Tree Religion Only Alternative To Further Wars

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1941, Page 6

Tree Religion Only Alternative To Further Wars

[Per Press Association. Copyright ] WELLINGTON. This Day.

The relationship that should exist between the church and the state was discussed by the Bishop of Wellington (The Right Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland), in a sermon at a service held yesterday in the Cathedral church cf St. Paul to mark the opening of Parliament. The service was attended by Lady Newall. wife of the Governor-Gen-eral. The Governor-General was to have read the lesson but he was ill in bed and the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) took his place. Mrs Fraser, Ministers of the Crown, members of both Houses of Parliament, representatives of the judiciary, diplomats, representatives of the armed forces and civic dignatories were present. Wellsprings of Liberty “We, who have any knowledge of history, are aware that the political and economic liberties which we enjoy today are mainly the result of the struggle for religious liberty in past centuries, and that out of the demand for religious liberty grew the overwhelming demand for political liberty,” said the Bishop. “We must remember that with the onset of this last world war we are at the same time faced with growing godlessness and with disillusion and decay which are fatal to freedom, fatal to social life, fatal to personality, all because we are letting God pass out of our world. Religious Illiteracy “Eut events are bringing us to our senses. Feople are beginning to think realistically and objectively. I can see -no prospect of our democrat people being able to offer to the world any alternative to the grim arbitrament of war as a means of settling the manifold issues raised by International relationship unless, somehow or other, the religious illiteracy of our own people is checked. “Nothing but close fellowship between the church and the state can effect this, for if the church tries, as is the case now, to do it alone, men turn and say that as far as the practical problems of life are concerned, the state considers relig'on ar irrelevant issue.”