THE SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4228, 14 February 1921, Page 3

THE SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM

BISHOP LONG'S VIEWS. Bshop Long, preaching in : All Saints' Cathedral, Bathurst.New Sou.'h Wales, recently, remarked that peopV, had been assured that they must be optimistic during the; opening of the ■New- Year and see only the clouds with'the silver linings. The mere '.thoughtless form of optimism, however, carried .no value. For his part, he could not but think that there were many dark clouds on the horizon of 1921. The position required the real spirit of optimism, which enabled a man to sweep the whole horizon in his vision, and look into the dark clouds with steadfastness, quiet determination, and courage. The aftermath of the" Great War was yet to have its final issues in human affairs. The world had grown rather worse than before, and all must see that it was inevitable there would be a-period of economy and strain. Theyhad all felt the high cost of living, and believed that there must be some moans of rectifying, it, yet the -spirit of greed and exploitation was still rampant. All Australia's prosperity and the high standard of living that had been built up would be put to j jthe test in the New Year. It was der plorahle, bub nevertheless, true, that over two years .after the 1 cessation of hostilities there were still minds aflame and distorted by hatred and anger, and which saw nothing hopeful in the splendid efforts of the best minds in the world. They scornfully referred to such'institutions as the League of Nations as mere ideas or ideals, as if everything mankind had ever produced was. not the outcome o/ideas' and ideals. The salvation of the world cerainly lay in the League i of Nations.