PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21192, 15 August 1940, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write i:i ink. It is essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

NEGLECT OF PRAYERS

(To the Editor) Sir. —The Hamilton Ministers’ Association has considered it wise to change the weekly mid-day business men’s prayer meetings to monthly meetings to be held in the evening, because the attendance at the weekly day meetings has dwindled away. It is not a criticism of the business men in particular but of human frailty in general to suggest that recognition of the need for prayer has faded with the passing of the most alarming phases of the war. When France was crumbling and the outlook for the British Empire seemed most menacing, men rushed to prayers—quite naturally. But then there came a pause in the enemy onslaught and the British people became used to the new conditions. Their fear abated, and the prayer meetings were more or less neglected. It could be hoped that thanksgiving for protection from the enemy would have crowded the prayer meetings. But memory seems to be short, and security, or apparent security, leads to forgetfulness. Humanity is frail indeed, and not very consistent or loyal. Should the war situation again deteriorate from Britain’s point of view their will probably be another rush to the prayer meetings. Prayers in time of acute crisis only may be better than no prayers at all, but there is a weakness in the faith that leads to supplication only when fear drives.—l am, etc., BUSINESS MAN. Hamilton, August 14.

THE BISHOP’S SERMON

(To the Editor) Sir, —In Tuesday’s local and general column of the Times appeared a precis of a sermon that the Bishop of Waikato preached at Palmerston North, in which he said that the prophets of the Old Testament did not foretell but “forthtold,” whatever that may mean. It is possible, of course, that he has been somewhat misreported, and I also have rather a suspicion that the verbal bombs that His Lordship throws at us are for the express purpose of making us think of the opposite side of the pictures he sometimes portrays. In the event, however, that he is serious he should be informed that tens of thousands in New Zealand alone are at the moment vitally interested in Biblical prophecy. Would the bishop have us believe that the coming of the Messiah was not foretold; that His second advent has not been foretold; that Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Esdras, Hosea and others were only > lucky guessers, and that things that they said would happen hundreds, yes, and thousands of years after their death were just coincidences; that the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that they were to be the founders of a mighty nation that would endure for all earthly time were not sincere? In ojjier words, is he asking us to believe that 50 per cent of the Bible is so much myth and legend, and that the Power that could create this universe with . all the marvels and wonders of nature would not see to it that His textbook is correct? If so, he in effect says that the Book of Genesis and the book of Revelations are all wrong.” Doesn’t he think it possible that “Revelations” might apply to the present day? Fear, terror, destruction, brother rising against brother, nation against nation, famine and pestilence in the offing, Stalin, Hitler and Mussolini all with their eyes on the Middle East—surely the last great battle would not then be long delayed. I wonder if the bishop could give us another explanation of these happenings, or does he believe that they just happen without cause or reason?—l am, etc., FORETELL. Hamilton, August 14.

REMOVAL OF EYESORES

(To the Editor) Sir, —While acknowledging the excellent work of the Hamilton Beautifying Society and the Domain Board on public lands within the borough, the writer would make a suggestion that may be worth consideration. Is it possible to enlist the support of business people in an endeavour to clear up some of the undesirable litter on private property in some business areas of the town? A stroll down some of the side streets at no great distance from Victoria Street will disclose some deplorable aggregations of unsightly junk disfiguring private sections within full view of the street and in some cases almost impinging on the footpaths. The businesses concerned may consider these sections are their own and that they have a perfect right to do as they wish. That is true to a point; but everyone who has interests in the town has a civic duty to perform. That duty includes ordinary tidiness and thought for the appearance of the town. When there is a campaign for the salvage of waste materials, many of the business men concerned might discover that in these unsightly refuse heaps and junk yards there is much of value that could be realised. The value of the material should at least pay for the trouble of removing what is at present a terrible eyeIn the outlying parts of Hamilton the Beautifying Society and the Domain Board have done much to make the town a place of beauty. It would be a thousand pities if the business portion of the town failed to fall into line. It might not be possible to make all business premises beautiful, but tidiness at least is possible without very much cost or effort. Hamilton would become more pleasing to the eye if some of the business people linked their interests and their efforts with the Beautifying Society. The first step should be an inspection of certain of the business

streets to ascertain whether the need exists. The writer is certain that an inspection committee would very quickly be convinced of the desirability of action on the lines suggested. -I am, etc, CIVIS . Hamilton, August 14.