Books and Writers

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23850, 28 December 1940, Page 7 (Supplement)

Books and Writers

By G.F.I

WORTHY to take rank with great war-time utterances of our leaders in Britain is fho little book which Mr. Frank Milner, C'.M.t;., rector of the Wailaki Boys' High School, has just, produced under the title, "Our Cause and Our Faith." Into it has gone the ripe wisdom of 41 years of active teaching experience and a lifetime of study of the great Empire of which the author is so devoted a patriot,. He describes the essay as an attempt, to explain the meaning to the world of "this singularly tin-Imperial institution called the British Empire." One of the main theses of the author is "that the full co-operation of the British Empire and the United States of America is the only practicable valid guarantee in sight, to save the world from terrorism and anarchy. We have one sure foundation to build upon, and only one in the secular sense," ho concludes. "That is Anglo-American cooperation and joint pooling of resources. Therein lies salvation—a world policed and immune from gangsterdom hv ihe rule of law hacked by overwhelming sanctions, and a world safe for constructive and unhurried building of a new and just order of things." As a basis for the great faith that is in him, Air. Milner briefly traces the origins and the constitution of the British Empire, a vast: area within which war is unthinkable. "Palestine gave to the world Christianity," he says, "Greece gave culture; Rome gave law; but Britain's gift is liberty, and for liberty she has been the impreg-

liable rampart for a thousand years." Wit h the spiritual heritage of the British Empire, cemented with men's blood, lie sharply contrasts the philosophy ol "Ibis foul and incredible tiling called Nazism," the history of which he finds to be deeply embedded in the past. 1 lie domination of contiguous peoples has been a feature of Teutonic tribalism from the dawn of history, and the present Mar is the titanic clash of liberty against enslav etneiit. 1 lie just ideation of the British Empire is its contribution to the peace of the world, and to the freedom, justice and tolerance of human life. It is justified

"OUR CAUSE AND OUR FAITH"

not by its material assets and its worldwide expansion, hut by the purposes these subserve. It is the bulwark of free men evervwhcrc. The author pavs a fine tribute to Mr. Winston Churchill, and di'ehjres that his fortitude of spirit, un*ha table la it h in (lie justice ol our cause and gilt of inspirational utterance lend new heart to our sorely beset people, and intensify their determination to counter this incredible perversion ol the values of human life. Drawing to a close, Mr. Milner passes on to the great spiritual issues, and declares" that life is inexplicable without belief in its spiritual purposes. He founds his indomitable faith in our vieory, firstly, on the ground that we are at war against spiritual wickedness in high places. Hitler has challenged the immutable laws of God and will meet his inevitable doom. There follows series ol other heartening reasons for confidence, such as the invincible courage of the people, the might and unity of the British Empire, the help of America. British sea-power and growing airpower, and because of lessons of past history. The ones great compensation he finds for this purgatory is the rapidlygrowing understanding between the two great branches of the English-speaking peoples. This informed and inspiring review of the world-situation, which appropriately closes with Clougk's "Say not the struggle naught availeth," is worthy of the widest circulation, for it will bring courage and hope wherever it goes. It is published in two editions, a popular one and a presentation one. and the whole of the royalties are being donated by the author to patriotic funds. "Our Cause and Our Faith," by Frank Milner, C'.M.O. i.\. 11. and A. V. Iked, WellingI ton and Duncdin.)