WHAT THE NATION WANTS

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 47, 23 February 1917, Page 3

WHAT THE NATION WANTS

A RELIGIOUS AWAKENING

SOCIAL POSITION CRITICISED

SOME PLAIN SPEAKING

Social conditions, particularly as they stand in the light of the present war, were dealt with in very forcible language by the Rev. A. C. Lawry, President of the Methodist Conference, in his retiring address, delivered at the Taranaki-street Church last night. The church wascrowded, and the speaker was followed with closest attention. In the course of his lengthy remarks, the speaker asked: What of our Government? and proceeded to supply the answer in these words: "Some excellent work it has done, but still on the Statute' Book it keeps that unfair 'three-fifths' clause, contradicting the arithmetic which says one plus one equals two. The Statute Book says that on polling day one'plus one equals three; if one is a barmaid and the other one a brewer, together they equal three Prohibitionists. .... This is the barbed-wire entanglement that has so long kept us back from victory. Russia and France and even England gave tie, sooner or later, the lead in licensing legislation, but our Go vernment refused to grant us even 6 o'clock closing of public bars and so kept our country far in the rear. IN THIS YEAR OF WAR. ■ "As to the gambling craze, the Government has added 21 to the number of days on which the totalisator is licensed in this dreadful third year of war. And our people? In the year of Verdun, of the Irish Rebellion, and of General Townshend's surrender, the year of intensified submarine ruthlessness—in this fateful year we are on the edge of a strike. We crowd our places of amusement, throng our pleasure resorts more than ever, pile up a huge drink bill, create a record in gambling figures, and behave generally as though the war was on another planet. And what of the Church? Eomanism assertive—High Anglicanism Exclusive even on Anza-c Day—and union' between the non-episcopal Churches not effected yet. And Methodism—what of her? •Many things good, but much even yet to be deplored. Is not pettiness still our bane in some quarters? A certain 'edginess' makes candour sometimes unwelcome and free discussion often difficult. How many times have our standing committees been tests of faith, and our business meetings trials of patience. THE PROBLEM OF PROBLEMS. "Our discipline is admirable, but there is a great reluctance to exercise it. Our doctrines are emphasised by examiners, but are they clearly and frequently taught from all our pulpits. ..■ . The problem of problems—what is it ? Ourselves. We need a religious awakening keyed to the 20th century—as Luther's was to the 16th and 'Wesley's to the 18th. The community needs at deepened sense of sin, and new estimates of moral values. We need to be taught that every 'right' has its root in some duty, and every privilege carries responsibility. Ancient Greece is more honourably remembered to-day for the courage of her heroes at Thermopylae than for the genius of her poets and artists. . Old Rome is held in high esteem less for her military power and vast wealth, than for her just laws and the patriotism of, her noblest men. The Dutch won the admiration of generations not by their conquest of the sea dunes and their commerce, world-wide 400 years ago, but by her heroic resistance against Philip's tyranny, Alva's cruel cunning, and the horrors of the Inquisition. The Pilgrim Fathers and God-fearing pioneers of American liberty did more to make the Stars and Stripes an emblem nf honour (until lately) than all the millionaires and political bosses or even the busy Presidential typewriter. Yes, and our beloved Britain is enthroned in the heart of nations to-day, not because of her wealth and her navy and army, but because these have been and are | being used for service of all the people of the world. Because her rule brings self-government to the races that can be safely trusted, an open sea to an honest trader, an open Bible, and a free gospel wherever her shining bunting streams upon the wind or droops in the doldrum calm, therefore is our Mother Country great. Everywhere mid always it is moral achievement and spiritual struggle that brings honour to the land and enduring fame to its people.' So, I pray you. . . let us secure that blessing on old and young that shall build Jerusalem in this green and pleasant land— an era of the righteousness which exnlfceth a nation. 'We need it badly, fljis national righteousness. A BRIGHTER SIDE. "Let us not forget the brighter side of the religious outlook. Behold the war zone! Our men live in misery, tunnel through charnel plots, fight in cesspits, die in shambles, but, as they I thus buy safety and liberty for us all, they joke at their foul environment, meet agony with courage, death with a gay heart, and wounds with good- j humoured philosophy^ If their enemy hungers they feed him ; if he thirts they I give him drink, though their own throats are as lime kilns and their tongues are like split leather. Remember the spiritual work that is being done by chaplains and faithful Christian men on the battlefield, where religion must be a reality. Note the shining activities of the V.M.C.A. Bear in mind the Bible Society's issue of 11,000,000 copies of the Scripture—the largest total yet— j and their nine new versions, bringing the total number of versions to 487. Mark the incomes of the great missionary societies. Rejoice with the Canadians, who now have eight Prohibition provinces out of nine. Catch the enthusiasm of the Americans, who see 25 States and the district of Columbia "dry," and who give the rallying cry : "A saloonless nation in 1920." And in the same broad land pay heed to the statistics of the Methodist Churches, showing that there has been a net gain of 425,000 in membership . during the past three years—the worst of these three being 25 per cent, more fruitful than the best of any former years. And do not forget that in that great land, where in 1817 not one college student out of ten was known to be a Christian, it is ascertained that now every other man at college is a member of a Protestant Church. And we shall see that the world is rolling onward into light." THE FOE IMPURITY. Mr. Lawry contended that the- fight against the liquor traffickers was gradually turning against the latter. But of the struggle against impurity they could not speak so confidently. The reports cf doctors, the work of societies for the protection of women and children, the official utterances of Magistrates, and the experience of ministers and Christian workers, all emphasised the need of an active and considered campaign against the foe. He rejoiced that a muchavoided subject was now being dealt with in a. restrained and decorous,. but wise, way by the leading daily papers. The Defence-authorities were doing a good deal in causing the thousands of our troops to be guarded against the hideous peril of the red plague, but he firmly believed that in bur domestic legislation we should without delay enact laws that would send to the surgeon, not to the i gaoler, each, beast in man's clothimz who.

endangered a child or a young woman. We should make it imperative that a clean ■ bill of health should be produced before a marriage license could be obtained. Furthermore, a strict control should be exercised over those businesses some of whose wares were munitions for the army of impurity in the fight against chastity and virtue.