FACING CRISIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22202, 20 February 1942, Page 4

FACING CRISIS

Work Of The Church Dignity And Destiny Of Man (Special) WELLINGTON, Feb. 19. In his Inaugural address at the opening of the Methodist conference to-day the president (Rev. W. Walker) referred to many matters which vitally affect the church to-day. “The church of to-day is confronted with the greatest crisis in her history,” said Mr Walker. “Her teaching concerning the dignity and the destiny of man, and his inherent rights as a citizen, bars the way of those who desire to build up a civilisation upon a materialistic basis. The greatest tragedy of this age is due to man's attempt to run the world apart from God. Lacking the vision of God, people have put their trust in the enormous power released by scientific discoveries. This power has outrun the mortal ability of man to control and use wisely. Instead of being a blessing to the race, it is oft-times exploited into a curse.- Instead of easing the burden, and bringing beauty, life, and joy to mankind; it increases the strain, darkens the world, and causes unspeakable heartache and misery. “The Methodist Church represented in this conference can be neither indifferent nor neutral to the issues involved," continued Mr Walker. “Not only is democratic civilisation threatened, but also the Christian religion out of which democracy has come to its birth. In the so-called New Order, according to the philosophy of Nazism, there are to be two classes—the rulers and the ruled. The rulers are to consist of those who .can commit the most outrageous and devilish deeds without a qualm of conscience. They are to be men of blood and iron. The ruled are to be those who do exactly and unfalteringly what they are told. Neither education nor culture is to have a place in their lives. “Seeing that force is being used to establish such an order, then our Methodist Church is fully justified in giving its whole-hearted support to our nation and the British Empire in using force in defence of those principles of liberty, truth, justice and righteousness which we have learnt to value through the Christian religion,” said the president. “Just at it is right to maintain a Police Force for the restraining of crime and brutality within the nation, so it is lawful and necessary to use military force in safeguarding rights and liberties and institutions we value more than life itself. , "The task of the church is the redemption of the world,” concluded Mr Walker. "To her has been committed the preaching of the gospel which alone, through Christ, is able to save to the uttermost. Let her then close her ranks, let her unite her forces, let her in face of all the paganism and the secularism of this present age, fearlessly proclaim to all mankind: —‘I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; and by the grace and the blessing of God the church will save the world.”