"PAGAN GODS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 209, 5 September 1939, Page 10

"PAGAN GODS."

GERMAN ALTARS REBUILT.

CHRISTIAN MESSAGE OF HOPE. "Since the Great War Germany has rebuilt the altars of its pagan gods," said the Rt. Rev. T. E. Riddle, moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, in a message given before leaving for Australia. At the Central Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia to be held in Melbourne, he will represent Xe«v Zealand.

"Germany has organised to let the people believe that every thought of the Fuehrer is equal to the voice of God," said Mr. Riddle. "It has set his book as their Bible in their churches. It has denied liberty of thought and faith, and now comes the reaping. The age-old spiritual fight between the will of the self and the will of God has been fought out anew in the life of the nation.

"With thankfulness we realise that our rulers have used every endeavour to keep to the way of discussion for the removal of difficulties, but in the face of broken faith and glorified self the way of righteousness has not prevailed.

'"Beyond disaster there is life; behind the confusion of the seen there is hope. In the hearts of men of truth and goodwill lives the Spirit of the Living Christ. In the hour when He faced His tragedy He could say to His troubled followers, 'My peace I give unto you. In Me you can have peace. Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.' That is the only message that can bring comfort to troubled people to-day.''