ANGLICAN SYNOD

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 October 1934, Page 2

ANGLICAN SYNOD

ANTI-ARMAMENTS RESOLUTION [per press association.] HASTINGS, October 11. The evil of militarism, its power to bring about disaster, and the futility of the armaments race between the nations, was the keynote of a motion and a speech by Rev. O. S. O. Gibson, of Tauranga, at the Anglican Synod at Napier to-day. The following resolution was carried: “This Synod views with alarm and deep regret the present international .situation, tending, as it does, to another disastrous race in armaments. It believes that the Church has a solemn responsibility to show leadership, and that every individual member should think peace and work for peace. Furthermore, it urges upon all Christian people the vital and urgent necessity of bearing steady and consistent witness to the Christian ideal, and of helping, by all possible means, any organisation or movement, such as the League of Nations, which tends to promote the peace of the world.”

Mr Gibson said that the world yearned for peace, but the nations were dominated by the fear of war. This issue was, primarily, a normal one, and it vitally concerned the Christian Church. The gravity of the present situation, must be clear to everybody. The cable reports might be exaggerated at times, but there could be no doubt that a remarkable attitude of mistrust and fear existed between the nations.

“The position is a tragic one,” he said, “and it is impossible to avoid feeling it has been largely created by the armament firms. The people, in general, want peace. Vast forces must be operating against the peace being kept.”

Other speakers supported the sentiments expressed by Mr Gibson, expressing the opinion that it did good for the church to express its opinions on such subjects.

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS A CARDINAL’S PRAYER BUENOS AIRES, October 11. At the inauguration of the Eucharistic Congress in Buenos Aires, the Papel Legate, Cardinal Pacelli, to-day, before the huge white symbol of Christianity, gleaming in bright spring sunshine, breathed a prayer for the peace of the world. The Cardinal said. “The white Eucharistic forms, or innumerable grains of wheat compenetrated as they are in an indissoluble union, are the symbol of what, according to Jesus Christ, men should be! By. this, on kneelingin these days, before the immaculate Host, from each heart there should issue an ardent cry—a universal cry—which in the world’s most diverse tongues will be joined in one sole accent to exclaim: ‘Jesus Christ! King of Peace! Concede true peace to the world! ’ ” Four Cardinals at the Eucharistic Congress to-day, officiated as 107,000 white-robed children received communion, distributed by 250 priests from the altars on four sides of the mammoth cross at Palermo Park.