TO BANISH WAR FOREVER

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1929, Page 11

TO BANISH WAR FOREVER

LEAGUE OF NATIONS OBJECT HORRORS OF GERMAN AIR RAIDS. F— T WORK OF CHRISTIAN- ENDEAVOUR. “That this meeting of New Plymouth citizens rejoices in the great progress that has been made throughout the world during the past year in promoting goodwill among the nations, and declares its earnest desire for a permanent peace based on international friendship and on general disarmament.” The foregoing resolution was carried unanimously by a meeting that filled the Y.W.C.A. hall, New Plymouth, to capacity last night. < Even standing room was at a premium. The gathering was organised by the New Plymouth branch of the League of Nations Union, and the motion was moved by the president, Mr. M. Goldsbury, and seconded by Mr.- L. ■Richards, secretary, and a returned soldier.

Following an excellent concert, for which the compositions of many nations were drawn upon in the programme, Miss Jennie Street, journalist and author, of London, gave an address on the international aspect of the Christian Endeavour movement, with particular reference to its influence for the peace of the world. Then there was a spectacular tableaux, illustrating the renunciation of war and its horrors, by the nations of the world.

After Miss Street had been presented with a bouquet by Doris Goldsbury, the Mayor (Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths), who presided, welcomed Miss Street to New Plymouth. 1 Au the secretary of the Christian Endeavour movement in England, she had come to New Zealand at the invitation of the Dominion organisation, he said. •. New Plymouth was delighted to have her, and it was to be hoped that not only would the movement receive a great stimulus, but that its organiser would carry back with her pleasant memories of this country and its people. CIVIC EDUCATION. "We sometimes say that the initials of Christian Endeavour stand for civic encouragement, and at other times, that they represent civic education,” said Miss Street. She considered both of those terms equally applicable, and that night she would speak of the movement so far as its international relations were concerned. Never would she forget the first Armistice Day, 11 years ago. To the people of England it meant the end of war and the horrors of the air raids. The people who had suffered during those nerve-racking visitations uttered prayers of thankfulness that such things were over, and one little lad, not five years old, lifted his hands above his head, and said, "I am glad! I am glad! No more air raids!” Young as he was, he had already begun to realise something of the horrors of war.

“People sometimes say of war that it is to protect the women and children,” said Miss Street. “It does not protect or help them anywhere. Did it help the terrified children of London through the air raids? How often in those days did we hear the explosions of the bombs, the roar of the guns, and experience the horror of it all?”

New Zealanders, she continued, had not experienced those horrors. Many people effected in England lived high above the ground floor, and this added to the terrors of an air raid. The house she lived in had the windows blown out, but in a neighbouring row 14 houses were destroyed, nine of them being practically reduced to powder. She was in many different places during these raids, but only once or twice did she see anyone behaving foolishly. The spirit of the people on those occasions was really wonderful, though it was a terrible and nerve-wracking experience, that waiting for the explosions of boinbs.

On one occasion her sister had said she believed they were better off there below than those* people above, for they not only, took tremendous risks in flying, but it was they who threw down those terrible weapons. Then one night a great airship fell in flames. The crowd roared, and someone turned to a woman who prayed, and said: “Hold your tongue, or they will lynch you.” War aroused the hatred of a people, and had a depraving effect. DEVASTATION IN EUROPE. ' In speaking of the devastation wrought in Continental countries, Miss Street said that to-day they, were taking very great care of their children. It was said that in Poland not one child under the age of six survived the years or war, while in other parts not one child under the age of seven lived through them. Famines, raids, and all the other horrors had taken their toll. So when the Armistice arrived they all hoped it might not only be the end of the war, but of all wars. Ever since then, however, they had been very near the beginning of other wars. , In New Zealand they had wonderful newspapers supplying a remarkable news service about politics and affairs . in Europe and other continents, and informative leading articles on those subjects. She spoke as an old journalist who could appreciate these things, but even with these facilities for appreciating the trend of events abroad, she did not think New Zealanders could realise what passionate national feeling could be aroused in Europe.

The first time Frenchmen and Germans met in a friendly fashion was at a Christian Endeavour conference. The peace of the world rested with the young people of the world; they had no hatreds. Miss Sturt recalled a great Endeavour convention at Hamburg, where 16,000 representatives of nations met together, and there were 150 distinguished guests on the platform. It was inspiring to look around on the vast gathering of young people. A young Frenchman had risen and spoken with a passion she could never forget. “My brothers,” he said —and he spoke to Germans as well —“my brothers, you know they say that when a man is killed by someone on his own side it is a tragedy. What is it then when we shoot those who are not on our side? We have done it, but we must never do it again.” And there were grey-bearded people present, generals and ecclesiastics, who shook their heads, because such sentiments were new to them. Then a young Englishman declared that the British lion and the German eagle should be kept in order by their respective peoples. A German expressed similar views.

Many of the old people did not like it, but the young people wanted this new spirit, and the great audience seemed to speak as one voice for peace. The

Christian Endeavour movement stood as a federated fellowship of 5,500,000 young people throughout the world, fostering a will for peace, building against the possibility of war, supporting the Kellogg Pact. The Christian Endeavour was not the only organisation that was doing this—the League of Nations Union was carrying on a similar work —but the fact that so many young people had set their hearts against war must have a powerful effect.

“Do you not think it is time we did away with war altogether?” asked Miss Street. “When I think of those air raids and all the terrible things that happened, it does not seem possible that we should have another war. Let us put war under th& interdict of the Christian conscience as we did slavery generations ago. And what • 'will they say a few generations hence of Christians who tolerated war to-day? Each generation has its lesson to learn.”

In Hungary, continued Miss Street, there was a bitter feeling that parts of the country had been confiscated, and Hungarians averred passionately that they° would never be content till Hungary received back her tost lands. Yet at a Christian Endeavour meeting there she had heard a young man declare that war should never be permitted again, for never had a war been of service to his nation. She wished they could all be imbued with the spirit, and that the movement could be extended internationally, thus making war impossible for ever. The international concert included a pianoforte solo by Miss Horner, songs in French and German by Mrs. P. C. Davie, recitations by Mrs. Dearnley, songs by Mrs. A. B. McDonald, and Highland dances by Miss May Weir (for whom the pipes were played by Piper Shepherd). Miss Horner played the accompaniments. ■ \- A tableaux entitled the Pageant of Nations was. presented under the direction of Miss Pym. Realistic and picturesque sets represented Great Britain, Germany, Russia, America, China and New Zealand (Maoris). The principal parts in a prologue were portrayed by Miss Norma Beal (Humanity), Miss Mvra Kurth (Peace), who were ass<*-‘ated with the spirits of Oppression, Avarice, Greed and Fear. Miss Bessie Gayton took the part of Youth in the final ensemble. The pageant was designed to show ■ that having passed through the horrors of war the nations were now resolved to maintain peace forever. .... In conclusion votes of thanks were passed to Miss Street and to all who had assisted with the concert and the pageant.