THE SPIRITUAL BASIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 117, 20 May 1941, Page 6

THE SPIRITUAL BASIS

(To the Editor.) Sir, —It was said by Churchill himself earlier in the war that "this war will be won by the spiritual forces of the world as much as by the brave defenders." Now how do we stand in this country in regard to the spiritual aspect of the war effort? No more than two full generations have passed since the introduction of our secular system of education, and yet it is beyond denial that the country is already partly pagan and lacking spirituality. There -are thousands in this beautiful land of ours who neither hear nor speak the name of God or Jesus Christ save by way of an oath. We must thank God that the country is yet at a distance from the condition of Germany, whose official religion is paganism, but anyone who thinks carefully must agree that there, is ground for serious disquiet. Let no man say "this sort of' thing can wait till the war is over." Men returned from the first World War weary and disillusioned. There seemed a lack of something—they knew not what. This time let us see to it that they return to a more Christian country, a country where spiritual things count more than material, though material benefits must by no means be neglected. Moreover, such a change of outlook must not be allowed to deteriorate to a mere temporary spurt, and we must look to it that the spread of paganism is definitely and finally checked before it has gone too far to cope with. We want God in the schools and God in the homes. But how to bring about such a fundamental change? There is but one way; we must form a league of people who love this beautiful country and will be full of vim and enthusiasm to safeguard its future. I I believe that if a start be made, branches of such a league will soon be formed throughout New Zealand, and that before many years have passed we, shall effect such changes that every child will at least have a chance to know his God and his Saviour. For a name I suggest "The League of Christ Victorious." Such a league must not be predominantly clerical, nor predominantly anything. Men and women of every class and every church and those of no church at all j—the "man in the street" in his thousands—must help in this work for their country. I would be glad to hear from anyone willing to join in the work of initiating such a league. —I am, etc.,

H. B. JACOBS