A REMARKABLE SERMON.

Mataura Ensign, 29 April 1909, Page 3

A REMARKABLE SERMON.

LESSONS FOR AUSTRALASIA.

Preaching the other Sunday evening iu Svdney the R«v. Reynolds, a. Congregational minister of unusual ability, took his text from Judges xviii., 7: "They dwelt careless after the manner of Zedomans, quiet and secure." The people of Laish, he remarked, possessed a. region of wonderful resources; they were well satisfied with their lot; they were living in peace and prosperity. The suspicion that the avaricious eyes of strangers were spying out their land did not enter their minds. They liad lived without any disturbance from without so long that they did not contemplate the possibility of invasion. They were careless, enjoying a false security; they wore quite devoid of apprehension and alarm. They were peacefully-disposed men —the men of Laish; in the midst of luxury and ease what reason had they to seek a quarrel? So they judged the world by their own inclinations. Surely all men are lovers of peace. Surely no man envied them their possessions. Surely there was 110 need to sacrifice something of their own personal comfort to form and maintain an army. Suroly thore was no need to take any precautions to defend their land against a foe. They had —as they were pleased to porsuade themselves —no foes. So they were careless, quiet mid secure. Doubtless had they known a crisis was coming

they would havo armod themselves and boen ready to die. But to prepare on the mere supposition that an enemy might some day attack them was waste of timo iind energy, hysteria, madness. Men of Laislil Beware! While you are being lulled to sleep by tho soothing melodies of self-complacency men of the South are spying out your land, noting your resources, coveting your property and delighting in your apathy. While you are living in tho pleasant dreamland of luxury and unpreparednesa a roving tribe of Danites is looking for a home; an armed enemy is marching onward to attack you, to smito you witli tho sword, to burn your city, to make your prosperous land tlioir own possession. NATIONAL DEFENCE. Tho words "careless, quiet and secure" might well describe the attitude of the great majority of British subjects and especially of citizens of the Australian Commonwealth, towards the question of national defence during the last few years. We have continually boasted of the achievements of our ancestors; wo have congratulated ourselves so long upon the glory of our past history, wo have regarded so long the supremacy of Britain upon tho seas as an established fact, wo have gazed so wistfully at the vision of an Empire upon which tho sun never sets, and on tho other hand we have become so absorbed ill the development of our resources and the expansion of our trade, and we have become so interested in tho acquisition of tho personal comforts and luxuries of life, that we. have not been considering tho question of our Empire's permanence. We liayo not been preparing as wo should for the possible emergencies of the future. Some voars ago a powerful battleship was launched by the English naval authorities. It was the largest battleship then constructed; it was the pride of the navy. It was named "Dreadnought." One does not know the principle upon which the names of battleships are chosen, and one remembers the question of the quick-witted Juliet: "What's ill a name?" Nevertheless, a name is very suggestive sometimes. Was the Admiralty so coiivincod of the naval supremacy of England that no fitter namo could be found!' Britain fears no foe. Dreadnought is surely a proper title for its ship oi war. But when did it become necessary for England to so advertise its lack of dread? Why should the idea of dread come into British hearts? Whenever a nation or an individual begins to boast that il or ho dreads nought, those who are listening feel that in the very boast there is a suggestion of fear. AVhether that name wns the expression of a false sense of security or was dictated by the spirit of national braggadocio ono fact is curtain: since the construction of the Dreadnought there has been

more doubt as to the permanence of England's naval supremacy and more droad of tho increasing power of other nations than there has been since the days of Trafalgar. The gallic of constructing Dreadnoughts is a. very expensive game, but it is a game other nations arc learning to play, and play very rapidly. During the last few weeks a phoplietie voice, has rung through the Empire: "Beware!" And the careless, quiet and secure people |have been

roused from their lethargy. A great wave of patriotism—and patriotism not of tho cramped and provincial order, but in the form of a broad, ennobling, magnificent Imperialism—has passed over the British dominions. There has been a heart-throbbing iu the ) r ,m-

t)iiv. There litis been a new demon-1 stration to tho world of the love which hinds together citizens of the Greater Britain into one common brotlifrlwioriA XATIOXAL KKI'EXTANCE. In Australia tliis patriotism is taking tho form of what might bo designated in religious language a national repentance. Australians are beginning to feci ashamed that in spite of their great wealth they have contributed so little to the .Motherland for the bearing

of the burden of Imperial defence. Australians are beginning to realise that it is derogatory to their honor to! alloiv their fellow citizens in England to defray the cost almost entirely of supporting the navy upon which the life and safety of Australia depend. Only so long as Britain rules the waves is our sparsely populated continent safe from attack. Australia is now rising to a sense of its responsibility, and is endeavoring to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. Every true Christian must deplore the great nam I competition, and the preparations for war which are being .carried on amongst the civilised na- , tions of the world. Wo look forward

to the day when civilised countries everywhere will consent, to abhor war as a lingering remnant of primitive barbarism. Vc hope that the day may come, nay, ire believe it shall come, when international d ispn tes will bo peacefully settled by arbitration. AYe may even believe (hat the present competition in the preparation and maintenance of immense armaments is hastening that day.

Meanwhile under present conditions it. behoves England to take care to retain command of the seas. That is one of the surest guarantees of the peace of the world. AA"e do not forget the old maxim, si pacein vis, para helium (if von wish for peace, prepare for war). Olio fact we must, however remcmbor, that the Supreme Governor of tho World determines the destiny of nations, and is working out His purposes in the history of the world, and looking back over the pages of history, ire realise that victory in warfare has not always rested with the greatest amies and navies. The Spanish Armada was not defeated because the England of that, time was maintaining a navy of the two-power standard.

That- empire lias been supremo in the past which l)v is manhood, its administration of justice, and its sawifieiil spirit, lias been able to confer mosi benefits upon tho human race. Tlio British people may build, many Dreadltonsjclits and yet decline, miles;; we see to it tliat those traits of charactei which have made the British name respected are preserved. If England is_ untrue to those Godgiven_ ide.als of righteousness, of liberty and justice, which have, inspired our nation in tho past, if that glorious, God-fearing,. uplifting generous manhood which lias built, un the Empire is superseded by a. scoffing, immoral, brutalism, then an extended programme of naval construction will not save our Empire.

It is the nation with tho best manhood that prevails. One is not a pessimist, but one cannot refrain from stating that, the materialism, tho immoralitv, tho self-indulgenco which are so evident to-day are symptoms of a disease which, if unchecked, will work the. destruction of our Empire. Our future lies with the voung men and women of to-day. If thev fall victims to that disease the prestige whicli Britain eniovs to-day will be lost. I appeal to von not to be careless, quiet and secure with regard to the higher issues of life. Bo true to God, for Christ's sake, for vour own sake, for the sake of tho Empire to which you belong.