CALL TO CHRISTIANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22790, 27 January 1936, Page 11

CALL TO CHRISTIANS

ARCHBISHOP’S APPEAL WORLD AT THE CROSSROADS. (From Ouk Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, January 4. In a broadcast address on New Year’s Eve, the Archbishop of Canterbury said that he had ventured to invite the authorities of Christian communions in Europe to issue simultaneously to their own people some solemn reminder of this responsibility. “ The answers I have already received,” he said, “ show that in the week beginning the first Sunday of the New Year throughout a great part of Europe, and with a unity never hitherto attained, an appeal to the loyalty of Christian citizens will be made. Much depends upon the answer. For assuredly Europe, and, indeed, the world, stand at the cross-roads. The one road —the way of Christ —must lead to peace. The other must sooner or later lead to a confusion in which all that we mean by civilisation may be lost. “ In the confusion of the present day,” continued the Archbishop, “ let the word of Christ be heard—' I am the Way. 5 The Christian way meant that each nation should do to the others what it would wish these others to do to it; that it should care for its neighbours as it cares for itself, as all alike members of one family or fellowship.

“On this basis it would substitute concern for the common good for envy, trust for suspicion, friendship for fear. What is certain is that if, in fact, this way were followed, it would lead to peace and to the blessings which peace would bring. This is no mere plea of preachers. It is said that human nature being what it is this ideal is impracticable even though it be true. But human nature has been, and can be, changed if it is willing; and if the ideal is true the only course is to do our utmost to fulfil it.

“ It would, I think, make a great difference if instead of thinking of the Christian way we would think of Christ the Way. Fdt then loyalty to the Person, the living Person of Christ, would lead Christian citizens everywhere to regard the ideal, not as unfolding a distant dream, but as imposing a present duty. They would deliberately set themselves and try to set their fellow-citizens on the way. It is just here that Christian citizens at this time in the world’s life have a responsibility which they dare not set aside.”