“GOD’S OWN COUNTRY.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21131, 15 September 1930, Page 3

“GOD’S OWN COUNTRY.”

BIBLE CLASS RALLY. GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S MESSAGE. (Special to Dails Times.) WELLINGTON, September 14. " You are said to live in God’s Own Country, and if your muscles are taut and your hearts are clean, and your eyes are bright and joyful, this New Zealand of yours will not only be God’s Own Country, it will be a beacon, like the Toe H lamp, to guide the nations of the world towards the sunshine of God’s presence and God’s blessing.” This was :part of the Governor-General’s message to a rally of Bible class movements which was held in the Town Hall this afternoon. The building was packed to capacity, many people being turned away. "We all stand in the ranks of a great Christian army scattered all- over the world,” said his Excellency. ‘‘lt has its divisions (in more_ senses than one), its brigades, its battalions, its companies, and its platoons. United it stands. Only, if it _ is_ divided does it threaten to fall, and if it falls civilisation, .order, and indeed human happiness will crumble and fall with it. We in New Zealand, although separated into various companies represented by different denominations, with different company commanders and non-commissioned officers, belong to one great regiment. May I presume to call the King’s Own, We all have the King of Kings as our General Officer Commanding. Unseen He is here to-day giving us His inspiration and His guidance. We all, too, have in the Bible a. copy of the King’s regulations with our several.duties. Let there be no dissension in our ranks, no mutual jealousies, no narrowness of outlook, and above all no self-righteousness. I, wonder if you know the story which was current shortly after the war; —I am not quite sure I ought to tell it—a story of two padres belonging to different religious communities who met behind the lines in Flanders during the war. Of course 1 will not venture to disclose to you to what denominations they belonged. One said to the other, ‘How splendid to think we can cooperate in advancing the Kingdom of God. The reply of the other was, * Aye, aye, we are both doing the Lord’s work, you in your way and lin His.’ We have our _ foes to fight our battles to win, but it is only by closing up the ranks and in the spirit of comradeship and mutual co-operation that we shall achieve victory. Worldliness, indifference, and indeed infidelity are rampant in the world to-day, and unlike 50 years ago are unfortunately fashionable, with the result that our churches Are all too empty. Home me, which should be the very backbone of every creat nation, is at a diecount. Varied amusements, not always of the most savoury and edifying description. are eagerly sought after and an unnatural craving for constant excitement banishes that quietude of mind which makes for the truest happiness.”