REHABILITATION OF SERVICEMEN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24592, 14 June 1945, Page 6

REHABILITATION OF SERVICEMEN

PROBLEMS FOR CHURCH ADDRESS BY RETURNED CHAPLAIN “You must sit where they sit,’’-said the Rev. D. B. Thorpe, vicar of St. Augustine’s Church, Cashmere, a returned chaplain, when he addressed a conference of laymen of the Presbytery of Christchurch on the part of the church in the repatriation of men from the services. The church had a very real part to play, Mr Thorpe said, but he believed that the men returning from overseas would, themselves, have a valuable contribution to make to the spiritual rehabilitation of New Zealand. Overseas, away from one s country, there was ample time to think about what men were fighting for, and, most important, all things began to fall into their true perspective. Those who had served in the Middle East would be influenced by many comparisons—the difference between life in New Zealand and the many sects in the East, the brotherhood of Christian men from many countries, thrown together by force of circumstance, and the team spirit of the unit compared with private life and competition at home. The Bible became real in visits to historic places, the reality of God became more apparent in worship in the field where there was none of the usual props of church, organ, and choir. Men also came to a firm realisation of the value of vigorous leadership which sometimes was lost sight of in limited considerations of democracy. After working together as a team for the achievement of a positive end, there seemed a great lack of purpose in many aspects of civilian life. The co operative spirit and unity of life seemed missing and religious and other differences seemed unimportant. Many would be overcome by a feeling ox frustration because they had been bent so long on destruction and had not been building anything worthwhile. In this respect, news of constructive progress at home was most heartening to men overseas, and strikes and other troubles seemed entirely out of line. Some, whose lives had been upset by the unfaithfulness of wives and sweethearts, would have developed hard cynicism (although there might be equal cause for complaint on the part of the womenfolk). There were members who had held positions of responsibility and had been on secret duties, about which they ■ could not speak, who would be under a different kind of strain. Others might be filled with remorse at some episode occurring in reaction after the heat of battle. Prisoners of war, who had undergone great privation, would require still a different type of understanding. Some servicemen would feel concerned at the stained hands of battle and others would show the effects of disease and wounds. Still others would be suffering from pure boredom, being unfit for active service and yet not being sufficiently ill to be sent home. They would perhaps spend months in apparently purposeless duty and entirely lose heart. The church must be ready to offer a genuine fellowship and understanding which would carry such men over until they had found their new place in civilian life. It would require men and women of great tact and sympathy to help returned men in such situations. „