GERMAN PASTORS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 25 September 1928, Page 8

GERMAN PASTORS.

TOUR. OF BRITAIN. ANGLO-GERMAN FRIENDSHIP. BIRMINGHAM, Sept. 8. • Addressing the party of German pastors who are touring England at the- invitation of the British Consul of the World Alliance for Promoting International Friendship. Through the Churches, the Bishop of Birmingham, Dr. E. W. Barnes, said: “When we remember all we share in common, we can unite in the future to build European civilisation on such a base that the friendliness of the German and British people will be one of the main guarantees of the peace of Europe. 1 ’ In both England and Germany, the Bishop of Birmingham added, religious problems were the same, and he wished that the difficulties which now faced the Christian communities could be placed on record permanently, for then future generations would know how deplorable were the effects of war. Since the war attendance at public worship had .diminished by at least half, and the younger people were critical of the churches as they never’ liad been before. But they could- remind tlieir critics that in England, ancl Germany there were Christian groups which protested, as far as they were able, against the feeling which led to war and the feeling which war produced, though their voices were drowned in the general clamour. They must see* to it that they were not similarly silenced if another such conflict became imminent.

Two visitors responded. General Superintendent Dibelius, of Berlin, asserting that the task of the future was the Christianising of Europe.