THE WORLD CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 17

THE WORLD CRISIS.

Sir,—The writer has been waiting for some ono of the world leaders in Church or Stato to ask whether the weary workers in search of a real remedy for the present alarming conditions are not "beating the air." Thero has been no cull to national or personal repentance as the chief remedy for the distress and sickness, which seem to get worse as the months pass. It is just possible that had our statesmen and politicians studied the history of God's dealings with the Jews of old, as given by both sacred and profane writers, and had profited by the many obvious lessons to bo learned there, the present chaos might havo been avoided. God warned Israel against the folly of forgetting God when "they had eaten and wero full." lie would be a bold man who would not admit that the nations of tho earth have in largo part forgotten God in years of prosperity and progress, and aro reluctant to acknowledge the disturbing truth and are still "burying their sorrows" in excess of pleasure in sport and gambling, and many are determined to get rich quick at the expense of tho numerous victims of misfortune. Yet God is waiting for men and women everywhere to halt, to think, to return, to admit Ilis right to their allegiance and reverenco and to seek His help. It was when the children of Israel returned to God, their Deliverer, that national prosperity was theirs once more, and when we read in the newspapers that kings, prime ministers, presidents of republics, archbishops, nonconformist church leaders and mayors of cities and bdroughs have arranged for mass meetings for prayer to bo held in the various centres throughout Christendom it. will bo to most of us the first omen of "better times" coming, but if we persist in our neglect of the Ono who "from Whom all blessings flow," then worse things may befall the nations. Surely it is time some clarion voico called us to action and that quickly. J.J.D.

Sir, —Nearly every day we learn of and see around us distress caused by the present unemployment. We hear many suggestions as to what ought to be done, and yet there is not light, because we are trusting in ourselves and not God, Who alone is able to solve tho great problem, pan we not in these beautiful islands light a beacon of faith, by ono and all calling upon our God to aid us ? Could we not have a day of humiliation and prayer to help us to enter in at the "straight gate" and 011 bended knees ask our Heavenly Father's guidanco in seeking light in tho present darkness, asking in a spirit of humility and true faith, and in the name of Jesus' Christ our Saviour, and believing, we shall receive aid. Our GovernorGeneral, I feel sure, would help' this movement, for he has shown us all since coming among us his belief in the "King of Kings." Our bishops and clergy and mayors could arrange, a simple service for tho day, in which everybody could engage, and apart from open churches, the beautiful Domain could bo used, for "naturo is the living, visible garment of God." Trusting an abler pen than mine ■will take up this matter. Faith