IN NEED OF REPAIR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 117, 20 May 1932, Page 12

IN NEED OF REPAIR

WORLD’S MORAL FORCES PRESENT-DAY PROBLEMS BISHOP LISTON’S APPEAL. “Leaders in many walks of life — members of Parliament, economists, bankers, men of affairs —are intent on solving problems of the gravest concern to us all, and I for one have confidence in their ability and integrity and believe that if they seek and receive the co-operation of all classes they will in good time put to right the many grave defects in our existing order.”

This striking statement wms made by Bishop Liston at .Auckland, in referring to the present difficult times at the opening of the new Roman Catholic school at Henderson.

Order would come out of confusion only when first things were put first, said the speaker with emphasis. The social question was an economic one, but even more a moral and religious one, and the moral crisis was more dangerous to the best interests of meh than the economic one.

“The moral forces of the world have fallen into disorder and need repair.” declared Bishop Liston. “How many to-day are quite frankly telling us that for years past they have, consciously or unconsciously, been sufficient unto themselves and working without God? To them now come bewilderment, dismay and dread. To the Christian mind the difficulties of the day bring, of course, distress, but no undue perplexity. They do but emphasise the lesson which history has written again and again as to the true meaning and value of human life. The deepest problems of men are moral and religious and these are right relations of justice and charity as between man and man and due worship and loyal service of our Maker.” The speaker appealed to his listeners to banish thoughts of pessimism and

despair and to turn with humble con tidence to their Creator and Father. Standing out clearly through the of the country’s common trials and the grosser darkness of the people's evil deeds was One Who had given the world a true reform. His own life had given a true meaning to the people’s lives and homes and work and sorrow and pain. Men had turned their eyes away from that light, but it had not grown dim, and it stood out clear to day for all who wero willing to see. There were numberless paths, but the way was one. In concluding, Bishop Liston said that all classes would have to approach the tasks to be done in the highest patriotic spirit. The tasks of peace were no less important and no less difficult than the tasks of war. They called for deliberation, and self-re-straint, for promptness and energyEspecially they demanded that the people should unite their forces for the common good, that the Govern ment should come to the people and trust them and offer the best possible measure of justice to those in need, and that, the people should give to the Government the fullest measure oi support. The need for justice and charity was imperative and no less urgent was the need for unity and cohesion.