ANZAC

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 12

ANZAC

Sir, —Being unable to be present at ihe service in the city to-day, I sit down to ask myself what really is the true message of “Anzac” for us today and what is the inspiration which it might give?

One remembers with pleasure the many faithful and stirring messages which it has been our privilege to hear; nevertheless, there is often quite a lot of “Pi” talk from numerous platforms all over the Empire, much which we do not really believe, though we may try ever so hard to persuade ourselves that we do, just because we are human and so apt to follow popular thought. Although many of us would scorn to be reckoned among the “Spiritualists” as that term is usually understood, we shall listen, some with much patience, others again with impatience, to the oft-re-peated reminder, that the hosts of our reverred and beloved Dead are anxiously watching us and praying that we shall not fail in our duty to carry on the great work which they have begun and for which they have so willingly laid down their lives to accomplish. All that wore beautiful sentiment if. as Christians, we could really believe that it is in accord with the truth Could such thought have entered their minds in the welter of battle, or after, have been born by the incident of

There must have been, among that vast host of heroes, many souls of refinement to whom the horrors of war and even inescapable duty must have been, as it would be to the present writer and to many another to-day, a veritable nightmare of dread. In the great adventure of Gallipoli, as in that of Balaclava sixty years before, there must have been those who felt that “someone had blundered,” but again, there was not to reason why, but just to do and die.” And so again the deed was done which has both made tho name of “Anzac” famous for all time, and added to the roll of glories which have made England great. The sense of duty to King and country, to home and all that makes life dear is, and always has been, the controlling spirit of every true-hearted and right-thinking man. To some this deep sense of duty has become their religion. Ono thinks of tho Roman soldier who died at his post, found many years after at the excavations at Pompeii. What is it but this religious sense of duty that has so rapidly brought Japan into tho forefront of tho great nations of the world and made tho little brown sol dier well-nigh invincible?

“Fall on their bayonets, honourable comrades, the men behind will do the rest.’' This was the appeal of a Japanese colonel to his men when leading them on a forlorn hope in the war with Russia. That is the spirit which always wins in warfare, whether It bo in tho realm of flesh and blood or in that of tho spirit, it was the spirit which animated Judson of Burham and Moffat and Livingstone and Hudson Taylor of our own times, as well as the early Prophets and the Christian martyrs. It Is written of Abraham, the Father of the Chosen Nation, that “he went out in faith, not knowing whence he went.” He was “the man who was sure,’’ and that is the point 1 am coming to. The Auzacs” and all whom that grand name stands for, had “heard the call.” They were sure of their duty because they had faith in their country s cause and in the Government of their country.

10-day this world i s j n the throes ot an agony which may yet be but the begining o f a greater time of horror and desolation than even the last Great War. “Men’s hearts are already failing them for fear as to what is coming upon us “ and our children. As has been so surely foretold. Anxious men who are already becoming desperate, are being told by those to whom they are expectantly looking for help, to “get back to God.” f would ask: How can men get back to where they have never been? Surely, this is a question which all men have a right to ask? Is it not much on a par with that which was put to the Christ bv His perplexed disciples?: “We know not whither Thou goest and how can we know tho wav?”

Karl Barth, one of the leading theologians to-day, states that the great question men are asking the Christian Church just now is: “Is it, true that, there is in all things a meaning, a goal, and a God?” and that the Bible alone can and is answering that question in its own wav.”

It seems to me that as surely as the commanding call of nearly twenty years ago went out for unflinching response to their country’s need, so now the clarion call is sounding for “men who arc sure” to give a lead in the direction from which alone succour can come. How can a man find God? Yours etc., H.R.T. Wanganui. Anzac Day. 1933.