THE PRIMATE ON THE WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6730, 27 February 1900, Page 3

THE PRIMATE ON THE WAR.

At the Wellington Pro-Cathedral on Sunday morning £ 6 Primate of New Zealand (the Rev Dr Cowie) preached a sermon in reference to the war in South' Africa. His «« • ? tdok histe3tfc Romans xii., 18— If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." He pointed o^t that in the Bible peace was extolled in the highest terms. To preserve peace in our private life we must exercise reticence— the reticence of being able to hold our tongues when we did not need to speak about .things which were to the disadvantage of other persons. To preserve peace in our religious life we must learn the difference between essentials and non-essentials The cherishing of the spirit of brotherhood between all classes of the community was a means open .to all.for the preserving of peace in our na-tional life. The observance of a-e---ticence .was a means by which peace might be observed in our international relations. An avoidance of irritating comments upon the conduct o? our neighbours certainly tended to the maintenance of peace amongst nations. The British Empire held a trust as the great peace-maker and peace-preserver of the world. The trust had been given by God, and the Empire could -not decline it if Britain was to continue to hold the grent position which she now occupied. Only a week ago Christian people were gathered together throughout the British Empire to intercede for our forces in the war, and an answer seemed to have come to their prayers. On the very day that their intercessions were being offered up a change took place in the course of events. Very great relief had been givento their minds since the day of intercession. In New Zealand, as in other parts of the Empire, people were happily and willingly bearing their part of the cost of the war in blood and money. As soon as the day came that British subjects failed to give of the blood and of the money that was required for the maintenance of the position which God had entrusted to them, then it could truly be said that the British Empire was beginning to decline. In conclusion, the Primate eulogised the patriotism of the young mep of New Zealand who had gone to South Africa to do battle for the Empire, and he pointed out that we must all bear our part as individuals, as a church, and a« an integral part of ithe Empire in the maintenance of the mission of the nation.