A REVIVAL OF HOPE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20414, 8 December 1931, Page 11

A REVIVAL OF HOPE.

I BISHOP WEST-WATSON'S LETTER [ ' ' > The splendid part the Church could play in straightening out the conflict of ideals, which is harassing an already distracted world, is indicated in Bishop West-Watson's letter in the latest number of "Church News." "Since I last wrote there has been a notable revival of hope throughout the Dominion with regard to the future," states the letter. "There are still difficult days before us, but we shall meet them with a stouter breast if this hopeful spirit inspires us. Part of our depression has no doubt been due to the exaggerated hopes, contrary to all experience, of prosperity being ushered in by war. I doubt if real prosperity has ever been ushered in by anything but hard work, manna] and mental. In our modern world even these essential factors need to be supplemented by mutual co-operation and understanding among the nations ot the world. ' "To-day no nation can live to itseir, and no nation can even die to itseir. And no goverment can do its duty by other governments unless it has a public with a world-view behind it. People little realise how much the work or Foreign Missions has done to educate millions of Church people in an understanding sympathy with distant nations and peoples, their needs aha aspirations. At the moment world leaders are faced with an almost insoluble dilemma. On the one hand the raising of large armies and high tarin walls seems to promise some sort o temporary prosperity for the presen generation, but for the coming one almost certain and On the other hand the generous struggle for reduction or ar ™ a^e r IV mutual understanding ahd brot » •assistance asks of this generation a ~ patience and endurance, and itfg of a harvest which wiH_ ™ nme . ly reaped by . generations yet t "The League; of Nations and disarmament Conference rally ta thensupport those who is 'Peace on; Earth, men- i God's purpose for our distracted -woria, j

and iiierelorc ;i possible policy. What a .splendid part lies open for the Church to'play in this great conflict of ideals 1 Bot if we are to play our part we must educate ourselves, and especiallv our young, people, in a really Christian view of» 'world poli"tics.' This is a case where not to be a politician is to be a coward. It is one of the acid tests of our present day 'Christianity,' and I am sorry indeed if T hear that any of our organisations are turning aside and refusing to bring their members face to face 'with questions which touch our religion so closely ''