" THE LAX IDEALS OF PEOPLE TO-DAY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 280, 25 November 1937, Page 13

" THE LAX IDEALS OF PEOPLE TO-DAY."

Archbishop Averill's Address to Mothers.

"What we want in the world to-day ie a few more narrow-minded jteople," said Archbishop AveVill in an address on the present day moral standards given to the members of the Diocese of Auckland Mothers' Union at their annual festival eervice held in St. Mary's Cathedral yesterday afternoon. The Archbishop continued to discuss the present conditions and temptations in regard to the lowering of moral standards and ideals. "Mother*," he said, "should not be afraid of having the charge of narrow minded ness made against them. There is undoubtedly a very ineidioue temptation to acquiesce in cutting down man'* bill of indebtness to God on the grounds that God's laws and will are too severe for these modem days, and that it would be better for the Chinch to lower her standards and come down to the world'e level."

The Archbishop continued to explain how this line of least resistance could never be accepted by men- and women desirous of doing God'e. will without dishonouring their consciences and proving themeelvee traitors. The Archbishop discussed the cases of individuals and nations who had professed to reject God altogether. In spite of this defiance, he said, they knew perfectly well that God's law wae definite and eternal, and that it could not change with the changing worldly conditions and ideals. Self-will and God'e will could never harmonise, and since that they coiild choose only one there were people who preferred to reject God. "Nevertheless," said the Archbishop, "we cannot change a definite law to square with the lax ideals of to-day."

t In speaking of the Mothers' Union the Archbishop urged all mothers to give their children the benefits of a Christian home life. I-t wes not poeeible for children to grow up with any real armour to protect them against the temptations to lead a purely animal life, unleee the atmosphere of the home and the parente provided them with this armour. There was no greater power in the world, he continued, than that of a Christian home, and churches and schools] could never be a proper siilwtitute. In conclusion, the Archbwhop urged the Mothers' Union members to have the moral courage to meet all attempts to lower certain set standards of moral and spiritual behaviour. Ho expressed the hope that the great ideal** of Christian women of the Mother*. , Union would do much to create a healthier opinion on moral questions, which so much needed an antidote to the present-day moral laxity.

The festival began in the morning with the celebration of Holy Communion, at which, despite the heavy rain, over 400 members were present. The Cathedral was packed in the afternoon. After the afternoon service members were entertained at tea in the adjoining schoolroom.