PULPIT AND POLITICS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11493, 21 November 1931, Page 10

PULPIT AND POLITICS

* duty to electqbs , moraTfactdrs “STRESS A BRACING TONIC ’ -Do not telTme that polities i JuS bo kept out of the pulpit’;, should b J? rcjval James in his said Canon p u p a Pro-Cathedral Sunday, evening, m wieiuufa duty, he mamKinrf VaSSK, himself to rntS limi we “fS^hLrersY^ taiHH m - • ]ji s Jopimons upon thfrival rievfs of the Coalition and Ji Tnhor parties. The word ‘‘politics’ might he used m a higher sSsei to denote the principles of gGcial relations and. duties. With pejneir!- 0 /S la!s‘ Jfc aTpS#i<S The Church eras hound to Set attention, to the moral asZJhFtof the questions at issue, and Llclp the citizen to rise above the dust and din of ~ It Utica! arena, « £npassionately, reasonably, and ton scientiously what -w his country at thin oiiHtal - “At this election, uhich tans m a time of severe national strain.. Anxiety, where the present isperplexing and the future msecurc, there is need for tlio people -o take hold of themselves and keep thmr sanity”, «aid the Canon ‘How long must we wait, for a time of greater prosperiity it would be rash «,n,,br>sv We m-ust la-ace ourtlvcl t face the fact that life is S to be more troublesome and exacting noisiness for most peop.c for a long time to come. Many of mir troubles and perplexities are S peculiar to our Dominion, but we have our; own cS j lernh which we call economic and stole in terms are found in the ultimate analysis to be lnoul problems. ’

ZEALOTS WITH IMPOSSIBLE ZLALUio theortes

‘-Let me Jiot be misunderstood. J do not goring fact. On the contrary. I urge that voters give cairn- serious thought to economic problems; for not the ffiast of our difficulties are created by earnest political aealots, whoso Slicles are based upon nnposs able theories What fo utterly deny is that the economic i actorin the" questions before us pro the only factors to be considered ami that the spiritual and «tlncal favors m aw he treated as neligible. vv - ffiust utterly deny that bur present ills in this dountry are to be atSfbuSd Solely to world-wide economic conditions for Avlnck we are noto blame , „ .. ~ “We are assured by those who are best able to measure the vast resources of this bounteous land, that those resources, prudently, developed are sufficient to provide „a secaro livelihood, leading to a Lie worth living for the whole of the presen » popufation of this land, and mdeeu a much larger population, ‘he era of unemployment ought to exist in this country. But here m Nc>' Zealand we must “work xrut our own salvation.’, Thai, sanation awaits the calling out or the finermoral qualities of our people, omen we have inherited front the great pjoneers of settlement here and not lost altogether. . “We shall bo saved now if .we are found still to value and able to reproduce the moral earnestness 01 those pioneers, their sturdy • rnaependenee.. their thorough and honest work and their thrift. \Ye smi. if this land is to be torn by class \ Avar. Our national prosperity de- f* mauds the intense qo-operation or. all citizens and of all sections ana classes. It depends Upon the rrut patriot who iB found ready to do his duty and make his sacrifice loyal.y and* cheerfully. Let us tell the geyeratfon to 'come that true patriotism is proved by the desire to put into the common stock, not. to take out of it and then clamor |or more. That patriotism is measured by the State, not to be dependant upon the State. PERSONALITY BEFORE PARTY Let us not be dismayed at the prospect of a period of stringency and struggle. It will make us better men and wbmen. Our economic difficulties may become a source or despair, destroying our national energy and resolution, or may become a bracing moral -onic. Presently, maybe, we shall look back witli thankfulness upon this .stern necessity winch compelled us to return to a life less artificial and more natural—a plainer, quieter, healthier, life. Wie must work more seriously and thoroughly, and abandon the post-war orgy of spending, both private and public spending, which has brought our country to tho brink of 'disaster. “It must be insisted that the Christian man cannot tfc indifferentUo the character of the candidate to AA'hom lie gii-es his vote. I know thatthis is sometimes a difficult choice to make. Generally a vote is given for party and policy . rather than for the man. and in many instances there is no realon against it. But the primary responsibility laid upon electors is to choose fit persons to serA'o in Parliament. There can to lio gtod goA'ernment unless .those upon Avhom its hfc’avy responsibility is laid are enlightened, inspired and controlled by high ethical ideals and motives.”