APPEAL TO CHRISTIANS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 93, 13 January 1939, Page 13

APPEAL TO CHRISTIANS

Church In Czechoslovakia 'When some months ago heavy clouds began to gather over their country, the Federation of the Evangelical Churches in the Czecholovak Republic turned to the Christian Churches of the world with an outcry for the defence of right and humlq?heJ’Rev. F. Greenwood,. Seatoun, has juet received a statement issued by the Council of the Synod of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren and the John Hus Faculty of Theology to the Christian world at large on the subject. “The process of our humiliation and mutilation is over,’’ the statement reads. “Today not only German territory is being occupied by German soldiers but alS’O that territory where from times immemorial have dwelt those who have spoken the Czech tongue. One of the oldest boundaries of Europe, if not the oldest, which has for 1000 years served as a ba l ' rl «'; against invaders, has been ruthlessly torn down. And who can fathom the depth of the wounds that have wounded our souls? The loss of territory, though very grievous, is nothing compared with the terrible wounds inflicted •on our people, and on our faith in the power of truch and of goodwill in the world. The faith in covenants and treaties, in pledged words, and solemn promises was shaken. “It is of this that we wish to remind the churches and individual Christians, whose conscience has not been deadened. Never has the abyss between the ideals ot Christianity and national politics been so deep and wide as during these days. We beg them to realize the fur-reach mg effects of the terrible international catastrophe, both political and spiritual, the tale of which will be written in history in terrible letters. Country Betrayed. “What will be the effects of it all? Thousands of Czechoslovak citizens will be deprived of their existence. They left all in tlie home that now belongs to a strange land, and are fleeing into a crippled and poverty-stricken country. Governments decided the transfer, but they left our helpless people to their fate, privation and soinetimees even death. Ao one knows into what depths, economically and morally, our nation has been thrown, so terribly disappointed and humbled. Our country was betrayed into the hands ot its mighty neighbour, and in its innermost being feels that those who thus decided were using methods which are leading to a victory of violence and selfishness.

"Religious work in Czechoslovakia, which was our joy and pride since the beginning of the free State, has been deeply shaken. The Czech Brethren Church is losing a large number ol its congregation, some of which have existed since 1781. Mission work will be curtailed. We are afraid that, morally crippled, our people will be weak before tlie onslaughts of ’’anti-Semitism, of vulgar nationalism and of the belief in a violent reaction.

“Even though our words sound bitter, we speak to you without auger, as unto brothers in faith and love. We humble ourselves before Gori iu such times of trial aud fire and pray and plead for help to stand fast in the faith. We commend unto His keeping both ourselves and the Czechoslovak nation, and will not cease believing that God the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will iu the end bring righteonsnerw. justice and truth to victory.”

Pleading guilty in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday to Her seventh offence of drunkenness within the past six months, Constance Louisa Clemente, domestic-, aged 43, was convicted by Mr. ,7. L. Stout, S.M., and sentenced to one month's imprisonment.