VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20989, 28 September 1931, Page 9

VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP.

PART IN WORLD RELATIONS. ISOLATION IMPRACTICABLE. "The greatest need in the world at the present time is friendship," said Archbishop Averill, preaching in St. Matthew's Church last evening, at a Girls' Friendly Sociely diocesan festival service. The archbishop pointed to the need to strive for understanding, a need which was national as well as personal. The inventions of science were serving to remove barriers which once permitted isolation. It was becoming increasingly evident that peoples were being brought closer together and the great problem in the world in modern limes was for races to live in this proximity -without strife and irritation.

It was essential to learn how to minimise the existing difficulties. The present world-wide depression was in itself a reminder that isolation was not practicable arid common understanding was required. If one part suffered it followed that the remaining parts must suffer with it. "Why can we not live our own lives without bothering about others?" Archbishop Averill continued. "The answer is because our lives are not our own and we cannot isolate ourselves from our fellow-beings. It is useless to talk of being isolated. How are we facing the problem of preventing bumping into one another through this proximity ? Wo should realise that it is necessary to share our lives with others. Unless we have this spirit we have not learned the principles of true religion. An isolated life is always a dangerous life." The archbishop mentioned the Girls' Friei.dly Society as an institution the objects of which were in accordance with the ideal 110 had mentioned. A section of modern youth prided itself on its independence, but he believed the majority of the young people of to-day were no less religious than their predecessors. The danger at the present time actually was superficiality and it had to bo remembered that there could bo no new gospel of or for youth. At the close of the service, which was conducted by Canon C. H. Grant Cowen, vicar of St. Matthew's, the Hallelujah Chorus was sung by the choir. The large congregation included members of the branches of the Girls' Friendly Society.