CARNARVON CASTLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 117, 20 May 1932, Page 8

CARNARVON CASTLE

FLAGS ON EAGLE TOWER. UNION JACK AND DRAGON. LONDON, May 9. In the House of Commons to-day the First Commissioner of Works, Mr. W. Ormsby-Gore, stated that, in consequence of the unanimous request of the Carnavon Council, tho Government had decided that henceforth the Union Jack and tho Welsh Dragon would be flown simultaneously on separate flagstaffs from tho Eagle Tower on St. David’s Day and the King’s Birthday, the same thing as the white heat of the religious enthusiast. Educationalists don’t band themselves together to send teachers to the African, the Chinese and the Esquimcaux. Something more is required than the benefiteiont glow of and for education to strengthen the character of the people and so alter their conduct. What is that something else? The history of the last twenty centuries attests that the most vivifying agency is the Christian religion. It is desirable, therefore, that the defin-itely-religious Christian sense shall be evolved and fostered in New Zealand so that the statistics which I have cited shall not remain at their present unsatisfactory levels. Bible Reading it is our belief that no agency is o.L such potency in its Christian influence as is Bible reading. But that is not enough. Our educationalist friends have taught us something. It is not enough that we read our Bibles out oi a sense of duty or as pious exercise. It is desirable that we shall read it with a self volition. ,Anything that tends to create that self volition, that reaching out towards the subject, is helpful to the understanding of the book, and surely the greater the understanding of the book itself, the greater will bo the spiritual message which the book imparts to us.

Canon Anthony Deane thinks that we should read tho Bible as we do a story or a poem, not piecemeal but each story right through. It would certainly give us more material for our minds to reflect on; it would assuredly give to our preachers wider scope in their allusions to the Bible, and it would increase our enjoyment of tffc book itself.

Have wo a right to enjoy the Bible? To my mind the question seems hardly needing an answer. To enjoy it is to know it, and without knowing it how can we bo inspired by its message? If tho people can be induced to enjoy the Bible, then they will road it as they

are not reading it to-day, and if they do read tho Bible more, that quickened sense of rightful desires which are tho basis of the character we appreciate will make itself manifest in this community in a remarkably short while.” The Ven. Archdeacon Young and the Revs. Goring, Ker and Page took part

in tho subsequent discussion. The next meeting will bo hold next wook, when Mr. Jenkins will lecture on the “Charm of the English Bible. ’ ’