A REMARKABLE SERMON

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 294, 18 October 1922, Page 15

A REMARKABLE SERMON

"My Country,/ Right or - . Wrong*'-..- 1 --.

The Rev. Hector Maclean, preaching to a large congregation in St. Andrews' Church, Duiiedia, the Sunday before last, trenchantly condemned Mr. Wilford's jingo declaration "My country, right or wrong." After stating that this "sentiment was mischievous," and that, "except Tor the Labour Party," it "seemed to have been accepted as the highest expression oi' patriotism," the preacher proceeded to deal with the latest war-scare. Ho said:—

"We are told the Issue at stake is the freedom of'the Straits. And yet the Prime Minister holds information which we-are not permuted to know, and the implication, is that the real difficulty—the matter which makes the

iviluation so dangerously critical is not bound up with.tW neutralisation of the Straits or the safeguarding of the sabred soil of Ga'lipoli, but with some cv.use the nature of

WHICH IS HIDDEN FROM US. If we go to war what shall we be fighting for? Will it be to keep Turkey out of Europe,-.or to defend the oil w?lls of Mesopotamia, or to break Moslem power in India? Before we are committed to another hell of bloodshed and suffering we ought to be told clearly. This point is at least plain. Everybody who counts is committed to the principle of keeping the Straits free—even the head of the".. British Moslems is in frank accord with that idea. Why then should Britain be alone in the determination to fight on tliat issue? Has she interests to conserve with which her former Allies j have no concern? There.are matters' j oi! winch we have .the right to be cerjvair: before we allow, ourselves to bo ! M.ishod into a war for the making of { which wo have no responsibility. j Bui leaving that matter aside, let ius »c=nk at the general principle of ' ■'?':;' Country, Right or Wrong." How- ; e-'or hesitant we may be in this par- | iteular application of the principle, for ( ilu' sentiment itself we can have no- ; thing- but abhorrence. The locicaJ i ending of such a position is what, in i the- last war we fought as Pnisriani isni. It is the supremacy of the State carried to its extreme limits. It is the CONTRADICTION OF PERSONAL 'FREEDOM la matters of conscience. It is the dei ntami for men who realise that a thing J lv wrong to give their live* to perpej male- liial wrong, ft hi the old doct- | vine iliut might i? rii;'al. On the lips joi the Leader oi" the Oppoi-Jtion it is called "patriotism." IT y^n .yavp tt its right name you would cull X inlnmianand ?>rnt-aL By this principle you could justify every war of aggression that lias taken place .since tlie world began. We -I'.sed io blame the German people beeau.se they allowed themselves to-, be hoodwinked by their Junker leaders. We ought to turn round now and 5n the light of this new principle praise them for being loyal to their country wlie.lher it was right or wrong. The. sooner we sec where this doctrine KacLs us the better for us .all.

-Mr. Maclean concluded a brief exarnnation into the nature or true patrotism T>y sayiug: "The officialdom of the Foreign Office is not our country, ami we- wili'not die for it.. In so far a.s 'bungling there —or avarice or injustice placf?3 the country In a wrong position, as patriotic men and women it is our duty to criticise it, to repudiate* It. anil to bring- It to book.". . . One cannot help feeling that the cry of Empire HAS BECOME A FETISH which asks tor blind worship Oα tho part of its devotees. Prom the point •of view of. real patriotism there must exist a place and a function for conscientious objection. There are other loyalties than loyalty, to our country. IWe are members of a great many "social organisms" (if we can use that metaphor), and each of these has "claims; upon us. ... It is time that our legislators realised that there Is a great body of the people whom they represent and are supposed to lead who are- beginning , to feel a new consciousness of a world-wide order to which they must be loyal as against all 'wrong national .actions. It may bo that that ne-sv- consciousness lias had its best expression in the League of Nations. But apart from that League altogether it has been stirring in men's minds and hearts. . There must 'always be room for conscientious objection on the grounds of humanity." •Concluding he. said:—■ "When it comes to war the imfori lunate thing is that-what rules Is'not J Christian practice or principle. It is I the cohesion, of the old wolf-paclc. And ■ that is one reason why we should do join , very best to eliminate the war- , I spirit from our midst. Jingoism I "sweeps avay all , the higher motives which guide waA control men aud naL _ti6aa^ w • .;■ '■ : - . ' ' : ' ;