ABOUT DISLOYALISTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 69, 15 December 1919, Page 15

ABOUT DISLOYALISTS

RET. T Fj TAYLOR'S PLAIN SPEAKING "LET THEM LEAVE THE COUNTRY" A GREAT TRUSTEESHIPFearlessly and with conviction ringing in every tone, the. Rev. 'J l . Feilder Taylor attacked the "lied Flag" from tho highest of all planes, in the course of his weekly sermon in die King's Theatre last evening. Every scat in the theatre was occupied, and the big audience listened to tho minister's remarks with rapt attention, especially during tho passage in which lie pointed out that the disloyalists who would not acknowledge their country or their responsibilities could "get out!" At tho outset Mr. Taylor, who spoke on "Religion and Patriotism," pointed out that we were all members of a social system which wo never invented, and which wo never asked for. L.it through which we reaped certain privileges and advantages. Man conkl not live alone. Man and the social system were inexplicably and irretrivabiy mixed up, and he could not become a unit Imving no effect on tho whole, even if he wanted to. As a boy and as a member of a largo family he had early realised that there was only ono way to avoid his responsibilities, and that was to "get out." Two ofytlio members of his family did get out. That was the only way he could sen to avoid disturbance in the family in which one lived. "You •yi'tl soon see," added Mr. Taylor, significantly, "what 1 am driving at"! Proceeding, Mr. Taylor iveftt on to point out that as a Britisher ho had learned to realise that 'ho had inherited certain great and glorious privileges which entailed certain respon-sibilities—God-appointed responsibilities. Tho Empire was only an aggrandised family, and as a far-flung port of it, did wo in New Zealand realise the security by land mid by sea which it afforded us? One of tho most remarkable stories of tito war was that out of •!! New' Zealand Reinforcement* not a single one went to tho bottom. Not once during the war wcro our imported foodstuffs stopped. Security was our privilege—our inheritance. Of this sccuritv the rank and file were almost unconscious, bccauso it was never broken. We possessed security almost anywhere in the wide ivorld wo might travel because we were Britishers—our very citizenship protected us. In tiie British Empire was imposed a .God-given trusteeship, carrying with it great responsibilities which none should shirk. , "Dangerous Ground!" "I am going now," continued the padre, "to tread on dangerous'ground. First of all 1 recognise the right nf freedom of thought. A man may hold what opinions he wishes so long as he sincerely holds them. Thero are wr.nc who live j in our Empire—an Empire built up by others—who enjoy tho protection oi' our Empire, purchased with the blood of others, who cat the food securcd to them by tho Empire's money, and .viio enjoy the privileges made passible by the Empire, but who disclaim their Empire's responsibilities—tho Empire's trusteeship. They claim to bo attached to the ilag called, the Red Flag. They call it international. They were active before thu war. Before tho war they exposed Territorial training. During the war they Fought to hinder men going io the war." Mr. Taylor went en. to sfslo I hat tiic.y sang the song of tho Republic and ignored the National Anthem. They wcro opposed to the question of the Empire's trusteeship. They lefused to acknowledge the Empire, yet they were living in n land won aril kept by tne blcod of others. "What, position." lie asked, "aitthey in when they disclaim the flag? 1 say tliev mil leave the 'fMi'dr if they like. The Empire is only n British family, and if it does not suit them they may leave. I am not questioning their sincerity, bvt let them leave us niono, so that fre may grow without interfT. ence. Let t'lem have tlif-ir way: let them sing their 'Red Flag' instead of the National Anthem., It is their business, but we have an Empire to guard— ,i trusteeship to fulfil. That is our business. ... I am not urging you to take steps. I stand to-night as a mail who sees disruptive'forces in the family, and when thero are disruptive forces at ■work what family ran live AVhnt happens when the family life is :n damrer? Division can only spell one word, "and tliat is disnster. lam hoping that I have said enough to lot you see the full resnonsibility of our great trusteeship. We have work to do. in moulding the destiny of tho world. A groat inheritance is in your hands. Will you realise your great trusteeship and add to your inheritance, or will you nass it on to the next generation a soiled and tattered thing? . . . Can you disclaim your home ; can you ciisclnim your town, can you disclaim your country, can you disclaim your Empire and not besmirch its honour? I believe that in spite of all difficulties you will rise as a body of men and sco that we ii?o to a full sense of our responsibilities and accept our trusteeship."