CHRISTIAN DUTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 35, 11 February 1935, Page 8

CHRISTIAN DUTY.

POST-WAR WORLD. ARCHBISHOP'S JUBILEE. SERVICES AT ST. MARY'S. "It is the duty of Christian men and women to oppose the principle of war, just as selfish, narrow nationalism, which defies the State and dethrones God. is to be opposed," said the Primate, Archbishop Averill. speaking nt a special service held in St. Mary's Cathedral Church last evening, to commemorate the silver jubilee of his episcopate. Twenty-five years ago, on January 1(1, tlie Archbishop became Bishop- of Waiapu, and 21 years ago yesterday lie was enthroned Bishop of Auckland. Archbishop Averill celebrated Holy Communion yesterday morning, and at a service later Archdeacon MacMiirray paid a tribute to him. The Archbishop was the speaker at the evening service, at which the lessons were read by Archdeacon MacMiirray and tlie Rev. J. M. Beaufort, and the prayers said by Canon W. Fancourt. A To Deum of thanksgiving was given.- the organist at the service being Mr. Edgar Randal. The world, said the Archbishop, was Buffering from the aftermath of the war, and the Church had to face new and changed conditions. They were face to face with the remaking of the world, and the change was often painful. The Church had to be firm in its beliefs, and should be involved neither in party nor ecclesiastical politics. Appeal to the Young. He made an appeal to the young. Life which lacked natural restraint was not that of a human being, but was animal life, he said. '"Beware of those books which the Bishop of London has called 'books Written by non moral high-brows.' We have a duty to God. Nothing is more important in these days than the witness of God.". The -Archbishop said that those who did not do their duty in their witness were bringing about disintegration, and he again appealed to the younger generation to recognise its duty. He believed tne world was passing through a temporary phase, and lie honestly believed that the foundations of religion and Christianity were never so secure as today. The Bible, properly understood, 'stood firmer to-day than it ever stood, and the great truth's wore an impregnable rock. The conflict between science and religion was no longer a bugbear. Surely both could work together until they realised that their lines were converging.