WORLD'S GREAT NEED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20869, 11 May 1931, Page 10

WORLD'S GREAT NEED.

CHRISTIAN CO-OPERATION.

LORD BLEDISLOE'S PLEA.

STRIKING SPEECH TO YOUNG.

' ■ t EMPIRE ON ITS TRIAL.

" The great movement throughout the world to-day toward corporate reunion of the followers of Christ is largely inspired by the growing belief that the stupendous problems, social, economic and political—which, without any parallel historic precedent, aro harassing tho minds of all true patriots—can only bo solved by firm reliance on Christian truth and Christian principle," said tho Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, in an address at an interdenominational rally of young people in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon.

" Tho movement, moreover, is stimulated by the consciousness that old-timo differences in religious dogma and ritual liavo relatively little meaning in these modern days and in a new country," continued His Excellency, " and unless Christians of all denominations stand shoulder t6 shoulder in testifying to the faith which inspires them, their contribution to tho solution of these serious world-wide problems will bo feeble and unconvincing.

"Those whose spiritual views aro the same, if they cannot coalesce, at least let them heartily co-operate and present to tho eyes of those who scoff at religion, or who regard it with apathy or indifference, a solid buttress of unshakeable fidelity to tho truths of tho Gospel which they profess." Religion. No Longer the Fashion. Sumo of tho Christian communities, reminiscent of their inception and their former status in tho Old Land, called themselves free churches, but tho expression " free churches" should have no separatist significance in this Dominion, His Excellency said. No Church here was tied to tho Stato or enjoyed any special rights and privileges. All wero free find should" use their freedom in jointly proclaiming that perfect law of liberty by which all Christians should oilier their lives.

In the days when religion was fashionable, as it was in Queen Victoria's reign, it was comparatively easy for people to profess their loyalty to God. To young people, especially, prevailing custom and tome measure of parental restraint made it almost a matter of course. Religion, unfortunately, was no longer to the same extent the fashion. Parental control was greatly relaxed. But the change of fashion on the part of tho general public in the matter of religious observance and the greater freedom, if indeed it was freedom, of youth, placed all the heavier responsibility upon young Christians and demanded a severer test of their loyalty to their 1 Divine Master. But if the test was more severe success in facing it and passing it added greater strength to personal character and a more robust stability to Christian faith. Definite Aim in Life Essential. " The great British Empire was built up on sure foundations, the only sure foundations—love of God, a sense of duly, clean living and noble ideals," said Ilis Excellency. /" It is to-day on its trial. If the old foundations are weak or non- ' existent, it is destined to perish. " The crash of the British Empire, if it comes, means the crash of world civilisation—a definite setback to all that makes for the truest happiness of the human race throughout the world. And the British Empire is destined to be what the youth of the Empire ehoose to make it and this in turn depends upon t.ho clearness of their vision and the stoutness of their hearts."

Had they, yo'.ing men and women, a definite aim or ambition in life either for themselves 05 for their country or for both ? Lord Bledisloe asked. If they hacl not, they should find one. If they had, what was it ? It was the steadfast pursuit of their aim or their ideal, if it was a worthy one, and not its realisation, which would build up their character and make them purposeful and strong. " Efforts, remember, are always successes. It is a greater thing to try without succeeding than to succeed without trying." What was their aim ? Was it consistent with their Christian profession and with their country's and their Empire's welfare and progress ? If not, it should be, thrown 011 tho scrap heap and another found. Lesson of Fallon Empires. " Try to love your work as much ns your recreation and strive ever to improve your workmanship," His Excellency said " Keep yourselves physically tijnd mentally fit, and eschew all habits which impair/your fitness either for work or for play." It was .excessive luxury and the laxity ' of/moral fibre which so often accompanied it that brought the great Empires of Babylon, Greece and Rome tottering to their fall many centuries ago and which had been threatening in recent years the ccyitinued well-being of the still greater Empire to which they were so. proud to belong and of which they were destined to be the heirs and custodians. Moreover, complexity and luxuriousness of living did not make for godliness. Men and women in the surfeit of their prosperity were apt to forget their dependence upon a Higher Power for their good fortune, and when the surfeit ceased, to display, not thankfulness for their past benefits, but discontent and a rebellious spirit owing to tHcir discontinuance. Word of God as Guide. It was easy to raise one standard of living in times of prosperity beyond what was prudent or consistent with future comfort and contentment, said Lord Bledisloe. Moreover, as one standard of living in a worldly sense rose, one standard of living in a moral or spiritual tense was apt to fall. In conclusion, His Excellency said: "I would urge you to hold firmly together ns a solid phalanx of earnest Christian young people, resolutely determined to make the Word of God your guide in all life's difficulties and perplexities, to H'l a good example to your fellows in tln> strength of your characters and the purity (if your lives and thoughts, and to do all in your power to make the coming generation of New Zealand's responsible citizens worthy of their great heritage and potent instruments in advancing God'y kingdom here upon earth."