PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20915, 24 July 1933, Page 8

PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS.

A RACE STRONG IN FAITH

VIEWS OF ARCHBISHOP JILil'S

"When we think of what the race of the Jews is enduring in Germany to-day we realise that it is the evei - lasting hope of the coming of the Kingdom of God that is keeping the Jews alive and valiant. Long has this race been persecuted, but its members are full of faith in the Lord and they set an example to every creature under the roof ot Heaven," said Archbishop Julius, preaching at the patronal service at St. James's Church, Riccarton, yesterday morning. "Their hope has been kept aiive through the centuries, and it is the means of salvation. People thought the end of the world was coming when Jerusalem was destroyed, but that was not so. The people were heartened as to the future. They lifted up their heads and looked for the Kingdom amidst a welter of confusion comparable to that existing to-day. All through the years the Church has lived with a grand hope,.and, with such a kindling spirit in their breasts, the people can bear a great deal of sorrow. Dangers to Civilisation.

"Who would have thought. 30 years ago, that our grand civilisation was in danger of passing away? Who would have dreamed that the knowledge and experience of all these ages was in extreme danger? We arc in the same position again to-day. There is another crisis. It may be that the sun will shine out of the clouds, but world affairs are very grave. We .sniffed at the Chinese, and laughed at the Japanese. We thought we were the lords of creation, but were merely making nuisances of ourselves. The white man has been humbled, for he has found that the weapons he has made can be used just as well by others. Indeed, his day may be done for all I know and the yellow or the black man's day may come. The things upon which we have relied are crumbling away. Here we are with more food than we know about, and there are people who do not know how to get it. All round us there is turmoil and confusion. It is a dreadful time, and yet we go about lowering one another's temperature as much as possible. It is all in entire contravention of the teaching of Christ. The coming of the kingdom may be 20,000 years away, but we must retain our great hope and remember that God has not forsaken us. He is working out His purpose and we must be content.

A Message of Hope. "To-day the people of this church are keeping a festival as a part of the great Church of God throughout the world. Our job is to keep the lamp lighted and to maintain a hope ever rich and strong. The 'good times' of the church have never been during her prosperity, but during her times of tribulation. She has given of her best when she has been broken and poor. It is your duty to-day to cheer the whole world and to give out a gospel of hope. In all this trouble God can help to enliven a dull world and strengthen the weak and suffering. It is not our statesmen — poor dear souls, nor our politicians, God help them—but the goodness of the heart of the ordinary man and woman that can carry us through these times. Again I say, no matter what powers there be against us, the Kingdom of God is coming." Christ began His ministry by going forth and preaching the gospel that the Kingdom of God was at hand. The phrase was a familiar one, and the Old Testament was full of it, added the Archbishop. "You can never understand the New Testament unless you read it in the light of the Old Testament," he concluded. "Christ amplified and enriched the message and passed it on to the people. We must do the same.''