“LEST WE FORGET”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 20 November 1923, Page 2

“LEST WE FORGET”

[To the Editor.] „ ; Sir, —During his speech at tile unveiling of Nelson’s war memorial Mr Lock is reported • as having stated“We Should hot keep in memory the Great War itself; a blot on our civilization and education.” a -Since 1914 I had always supposed that the recent-war possessed very great educational value, individually and collectively. What section of the public will benefit most by, forgetting all except the valour and sacrifice of departed Anzacs? Wars, it cannot be too often repeated, have their gehesis and fruit, fulness in the collective ignorance of mankind. As a returned soldier I ask Mr Lock: Does he expect wars to end by our forgetting them ; does he expect by so doing we shall take a less frivolous and more serious view of life? It is my honest opinion wars blaze up and consume whole masses of mankind because too few seem • capable of taking a satisfactory and natural view of life and its possibilities; the masses prefer a few to fashion their destiny. J “When the boys 'come ■ liomb”'- was a phrase’: which drifted even to'the firing line. What was expected of the “boys” when they did come home? Were they expected just to return to the soulless proposition of mammon worship in the existing-economic state? Were they exexpected to.continue exactly as before: just existing to get something for nothing from a war-breeding system of production and distribution? Were they expected home without a- sprig of idealism cultivated in a soil of thundering guns, destructive shells and ghastly human remains? It will soon be 10 years since wo began the Great War with all its destruction of human life and industry on a grand scale. What lesson have we learned from those anxious years of blood and tears? In spiritual, in political, in economic matters, is There any indication that here 'in New,' .Zealand,:, or outside of it, we are building up that real pride and dignity of life that must ultimately 1 kill the germp of war ? We couid afford to forget war honours if we, the finest scion of the British race, could implant in the hearts of all our people the genuine seeds of Christian altruism. Those seeds alone will make our much favoured land a real 'Garden of Eden beneath the Southern Cross. Humanity everywhere is calling for help. We should be so far advanced in our collective' outlbok upon life to contribute some great and useful lessons which must help clear awav the'greed and hate and ignorance which produce war. There are two' great phases of ultimate truth wo must take to heart if the Great War, for New Zealanders, has not been fought in vain. The foundation stone of that sure and abiding phasetof truth is that we must quit the soul-destroying influence of'.sectarianism. The : altruism of Calvary is far removed from the “sitting apart” which indicates the modern application of the Christ life. Wars and rumours of wars Will always be with us while the vision of our ’ spiritual leaders remains so stunted. How can we expect the spirit of the age to be otherwise than secularised while sactifice for the welfare of mankind cannot get beyond age-old controversy concerning the spiritual opinions ol Jewish tribal leaders? So far as we are concerned, second phase of truth must come as a natural corollary to a clarified spiritual renaissance. When it comes our people will not live upon discontent, but will live the full, free, and happy life, cleaning away' indications of selfishness from their hearts and weeds from their rich food producing soil. L am,- etc., ARTHUR HUNTER. Richmond, 16/11/23. .”,