NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 13 March 1912, Page 5

NATIONAL DEFENCE.

TIME FOR MINISTERS TO SPEAK PLAINLY. AUCKLAND, March 12. A sermon emphasising the duty devolving upon each individual of the Stat© to defend and to fit himself to defend the rights and privileges of which he is the heir and trustee was preached by the Rev. George Burgess at the Congregational Church, Mount Eden, on Sunday. "When Christian people are discussing the question of the Christian's duty in the matter of national defence, and when we hear from various parts of our country of a- disposition to shirk the obvious responsibility of organised national defence," said Mr Burgess. "it is time for ministers of religion to speak plainly. Here in this country we are enjoying the security, comfort, th-o opportunity to further the social advancement of our fellow-beings, purchased for lis by the perils endured and the blood spilt by our forefathers in the Homeland, and by the privations and labours of those who have gone before ns in this country. It is through their not hesitating to lay down their lives if need be for the principles of justice and of civil and religious libertv that we have the freedom and security of to-day, that we can live comparatively noble lives, and can help forward th e 'emancipation of the human rac. c from every form of oppression and wrong, and so further that state of um versal brotherhood which we believe to be the intention of the Almighty, and m which w e can be fellow-workers with Him. We are in trust of this freedom, and the opportunity to -carry out -th» work, and it is for us to defend the position which has been so far S a » ,ed - f « deplorable that anyone shouW question the duty to protect our rvglits, oi country, our women, our chiWr-en and the generation? yet unborn, to " h-om it is due to hand down the hardly 011 advantages of which we have entered into possession."