FEDERAL UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24432, 18 October 1940, Page 8

FEDERAL UNION

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS APPLICATION OF RELIGION CHURCH STUDY ADVOCATED (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH. Oct. 17. The ideal of federal union among the nations was discussed by the Christchurch Anglican Synod to-day. On the motion of Mr Pi. Hitchcock, the svnod passed a resolution recommending to church people the study of federal union “as a means of implementing Christian manciples in international affairs.” There are people who will maintain that the Christian Church should have nothing to do with politics,” Mr Hitchcock said, “but if we want to implement Christian principles we must seek for a suitable means. It may be said that the bombing of London to-day is due entirely to the apathy of ordinary people like ourselves in international affairs, and it is not improbable that if that apathy persists it may lead to the bombing of_ Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.”

Governing Principles

There was an obligation on, Christians. Mr Hitchcock said, to see that their principles were carried out internationally. Federal union required no more than that a start should be made by a group of democratic nations, each of which would retain its individuality, but would entrust to a “super Government ” major policies such as defence. international trade and communications. Inherent in federal union was some measure of renunciation by the nations of their sovereign rights. Canada, the United States. Switzerland, and Australia were examples of the successful working of the principle. “ We cannot afford to wait for peace to plan for peace.” said Canon S. Parr, who seconded the motion. “ That mistake was made in the last war, We tried to put a new world into old bottles. This is one plan which can be tried out and perhaps prepared for. It is ,for the church to give a lead to the establishment of the new world: the old world has gone, “ I believe that the federal union movement has largely Christian ideas behind it,” Canon Parr said. “If we can encourage our people to think and read along such lines it will be a great service to the cause of reconstruction.” Example of the Soviet Archdeacon A. J. Petrie said the motion was one of the most important brought before the synod. The church was being committed merely to a study of a subject which would come more and more forcibly before the community. “It seems to me that we are implementing what many people call the brotherhood of man,” he said. “If the Church is going to he a torch to light the way instead of an ambulance to pick up those who have fallen by the way, it will be doing a great service.”

The Rev. A. H. Acheson emphasised that the Church must study and consider the terms of peace now. He mentioned the Soviet of federal union, “with more emphasis, on the centre and less o n the parts.” This example, he said, was often overlooked, and he mentioned it only as matter for study “Federal union should be studied on a wider scale, both to the Right and to the Left,” he said. “This study is a duty incumbent on every churchman.”