“A Sick Society”

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31028, 6 April 1966, Page 16

“A Sick Society”

Sir, —Unfortunately, because of the nature of the reporting where one sentence is given undue prominence, Mrs Woods is being condemned for what was a really challenging address to those listening, and probably her critics would have felt this, too, had they been present and heard the whole of it. Unless, of course, the rising rate of illegitimacy and juvenile delinquency means nothing to them! Last week it was reported that 10 per cent of babies born in New Zealand are illegitimate (not to mention those born in the early months of marriage), and surely this is confirmation enough that moral standards are slipping. Could it be that the complacency of those criticising Mrs Woods’s statement is a contributing factor, or are they able to accept this trend without a qualm?— Yours, etc., FRANCES G. OXLEY, Registrar, N.C.C. Women’s Committee Inter • Church School. April 5, 1966.

Sir.—One would have thought that “Synodsman,” such an obvious devotee of R. A. Lowe’s brand of so-call-ed manly religion, would have had the guts to sign its name. However, 1 shall be pleased to supply it with the text of my mother’s remarks, in which it will find no mention whatever of either sex or beer.—Yours, etc., C. S. WOODS. April 5, 1966.

Sir, —“Synodsman” was not brave enough to sign his name under that most unfair and ridiculous attack on women in the church. Turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the sin and misery in the world is not going to solve anything. We churchwomen must try not to be smug and self-righteous—and that goes for men, too.—Yours, etc.. M. ARCHER. April 5, 1966.

Sir, —I agree whole-heart-edly with Mrs Woods. Our town, of which we are so proud, is a long way from being a model* city. You have

only to see the public houses lined outside with cars, the young people with their eternal cigarettes and their preoccupation with sex, and read the shocking things in our daily papers, which happen so regularly that we are becoming accustomed and almost hardened to them. What a world for this generation of young people to grow up in! How can they avoid the pitfalls of evil that await them, tempting them, bullying them into its murky depths? The public conscience must awaken to the dangers to which all this is leading, and make some effort to avert the terrible consequences. Could we not have a day of prayer and start from there? "For the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save.”—Yours, etc., DANGER AHEAD. April 5, 1966.

Sir, — When “Citizen” shuffles back to conditions of 60 years ago and uses the churches as a provocative parallel, this calls for further comment. It would appear that the really sick society began when people were lured away from their churches by the low cunning of a godless creed. Their false and flabby philosophy is still playing havoc with society everywhere. Christians do not regard these veterans of gobbledegook as personal enemies: we are .all of God’s brother hood. Peace is something more than a pawn in a cynical game for world power. The churches go deeper into man’s nature and find the causes of war there, and tackle the problem at its source. The achievement of a good society—the just social order, the world at peace—all depend upon the recognition of God’s laws.—Yours, etc., CLARION CALL. April 4, 1966.