on, the Almighty, which seems to disprove the allegations made that we are a God-less and sceptical nation, living solely for material thing's, and believing only what we can see and. dissect. Such an opportunity for national worship was available on: Sunday, when by Royal, invitation, the Empire united in acclaiming the King of Kings for the help rendered" to the Allies' cause during the recent strife and in seeking Divine guidance in connection with post-war problems. The history of the Empire can only be explained by a belief in One who shapes our ends, rough-hew "them how we will, and so far as human understanding can foresee, no overwhelming disaster ban deprive the Empire of its glories whilst British .nations remain stedfast in the endeavours to.uphold right and justice for; others as well as themselves. t Tile, oftdenounced irreligion of the British people is mainly nominal;, empty churches are not always so through the faults of those who should be sitting in the pews or seats. So long as preachers specialise on the merits or difficulties of the. earlier Israelites, ignoring the virtues and problems of the present generation, so long will their appeal be. addressed to a limited circle. Whilst church services are modelled so that few present can really take part, it is inevitable that excuses for evading public worship will be easy to find. In mundane affairs, slavish adherence to methods of long ago brings ruin; the principles of honest commerce alter little, but the details continually change, chiefly because the customers of the present day have wants different to those of their, forefathers. It is a mistake to think that modern-day people have no desire tor religion, and few will deny the Rev. J. Yealie's assertion that to disbelieve in religion requires more faith than belief in it. Peace thanksgiving and vsimilar services should inspire both clergy and laity, the former particularly, who are once more shown that the British,'at heart, are still the most God-fearing of all nations, eager to respond to any appeal that is rightly applied.