RELIGION AND INTOLERANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19565, 2 May 1935, Page 9

RELIGION AND INTOLERANCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —How long wilt the public put up with the intolerance that surrounds the visit to ibis town of the leaders of Religion of Hie World? Wc are far-flung from the home bases of the powerful religious orators of to-day, and have to content ourselves by reading their biographies and their works lilcraliy. So why, when a great personality comes to this town or passes through its junction station, are we not given a 'suitable opportunity to gain Hie slrenglb such personalities express in person? Some lime ago Dr. Stein came to Hamilton, and in our Y.M.G.A. Hall gave a stirring address, and many people, will slill llii'ill |n the memory of Ids intense and amazing personality. Credit is due In the local body who organised the visit of Dr. Stein. The oilier day llie great lieneral Evangeline Roolli was allowed lo slip through Ihis town wilhuul an invitation being extended to her to meet

and speak to the hundreds of church members and religious thinking public. Thus Hamilton has agian missed the opportunity of coming Into personal touch with one of the world's religious leaders. Now the question is opportune, “What then shall *we do with Kagawa?” There is coming to this town lilts wonder man, the St. Paul of the East, a man whose religion and love for mankind Is as wide as the world itself, a man whose book grips and 'thrills its readers as the miracle of his splendid life Is unfolded. Every Christian In Hamilton, whatever denomination he belongs to, will anticipate the visit of Kagawa. Tho .Government „of Japan honoured this apostle of Christian faith by appointing him as one of the men chosen to reconstruct the nation after tho great earthquake—and yet what honour and homage is Hamilton prepared to pay Kagawa? Is this personality to he hedged in 'by intolerance, and are denominational barriers going to stand between Kagawa and the public of Hamilton? During his regrettably short stay, will lie he situated where all Christians can approach Kagawa, irrespective of their creed or denomination? 'Let not potty denominational barriers he hedged around this modern apostle, but let us approach and draw near him in our own way as we arc free to approach the '.Master whom he serves. What, local body is organising {ho visit of Kagawa, and what arrangements, if any, arc made? —t am, etc., PLUS ULTRA. Hamilton, April 30, 1935.