THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, MAY 11, 1931. AN APPEAL TO YOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20869, 11 May 1931, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, MAY 11, 1931. AN APPEAL TO YOUTH.

What was said yesterday by Lord Bledisloo to the crowded gathering of young people in the Town Hall merits more than passing notice, for it impressed principles of the highest and most abiding value in individual and national life. In itself, the gathering was notable, as His Excellency was moved to remark. The hall was filled to overflowing by an assemblage almost wholly composed of young men and young women, induced by the organising interdenominational councils to forget for the nonce their church distinctions. In size, average age and especially this representative character it was probably unique in the history of the city. Of the last feature Lord Bledisloe made very effective use. Coming so soon after the impressive appeal of the Archbishop for a closer union of the churches, this gathering gave encouraging evidence of the possibility of co-operation Dr. Averill so hopefully described, and it points the way, in scarcely less clear fashion than the missionary experience in South India to which ho referred, to .a solution of the vexing problem of "the competition of saints." With youth making up its mind to rally round the things that vitally matter rind to account as of less moment those that have too long weakened by division the witness and work of the churches, there is a moral certainty of that solution. To look for this is not necessarily to reflect on the motives and methods of the religious enthusiasts of other days : it is merely recognising that they belonged to other days. What was then inevitable, even necessary —to say nothing of what might have been avoided by the exercise of a strong and wise tolerance —has passed into history, to be preserved for admonition against allowing similar circumstances to arise. This should be regarded as their chief service. Corporate union has its difficulties. Whether they are insurmountable it will be for the growing generation to say, guided in part by what their seniors are now trying to do; but in the evident determination of youth to combine on platforms of practical endeavour, as many movements of to-day bear witness, there is a heartening promise of better things than our fathers knew.

For the creation of this "solid phalanx of earnest, Christian young people" Lord Bledisloe has offered an arresting argument, based on a broad survey of history. The Babylonian, Greek and Roman Empires fell because of their luxury and laxity, and the British Empire cannot expect to be immune from the peril of a like fate. It is fatally easy to raise the standard of living, with a careless disregard of moral effects, to lose physical, mental and spiritual fitness in the culture of ease and pleasure. That way race suicide lies. But there is an urgent reason, supplied by an international envisaging of the danger, for youth's being on guard against it. The downfall of the British Empire would entail the crash of world civilisation. This is not too much to say. Upon no nation rests so obviously the responsibility of striving for universal good. The size and extent of the Empire, and especially its place of power and influence in the civilised world, thrust upon it a duty of example and leadership not entrusted in equal measure to any other nation. How it will discharge that duty depends critically on the coming generation of British people. With pardonable pride, there can be claimed for the immediate past and the present a manful shouldering of the burden. There have been, let it be allowed, some defections ; there may be weaknesses to-day. Yet, broadly viewed, recent and current events reveal the Empire as a stalwart champion of liberty and justice and an exponent of worthy ideals. But that gives no guarantee for even a near to-morrow. In His Excellency's clear phrasing of the fact, "the British Empire is destined to be what the youth of the Empire choose to make it, and this in turn depends upon the clearness of their vision and the stoutness of their hearts." Nor does he leave the matter vaguely there. Happily, there is very plain urging in his words of the maintenance of religious ardour in thought and action, as the wellspring of pure life and strong character.

In his analysis of modern conditions. Lord Bledisloe has emphasised one characteristic of the, times that marks out for youth a special measure of responsibility. This is the decay of parental control. ft may be bemoaned, but that does not alter the fact. Observers of modern tendencies will probably agree to see in it a trend inseparable from advance in education and an associated enlargement of the scope of youth in business and social affairs generally. To. attempt a restoration of the old tutelage would be to try to put back the clock. lor good or ill. this development has arrived. It takes an altogether wrong turn when children insist on bringing up their parents, but their sharing on virtually equal terms with them in many pursuits and their using of liberty to do much for themselves have to be accented with as good a grace as possible. How best to deal with this situation is a practical question best answered on the lines of His Excellency's appeal to his youthful hearers. Given an age

in which the adage "Youth will be served" is particularly applicable, it is well to emphasise that rights imply duties and that with privilege comes the responsibility to use it for others' good. ,It is a time for reviving an earlier adage "Youth must serve," employing this in no dictatorial sense but as a call to a ministering life, devoted gladly to high and selfless service. That call, among those represented by the gathering addressed by His Excellency, is being heard. It were well if throughout the whole youth of the nation it had a welcome equally eager, that liberty might everywhere be kept from becoming licence and responsibility be met by a determination to discharge it faithfully. A wide arousal to the need of this would be a salutary response to a very memorable appeal.