ADDRESS TO ROTARIANS.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16811, 1 June 1926, Page 15

ADDRESS TO ROTARIANS.

* PADRE FRANK AT HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS. A PROBLEM AND ITS SOLUTION. Padre Frank (Rev. Frank Harty, of the Hamilton Club) gave the following address before the Pan-Pacific Conference at Honolulu on “International Relationships” : Mr President, fellow Rotarians, and Ladies, —As a citizen of New Zealand I feci that, in being asked to speak at this Pacific Conference of Rotary, an honour has been done to New Zealand. Not only is the subject of paramount importance, but the occasion is fraught with great possibilities. I feel humble in the presence of men of international reputation and representatives of old and venerable civilisations of the East. But as a Rotarian I have been asked to give of my service, and as a Rotarian I have tried to respond to the call. I ask you to pardon the manifest limitations' and ignorances of this effort, and to accept it in the Rotary spirit of tolerance. A Great Task. When, in 1492, Columbus, seeking a new route to India, stumbled on the vast American Continent, and six years later Vasco dc Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope and landed at Calicut, a new era began in the history of the world. To-day the whole world is linked together ns one great body. The railways and steamships arc like the pulsating arteries carrying the life blood of trade and commerce. The cables and wireless arc like the nerves, Hashing their messages instantaneously to and from the extremities of the body. For the first time in human history all nations of men that dwell on , the face of the whole earth are bound up in the bundle of life together. And that has brought about the most j colossal problem in history: How the ! different nations and races which in- ! habit the earth may Jive together in | peace and harmony.' It is a most | pressing problem, for although the peoples of the world have been drawn | close together physical, psychologically they are in danger of drifting turi (her apart. Having by enterprise, invention and eager pursuit of wealth ; succeeded in making the world a single whole, manking is now confronted with the more difficult task of establishing a moral unity. This is a far greater I and more difficult task than the for- ' mer, for it makes greater demands on human nature. Yet it cannot be i c\adcd. | Man’s great leap forward in the j realm of science, the bewildering ; powers now at his call, by which he ' has annihilated space and subjugated ; nature, constitute a grave menace to his future welfare. The great world war of 1914-1918 has revealed how terrible those powers can be when j used for the purpose of destruction. ! it shook our civilisation to its founda- ! lions, and it is no exaggeration to say that such another war would imperil all the moral and spiritual gains of centuries. So to-day we stand at the cross-roads. Before us lies the choice: Either the way of strife aud hatred, leading ultimately to destruction; or the way of mutual understanding, brotherhood, universal peace and prosperity. Causes of Friction and Strife.

To bring about peaceful international relationships we must- first face facts. What are the causes of friction and strife between the nations of the world? The causes are manifold, but time will only permit me to briefly summarise them.

1. First, there are differences of civilisations. Here we have a fruitful cause of friction. Each nation and race is proud of its national or racial characteristics and traditions, and we must not forget that there is a strong conservative tendency in man. We And it hard to understand and communicate with people who do not kno\v and appreciate our customs and ideals. The difference between nations in tradition, customs, social conventions, consequently in habits of thought and feeling, are so great that it is not at all surprising that they should give rise to difficulties in international intercourse and understanding. There is, to begin with, the harrier of language, hard to overcome, and even where this can he done, there remain the differences of outlook and experience.

2. Closely related to this there is the feeling of superiority, engendered often entirely hy prejudice and ignorance. Nations are despised hy others because perhaps they have not the same qualities. A nation far advanced in hygiene, for example, is apt to despise another nation which has not made such progress in that direction but may have developed a high standard of art. Then there is that worst aspect of national friction entrenched behind invincible ignorance and sheer prejudice of colour and race. But this is so foreign to the very idea of Rotary that there is no need for me to say more on this point.

3. Finally, there is the economic barrier to international peace and goodwill. To me this seems of supeme importance. The immigration exclusion policy in vogue at present in the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand is not so much a question of racial or national prejudice as one of economics. New Zealand's late Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) stated this emphatically. So have the Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada. Further, the great world war had its foundation to a great extent in economic strife. For years the economic life of the civilised world had been the scene of a fierce, relentless war. The jungle law of the survival of the strongest had been, and is, Hie rule of'our business world. Ruthless competition and the merciless crushing of opponents prepared the minds of the Western nations for the translation of that war from the count-ing-houses and factories of the great cities to the battlefields of Flanders.Although the guns have ceased to roar, and we Hatter ourselves that wc live in days of peace, there never was a greater delusion, for the spirit of war has merely ceased for the time being to manifest- itself on the battlefield, hut still continues Us deadly work in the very vitals of nations, the business life of the world. Four Questions. This may seem an exaggerated statement, hut by way of illustration I will ask four questions and answer them. I will ask Karl Marx: “What is the method to he used by the trades unions to achieve their ends?” On his own words, “To constitute a menace to society, by the cutting off of supplies.” I will ask the mine-owners of Britain: “Have you considered the woman and children, ihci millions on Hie bread line, who suffer first by a strike'?” —“Yes: their sufferings will bring the miners quicker to their knees.” 1 will ask the Miners’ Federation if they have considered Hie untold suffering' caused by the strike. —‘Acs; their suffering will but Hie quicker bring the mine-owners to their senses.” Then I will turn to Hie German military text-hooks of pre-war days: “Should women and children, the aged and the infirm, he removed from a city

before a bombardment begins?”— ‘‘Certainly not. The bombardment will be ever so much more effective if they arc there.” Could anything be plainer? A False Philosophy. Wo need to realise that there is a false philosophy current in the world to-day which socks to justify (his law of loolii and fang in our present-day cnilisation. Darwin threw such a searchlight of knowledge upon the origin of tilings that sonic men can see nothing else. Darwin’s searchlight laid bare the evolution of Die human form front that of the animal, and the revelation was blinding; it dazzled and fascinated men’s minds. Everyone began looking back for the explanation of Die present in the past; began lo explain man himself in the light ol‘ the monkey and Die tiger. The militarist historians have tried to justify war on the battlefield and in commerce by stating that it, is the universal law ol' progress, flight through nature, they say, from the protoplasm to present-day man, struggle and strife is the law of progress, and peace is a dream fit only for old women and fools. But surely to look backwards to interpret the meaning of tilings is sheer folly. The egg cannot explain tlio chicken, nor a heap of scrap iron a Ford car, nor an acorn explain an oak. But the chicken explains the egg, the Ford car the scrap-iron, and the oak the acorn. You must look for the explanation of a movement in the light of its highest ideals and development. To put it plainly: if you arc going on a journey you must look where you are going to, not where you have come from, or you will fall and break your neck. To explain ttic march of civilisation in the terms of jungle law is rank suicide. And that is what happened in 1914-1918. The Problem and Its Difficulties. Such, thf.n, briefly is the problem and its difficulties. How arc w.e to avert the impending disaster, which to some of the greatest thinkers seems inevitable? As Lord Bryce puts it, in tragic epigram: “If we de not destroy war war will destroy us.” Is there a way out? There isA We must aim to subslislute the higher law—the foundationstone of civilisation —co-operation, for Die lower law of the jungle—competition and strife. To do this is nothing less than to revolutionise the minds of men, to bring about what General Smuts pertinently says is necessary. “We need a change of heart in the peoples of the world.” There must be mutual understanding between the nations of the world. There must he an appreciation of the qualities and virtues of other nations and races besides our own. There must be the practical application of "the highest ethics in the world’s business life. This means, in one brief phrase, conversion and education. For 11. G. Wells rightly said that the survival of our civilisation depended on the result of a race between education and catastrophe. As education regarding other nations and races proceeds mutual understanding and so-operation will naturally follow. Education in world affairs would reveal Die _ fact that no nation can live unto itself. That day is past for ever, and there is no putting back the clock of time. Further, it would show that even natiou lias its own contribution to bring into the great world slate an invaluable contribution. We often read Dial what is needed is the moral equivalent for war, for man is a fighting animal, and always will be. Even if this he so, here then, surely, is a solution. Let the armies of the world mobilise; let tbe Chancellors of the Exchequers of the nations budget for Die greatest war in history, the war against all evil —everything that hinders Die progress of the forward march of man towards his ultimate goal. Let each nation of Dio world contribute her talents, her experience, and her riches towards the fulfilment of tno great Ideal. One nation would lead, perhaps, in making world communication easier and more rapid; another would take it as her duty to educate backward races. Allotting the Tasks. For example: To the great republic of the West could be given the task, on behalf of the world state, of blotting out disease. That triumph of engineering skill, the Panama Canal, defied the brains of the world until the mosquito, whose side Do held them at bay, was overcome by the untiring energy and skill of the U.S.A. medical service. There arc vast spaces of the world which still withhold untold riches because of the grim guardians which keep man at bay—malaria, sleeping sickness, and similar diseases. Who better is fitted for this task, to make habitable these treasure lands of Die world than the great republic with her 100,000,000 of people, her restless energy and fearless spirit of adventure, and her glorious record of service to many nations in tbe work of lighting disease? The world State would need laws for the administration of international justice. Might 1 not suggest my own people, the British, as being able to advise and help in the framing of international law 7 ? Is not Die vast Empire held together, not by force, but by the administration of abstract justice, but a world State in miniature? Surely the British are highly qualified for this task?

The World Stale must have roads. Who are the experts? Here is the work for Italy. The Roman roads, 2000 years old, are still a wonder of the world, and because of that Roman genius for road building Italians arc to-day employed all over the world where roads arc made. The World State must have education in the higher branches of learning, to appreciate the arts and sciences. France could choose her quota of service in accordance with her genius tor clear thinking. Of all the peoples of (tic world she has the greatest passion for logic. It appears in her architecture, and engineering, as well as in her language and scicntilic thought, and is the outcome of the educated mind. What grand work for France —the education of flic backward races!

To Germany could be entrusted the solving of problems in scientific research, such as chemistry. The Germans have a genius for attacking difficulties in mass formation. It is by the employment of armies ol' chemists that Germany has attained such an unassailable eminence in the manufacture of drugs and chemicals. To place cheap electric energy at the world’s command would bo to make tire Germans world benefactors.

Japan lias leapt across 1000 years of progress in almost a generation, assimilating and applying in tlm dailylife of licr people the inventions and culture of Ihc Western world. She lias leapt in 50 years to the front rank of 11m nations. The spirit of Japan is Hint of the knighthood of old Japan, the Samuri, noblesse oblige! To Japan could lie assigned (lie work of being a light io Asia to bring to the Oriental peoples education in all that is best of Western knowledge, and an appreciation of their own unparallelled resources.

A world slain will lined food. In a stale of peace and lioalUi there will he more mouths to feed. Chinn, India, Cr>lon, Cast Africa, Brazil, the I'hillipincs and the West Indies are all food

producers. They might well constitute the commissariat of the world state.

So I could go on ad infinitum. Bui. I tiopo I have said enough to picture a vision of a world state in which harmony and co-operation is the law, and the only war that greatest , 'ar of all, against everything that holds man bade from fulfilling his destiny.

Such an ideal is possible ol 1 achievement, hut it cannot conic in a single day. There must be Ihe slow, patient work of the forerunners, the blazers of the trail, the educators.

.Heroin lies (lie opportunity, and the moaning of Rotary's GLli object :“Tlic advancement of understanding, goodwill ami intoruational peace, l-brough a world fellowsliip of business and professional men, united in tlie Rotary ideal of service.”

Rotary’s contribution ■ r service to lliis great cause can bo, undoubtedly, I lie work of

Preparation. The organisation of Rotary in itself is a working plan of the ideal towards which the world is moving. In each Rotary Club wo find a world state in embryo. By the classification basis of membership, there are gathered together on a basis of brotherhood and equality, men of varying types and attainments. The grocer is on a par wail the lawyer, the plumber with the doctor. Each brings his contribution to the club’s welfare—bis outlook, las qualities, his skill of brain and band. Thus, first of all, is broken down the artificial and vicious harriers of snobbery, and true education in knowledge, and appreciation of relative values begun. And as cacli man, representing his vocation and occupation goes out into his city, he influences those of as classification and infects them with his vision. In Rotary international we see this same plan in operation on a world-wide scale, binding together not only classifications of profession and occupation, but men of every race and nation, breaking down by fellowship and unity of purpose the acquired national and racial..prejudices which at present prevail <ind keep back the dawning ot the day of international peace and happiness. As'the delegates go back from the Rotary International Convention, to their homes in the various countries of the world, they take back with them a knowledge and understanding that will bo of inestimable value. Each m turn spreads the ideal of service through his classification, to every department of our complex civilised life. But it is to Rotary’s chief sphere of action that I would direct your attention, for therein lies the key to the situation. It is the economic life of the world that chiefly needs conversion and education in the necessity foi the high ideal of “service in business, P, is in the earning of our daily bread, or in one word, business, that we spend most of our lives, and it is there that our characters arc largely formed. Among the leaders of industry" there arc those who say, in no uncertain voice, that business is based on unsound foundations, and needs reforming. Current events prove to the hilt the truth of their assertions. Our civilisation is doomed unless the sprit of war, competition and strife is exorcised, and service co-operation and justice placed as first principles. A man cannot profess to hold high ideals in his church or Rotary life, and manifest or acquiesce in low ideals in business. Such a man is a hypocrite, and the sooner lie realises it the better. Rotary’s groat task lies in tackling this great work of preparation for international peace, using its organisation, and above all, its business contact as a means whereby the world may be educated and converted to the ideal cf service'.

Conclusion. And so the call comes to Rotary today. A world lies before us to be conquered, not by "reeking' tube and iion shard,” not by poison gas and submarine, but by love and service. And for this cause, the greatest cause m the world, we need enthusiasm. Cannot you see the serried ranks of .the world deliverers, all who have served their day and generation, the great teachers and scientists, philosophers, leaders of men and world benefactors, who have helped to bring the nations nearer to the great ideal. Cannot you hear the tramp of the millions as that vast army of God marches on? They are marching on to victory; who follows in their train? Let us follow in their footsteps, let us reach forward and grasp the flaming torch of service which they hand on to us. We need enthusiasm, such as we had in the war. You remember how we used to feel pins and needles running up and down our spines when we saw the hoys bravely marching nwav to the war. How the strains of the Marseillaise, that most glorious of songs, would stir the most sluggish pulse. That is the spirit we must have if Rotary is to conquer, tho spirit of the Marseillaise. Let the Rotary call to service sound throughout the ends of the earth, rousing the nations from their lethargy, to arise and march against the forces of evil. "To arms! citizens, Form your battalions, March on! march on! Bend, break and bind, The foe of all mankind."