Good Samaritan Society

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30593, 9 November 1964, Page 8

Good Samaritan Society

The Good Samaritan Society had been founded as a practical demonstration toward the promotion of the cause of Christian unity, said a spokesman for the society.

“We would like to thank you for your editorial comment on the recently formed society, he told “The Press.” “Like yourself, we hope the idea will spread and are therefore most appreciative of the support of your paper. “We should like, however, to clarify a fundamental issue vital for an understanding of the society. In your article you state that ‘its members, who will not serve as Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, or Methodists, but just as good neighbours, will help the aged, infirm, and weak in the district . . .’

“This may lead to a misunderstanding of the nature of our venture. The society is not an effort of mere goodneighbourliness, nor is it an association of people who wish to do good but who sit loosely to church affiliation. It hopes rather to be continually inspired and upheld by a profoundly Christian and Church spirit of love; a love shown by Jesus Christ and inspired ever since by Him in His followers in spite of their human failures and frailties. “We are convinced that this is different from neighbourliness in being more demanding: in fact, making demands which are ridiculous and impossible except to a Christian. For Christianity demands a persistent love not

only for friendly and nice neighbours who might be expected to return favours at some time, but most of all a love for unfriendly, unpleasant, difficult, unresponsive and ungrateful people.

“Our concern for others is a religious humanitarianism founded on our love and devotion to Christ, Our Lord, and energised by His love working in and through us to overcome the difficulties and obstacles which such a venture will inevitably encounter.”