CHURCH AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9096, 15 July 1915, Page 4

CHURCH AFFAIRS

CONGREGATIONALISM WAR ADDRESSES AT DISTRICT CONFERENCE. The midwinter conference of the Weilington district of the New Zealand Congregational' Union, wag opened in the Terraco Church yesterday afternoon, -the Rev. A. E. Hunt presiding. The afternoon session was occupied with papers on the war in relation to the churches, and a deputation from the Society of Friends. WAR AND RELIGIOUS LIFE. "The Effect of the War upon Our Theology," was the subject of a paper read by Mr D. A. Ewen (Dunedin). The speaker quoted the reasons stated by Mr Asquith for Britain's entry into the war. Ho emphasised the principle that defeat was unthinkable. There must be ho "drawn" campaign. Defeat or compromise was impossible. Victory foi the Allies would mean a new Europe, in. which wronged and violated States would have their sanctity restored. It m j e lTt be that a now France would arise, with a firmer anchor in religion, which would constitute with England one of the greatest powers for good which the world; had ever seen. He thought that an awakening in Russia would ensue. The humanising effect of the .association of troops of various nations and colours under the Allied flags was indicated by Mr Ewen. who went on to say that our children, would look back on this war as on a campaign of crusaders, with Britain as the champion of the weak. With regard to the charge of national luxury and a diminution of religion, he said there was much truth in the accusation, and as a result of the war the race would be brought face to face with stern realities. If luxury were one of our besetting vices, it,was to be hoped that by the sacrifices now entailed it would be for ever eradicated. As to the enmity between capital and labour, ho believed that a lack of godliness in daily life was at the bottom of most of the difficulty. He hoped that, at the end of the conflict, men would come to realise the unrighteousness and the foolishness of war. As a result the more civilised nations should do away with war among themselves. Men who had given little heed to religion would look up to the heavens, asking themselves, "What does it all mean?" And the answer would come to a stricken people, "Comfort ye, My people. Your warfare is accomplished, your iniqt’ity Is pardoned." WAR AND THE CHURCH. The Rev. A. M. Aspland (Palmerston North) spoke on "The Effect of the War upon the Church.” The war, ho said, was a ringing challenge, not only to twentieth century civilisation, but to organised Christianity. Every phase of life was being touched, and a halt called so that we could examine anew the principles on which our religion was built up. The position would compel ministers of the Gospel to think more than ever before and to state anew the principles for which, the church stood. Civilisation and the church would alike be directly benefited; the church would claim a place in the hearts of men and nations that it had not heretofore held. Among the numerous revelations this war had made was the failure of the Lutheran or National Church of Germany. This was not to say that other churches were not also at fault. Had the German, church, however, been more spiritually vigorous it would, to some extent, have counteracted the materialistic trend in the national life. The lack of , unity among the churches had made it impossible for their influence to be felt in this crisis. The church must be more united and catholic in the best sense of the term, not only in name, but in deed. This war would make the missionary's bask harder, instead of easier. Nevertheless, the effect of the crisis Upon the churches had been beneficial in the extreme. Members had become more thoughtful, and the church was receiving from them a greater recognition. The 1 church was realising to-day as she had not realised for some time that, in the words of Tennyson, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." A question which the church was being asked was, "Is the war a necessity r' Bernhard! said, "War is and always will be a necessity.” Would that he Were alone 'in that view—but. alas, there were many who supported' him. Nietzsche had said, "War and Courage have achieved greater things than the lovo of our neighbour." It seemed totally inconceivable to the speaker that God should be held to have declared that war was a necessity. , Ther© > were, of course, times when war was justifiable, when the church was called on to marshal her forces and enter into the defence of the right. The present conflict was not simply a war between armies and navies, but a religious war. In <hich the churches, standing for a spiritual interpretation of life, were. pitted against a nation ruled by force—and brute force at that. Nietzsche preached the superiority of might; aud what we met with under the cloak of "culture'' was a revolt against Christianity. Mr Aspland referred to the manner in which members of the various denominations had come to the assistance of the Empire, and stated that the churches had become enlisting centres. If the cause were not a righteous one, their noblest sons and daughters would not bave offered themselves so willingly on the altar of sacrifice. He was proud of the part which this church was taking, both in the Dominion and abroad. Four sons of Congregational ministers in New Zealand. had been wounded at the Dardanelles—and nil honour to them. This war . had helped to reveal the unique fcores of Christianity while it had also helped to lay bare some of the weaknesses of organised Christianity. EVENING SESSION. A public meeting in connection with the conference was held last evening, when further addresses touching the war were delivered. The Rev. A. B. Hunt presided over a large attendance, A RELIGIOUS WAR. The Rev. H. Steele Craik. of Auckland, spoke on "The War and the Moral© of the Community." The last helf-century, he stated, had been very largely an age of materialism. Science Rad put a whole kit of tools in the hands of the wealthy classes-. The desirability of wealth for its own sake was the key to much of the discontent that had occupied tha attention of reformers. Life’s thirst had been quenching itself with a draught that doubled thirst. This wax was neither an adventure nor a "scrap"—it was a. crusade. What was at stake was the people's character; the graces of the Christian religion were threatened by the jack-boot of military power. The morale of the, community had been in finitely enriched by the discovery that this was a religious war. The principle behind the declaration of the war«twas not the survival of the fittest, but a doctrine born in unstable minds/ which might be expressed as "the survival of the strongest-'’ More than ever before, the world was now ready to hear the message of the Cross. The present opportunity seemed to be without parallel in the experience of anyone living. It might be that the war would give the greatest possible lift to the morale of the community. At the end of the war, should we forget tha God on whose name we called? Should we even treat Him ns though it was only in time of exceeding stress that we needed Him, and that when the piping times of peace arrived' we..could do withofit’ Him? If so. the blood of our sons and brothers had been shed in vain. The privileges made safe on European battlefields were

ours only to be used for God- Those men at Gallipoli and elsewhere were providing us with the very water of life; they were securing for us freedom, and all the things we held dear, all the things connected with the religion and name of Jesus Christ. Should we not regard those gifts as such as we should lay on the altar of God? This we could do by yielding ourselves .to more noble endeavours, living less selfish lives, and seekingr how to extend the kingdom of Christ. THE FALLACY OF INACTION. "Christianity and War" was the subject treated by the Rev. I. Sarginson, of Timaru. Ho stated that Jesus never entered into the arena where life's practical problems were being fought out in sweat and blood. Christ never solved, nor attempted to solve, any questions of government, business, or international relations; but He knew that someone had to grapple with these things. He pitied from His soul the men who held responsible position* in such a crooked ana perverted generation. Jesus was perfectly cognisant of the differences between the services which it was His mission to render and the inferior services rendered by the men ({rinding away at heavy tasks involved in the routine of an ignorant, wicked and dirty world xn being. That position made it impossible for Him to act the part of the scolding moralist. The opinion had been heard that a nation which was Invaded should be content to ascend its Calvary. Christ's Calvary was not a piece of inaction, but a deed in defiance of the powers of darkness. , The type of Christianity that would condemn a gallant little kingdom for not accepting invasion—that would counsel inactiou when either one’s own life or that of others was threatened—would bo quite. too unworldly to .be taken seriously- Mr Sarginson concluded with a strong appreciation of the righteousness of the fight waged by Britain. The conference will be continued today.