REACHING UP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 209, 5 September 1938, Page 10

REACHING UP.

HINDU MILLIONS.

VITAL ISSUES FACED.

ADDRESS BY DR. %. JONES.

"Sixty million people in India are j about to change their spiritual moorings and to seek another faith," said Dr. j Stanley Jones, the American missionary, , in addressing an audience of nearly 2000 I in the Auckland Town Hall at midday to-day. He was referring to the future of the Hindus. Their leaders had decided first that they would break with Hinduism, he .-aid. and then they would decide what their new faith should be. They wore now in the first stage. ]t wan a time iif tremendous importance for India. These millions, who had been regarded H-i outcasts, had become the centre of thinking in India. They had power to change the whole cultural balance of that great empire. "f have been in close touch with Dr. Ainbcdkar in the last few years," continued Dr. Jones, referring to the Hindu leader. "I know the direction of his movement. He and those with him are narrowing down the issues which will lead to a decision. Sixty million people are reaching up their hands for a fuller life, for a new destiny, and they are asking what Christianity does for those who follow it. They want something that will satisfy all their social, economic, political and spiritual needs." Clash of Ideas. In the midst of the clash of ideas in India men had risen up from the lowest classes to position* of immense power and leadership, he said, and 25,000 Hindus had already changed their faith and adopted Christianity. Their influence was spreading and a great struggle was developing. The attitude of the Hindus in some respects suggested the realism in the world to-day, he declared. The intellectual position of the world was changhig from the traditional to the scientific, and if the message delivered in the churches did not "click" the great majority of people were not interested in it. The mentality, particularly of youth, had changed, and theoretical answers to questions were no longer accepted. Those who led must be in a position to speak | out of their experience, and so to convince. "For 31 years my faith ha* been smitten on.'' he said, "but while there are scars on it there are no underlying uncertainties. The world is in too serioue a mood to seek for light panaceas. There ie a real struggle of forces shaping themselves towards a great goal, and we should not be interested in the tiny things which are happening on the margin of religion, in the strife*, jealousies and arguments which, prevent ue from seeing the great compelling mission which we should live for." Honesty of Modem Tenth. Christianity was becoming a new vital force with large numbers of people through their search iwr something which "worked," he said. This was the test which was being applied more and more to-day. The old social order in I the world appeared to be breaking down and people were demanding something which wae newer and , more jiwt in Hβ operation. Communists and others who opposed religion had said it was an opium. "Some of it is," he said. "But vital Christianity is more totalitarian than Fascism, Communism, Nazi-ism or anything else that is offered." It had been said that "life begins at forty," he continued. "For me it begins at 54. It .is a glorious adventure, getting better ail the time. I love the honesty of modern youth. It is much more honest than the generation to which I belong. It has a . nose for reality, anS will follow it to the death. Life is only a failure when people live on the principle of self. That brings disappointment*, and the remedy in to change masters and to make & tarrender which costs us all we have."

The speaker was introduced by Dean Fancourt, who pmsided in the absence of the and numerous prominent Auckland churchmen were present.