CHURCH DESECRATED.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18796, 18 November 1932, Page 9

CHURCH DESECRATED.

(To the Editor.) Sir, The cablegram you published this evening narrating the action m New South Wales of vandals who entered a church and used the sacred vessels and equipment as targets for rifle practice indicates an appalling state of things. One can only devoutly hope that it was the work of lunatics or mentally-affected folk, for if it were people in their normal senses who perpetrated such sacrilege they must be fiends in the shape of men. it would be folly, however, to close our eyes to the fact that a considerable and Increasing percentage of our population are growing up without any sense of awe or reverence for sacred things. Their only creed is materialism; the spiritual sldo of their nature has been so neglected that it has ceased to function and has no appeal. This may he all to the good according to some schools of thought who regard the loosening of religious sentiment as evidence of freedom; but to my mind it bodes ill for the individual, the community and the State. The incident reported from Sydnov may bo (I hope It is) an isolated case, but I fear it is evidenco of a deep-seated, seething movement which will force Itself to the surface when the time is considered favourable. Not for nought has the Communist organisation entered upon an anti-God campaign. They know that if they can make men blatant atheists they will have ready tools for any devilry they can devise.—l am, etc., DIC DENT. Rototuna, November IG, 1932.