TRIALS AHEAD.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18681, 3 May 1926, Page 8

TRIALS AHEAD.

• NEW WORLD MOVEMENTS. ADDRESS BY DR. J. R. MOTT. Most interesting references to the r world situation were made by Dr. J. R. 4 }[ o tt. who nddresed a crowded audience e in the Choral Hall jjn Saturday evening. The meeting was held under the " auspices of the New Zealand Student. '• Christian Movement. Professor J. B. Condlitte, who pree sided apologised for the absence of the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) as chairman of the Student Christian Movement, said it gave him pleasure to welcome Dr. Mott, its world leader. Bishop Wo.st-Wntsi.'ii said that there be some kinship between Dr. jlott's country and New Zealand. His ancestors and those of the people of the Dominion had left ilie Homeland in search of greater freedom and a wider life. Students were puzzled and worried by the great problems facing the world, and Dr. Mott, who was a man of international weight and had a great experience, was able to givo them valuable guidance in the Spirit of Christ. Prolonged applause greeted Dr. Mott. , Ho said that he had visited Christj church 30 years before, and again in ]90,3. It was a remarkable coincidence that on both previous occasions his visits bad been made in the first week . of 3fnr. To him the interval had seemed a vast nge. "What a different world they had to-day! They had fear, distrust, irritation, and the want of fundamental unity. The friction points between the nations had multiplied, and they were in an impossible condition economically. Millions of people who were now living would have very little happiness, so heavy was the load they had to hear. He had been saddened by what he had seen in Asia recently, and by the immense numlier of men under arms. In almost every country in Asia there was a military dictatorship. He was not a pacifist, but he knew the great influence for good resulting from the Washington disarmaments conference. Another such conference was inevitable. When he was in Japan he found a widespread | movement against militarism. New forces were being brought into play as substitutes for the forces of militarism. Other great forces were the religious movements —not only Christianity, but those of other religions. "The world, as I see it to-night, is in peril, my friends." said Dr. Mott. He referred to the diseases which disregarded frontiers and the work confronting , every altruist. ' Bolshevism Condemned. Possibly one-twentieth of the political principles of Bolshevism were worthy of admiration, but ninetoen-twentieths should be regarded as a malignant disease. He related his experiences in Russia during the revolution, and recalled seeing 14-3 street meetings in Petrograd alone. Greater than the political perils wore the moral perils. On the slerflTer shoulders of the youths who had survived the war was settling down a heavy burden. Nothing alarmed him more on his visit to Asia than the fact that a generation was growing up without well-conceived guiding principles. The sharp edge of moral distinctions had been blunted, and the influence of the old religions was dying. Europe wsa very sick, as were also Latin South America and parts of Africa. He would join issue with anyone who said that Europe was dying.: Across the breadth of the-world old nations were being re-born. It was •' a wonderful time to live and to travel. The nations were plastic and in n state of flux —the world was molten, liquidbub the plastic state would end, and in what moulds should the world settle? Would it be in materialism, and militarism or in altruism and brotherhood? China he had thought a Gibraltar against Western influences, but ho had .found it one of the most changing of the nations. On a previous visit he had felt like being in a stuffy room, hut lately it was more like being in an open room with plenty of ventilation. "Give China ten years of freedom from foreign exploitation," he said, "and she will ma.ke good." Some of the- best of her sons and daughters were being educated in the Universities of the world—unfortunately many harl gone to Russia, and were studying in the Universities of the' Bolsheviks. He had met Feng-Yu-Hsiang, the Christian General of China, and .remembered how many, of bis soldiers were straining for guidance and life! China had her mind made up 1 that she was going to be- in charge in ; her own house.

The Most Plastic Nation. Russia to-day was the most plastio nation on the map—therein lay th© danger. It was difficult, to understand Russia, but not hard to believe in the Russians. No land more than that country held the 'fate of the coming years. At present she had blind leaders of the blind tumbling people into ditches, but soon people who were outside her borders would come in and guide her destinies. China was passing through great revolutions in her march towards democracy. The anti-religions movement did not cause him consternation—anything was better than indifference—and this was the last thing that could be alleged against her.

The Way Out. The nations to-day were cblistened, and some even humbled to the dust. There were many signs which gave him encouragement, and he could not be a pessimist. "What is the way out?" the peoples were asking. Wise guides and' unselfish teachers were needed. After over thirty years of incessant travel, in which he had seen 58 nations, he found they were still expectant. Every backward and oppressed nation was to-day on its toes > tingling with new aspirations for a freer ana better life.

Student 'Movements. There was an element that was very determined. He referred to the youths in the universities and higher schools. They were going to place themselves at the head of great, unselfish causes. Nothing gave him more hope than this. Extending throughout the colleges and universities was the great Christian student movement. In this stupendous hour it was working at the frictiou points, .and blending the nations. Certain guiding principles, as unerring as the North Star, had been adopted by the movement. One of them was the inherent worth of .all the nations, and another was the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. None of these was possible before the birth of Christ. Viscount Grey had said that what was necessary was the inorahYation of international relations. He had had impressions of the Washington disarmaments conference from members of the Japanese delegation. .After the diplomats had done their work, the field was open for the religions _ organisations. They would fill with living content the external arrangements made by tho League of Nations between the peoples.

Soviet and Religion. The Soviet was trying to rear a nation in the belief that religion was the opiate of the people, and was carrying on a relentless campaign against it. The first plank in the platform of the Christian student movement was international thinking, feeling, and action. No longer could a nation be a law unto itself. The men who used their wills in promoting international amity were

the most valuable—'"Blessed are the peacemakers,'' with the emphasis on the last word. . He had been among n nation which indoctrinated its children with a feeling of revenge. Every meeting was closed by the repetition of a formula which he would not repeat, but which indicated the national mind. If there was to bo a colossal result, there must bo a great cause. Every effort for good must be concentrated on the plastic minds of the growing children. Their tendencies were niuch more for good than for bad. and, whatever else they .neglected, they must not neglect the children. All selfish cliques and racial imoharitableness must be fought. ''Loth to differ, but determined to understand" should be their motto. . The causes of war should be tackled, and immigrants should bo befriended. He referred to the great human tide from Asia and parts of Europe to the more favoured lands. The present generation of students should be confronted with tasks great enough to stir their imagination and tragic enough to arouse them from apathy: Colossal tasks lay before the most heroic and best-equipped students, in Christianising the contact of the Western nations with those which were non-Christian. The' golden moment had arrived. The gaze of man should be rivetted upon the face of Christ, who was the generating [lower of movements that- would never die. (Applause.) In' moving a vote of thanks, Mr H. D. Acland said they had listened to a wonderful address. The motion was carried by acclamation. i

AT THE CATHEDRAL.

"RETURNING TIDE OF FAITH." Hundreds of men, women, a,nd children filled the Christchurch Cathedral yesterday afternoon when Dr. Mott delivered ail intensely interesting address to the assembly. Long before 3 o'clock the Cathedral was .every available seat being occupied; while the aisles were crowded with persons standing. Following the song, "The Church's One Foundation,", which opened the service, Professor J. B. Condliffe read as-the lesson from the XXlst chapter of the Book of Revelations. Bishop WestWatson then led in prayer, after which ho introduced Dr. Mott, saying:"'We thank God that this man, who had the opportunity to do the .wonderful work he has accomplished throughout theworld, seized it as he did. Now he comes to us with a world message of encouragement and hope." With a voice that, made the Cathedral echo dully, and drew every eye to the pulpit, Dr. Mott spoke of a great rising tide of opportunity ; of a powerful returning tide of faith throughout the world. In all his year 3of travel he believed there was no time like the present for the Church. All the old foundations were being re-examined; and customs and traditions were being investigated as to their validity. That which was now-sweeping the worlc, was a rising tide of interest, manifested by. enquiry, manifestation, discussion and reading. It was a rising tide of faith. "Greatest Missionary Statesman.'• Reference to Dr. Mott is made in the latest issue of the "Church News." It states that Bishop West-Watson has known Dr. Mott for over thirty years and believes him to be one of th© greatest missionary statesmen of modern times—a man of great spiritual force even at his present age, which is 60 years.