WANTED LEADERSHIP.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 297, 1 December 1928, Page 7

WANTED LEADERSHIP.

(To the Editor., Sir, —Last January, when renewing my youth at the Bay of Islands. I ,/ulied across the bay from Russell,

...td was surprised to find a handsome church in the small settlement of I'ihia. The unexpected made a deeper impression when in the chancel, 1 round the minutes telling how the descendants of the two pioneer missionary brothers Williams, had resolved, at meetings held principally at Hastings, to so fittingly and beautifully build a solid memorial to their fathers, and to the glory of God, of Whom they bo faithfully served, and served better than they knew.

It is a plain duty to remind ourselves that the springs of our racial culture are Christian. When the Romans were building their roads through Britain and the conquered tribes withdrew to the fastnesses, ft was the Christian missionaries Who sought them out. Tcrtullian tells tha( the Christian Church did the pioneering work Qi civilisation in Great Britain. Dr. Stoughton’s six volumes of Christianity in England is one of the works which try to measure, the true secret of Britain’s strength. Green tells how the translation of the Bible into words understood by the people created profound changes that they are indelibly woven into national character. Edison who is not a church-goer, has stressed the truth, that the nations who lead in progress are the nations who best apply the teachings of Christ. The Mayor of Lys, after the German evacuation, said that the German attempts to break the spirit of the people by ruthlessness, failed on those who had been instructed in the Christian faith. And Cardinal Merrier, when a German prisoner, was allowed to speak in his cathedral, he stirred the hearts of his hearers by boldly proclaiming that the time would come, when King Albert ol Belgium, would worship again in that shrine, and bow his uncouquered bead to tile King of Kings. We spend money on education as never be: ore; we talk of proceeding on scientific hues, which simply means the way oj ordered truth; and yet the very dynamics of our civilisation is generally ignored in the training of our youth. Are we fair to Hie coming generation P Men like the William, brothers. New Zealand’s early Catholic fathers, Dr. Burna of Otago, and the rest of the foundation builders of our young nation, showed, by precept and example that duty to God and man suould be the dominant factor in life. The Sabbath was kept as a rest day and a day for worship. Now the impression our generation is conveying to those who will shortly take our places, is, that religion is an antiquated hobby, and on the Sabbath yon can do as you jolly well like. la that the way to build character that will possess moral courage? Here is a question which should stir the churches to co-opera-tion and education. And yet. at such a time, the Mshop of the Anglican diocese of Waikato whn so evidently fails in true leadership, makes the way mom difficult, by stating if von go to Communion you can leave that solemn service for a dance or any other • commotion you may favour.

We want the apostolic succession that will be true to the Founder and the doctrines of the Church, and the only Christian freedom that is permissible, ethat we do naught that will cause our brother to stumble. Our Maori brethren may be congratulated that they sought for a leader in theii own ranks who will keep to the paths of the Fathers.—Yours etc.. H. R. FRENCH.