APPEALS

New Zealand Tablet, 14 November 1918, Page 21

APPEALS

. It has been remarked that for some time past many appeals to the charity of our readers have appeared in the Tablet. Appeals are the order of the day. One cannot go out of doors without being stopped and having a collecting-box thrust in front of one for some purpose or other. Even this week when the news of peace came the habit of collecting did not disappear and people gaily paid their shilling for what end they knew not. One thing is certain about all the appeals in the Tablet : you do know what they are for, and you are quite certain that every penny will get there, the appeals for help to erect new churches deserve a better hearing than many of the appeals which have drawn thousands out of pockets of those who could not always afford it. It is no easy task to provide a church in a small parish, in which the people are few and finance always a difficulty ; and although no easy task, it is still an imperative one. We have only to look back on our own experience to realise what anxiety and what trouble it involves for the priest. And the priests who make such appeals have our cordial sympathy. Now the war is over, and, mercifully, there will be an end to the daily and weekly collections at the street-corners. It is the hour of thanksgiving to God for the gift of peace. There will be many to whom the peace, and its relief, mean more than could be estimated in terms of money. We put it to them that the offering of a substantial sum in aid of one or other of the churches on behalf of which appeals are made in our columns is a magnificent way of expressing their gratitude to God at this season. Again, there are many others who have lost friends during the war. What better memorial could they raise to their memory than one of these churches, or as great a part in one of them as their means allow ? Masses will be said day after day, and year, after year, for the donors, and there could be no grander tribute to the memory of the dead than a share in those Masses-.- It cannot be said that the many readers who will welcome the opportunity of thus returning thanks to God or helping the dead have not opportunities just now. There is the heavy undertaking of erecting a suitable church ip Wellington, to replace the old one, destroyed by fire; the appeal for the Father Dore Memorial Church at Foxton ; there is an appeal from Ohakune, still suffering from the devastating bush-fire the appeal from Eltham; and lastly the appeal from Roxburgha new parish, with a small population and limited resources, where the foundationstone of a church in Honor of Our Lady of Peace will be laid on the 24th of this month. Again, let us remind our readers, that in no way can they better express their gratitude to God at present, or commemorate their dead friends, than by doing their part in helping the priests who make these appeals. During the war we used to be told to give until giving hurt: there is no need to give until it hurts in this case, but those who do give when it hurts will have the greater reward. And the reward is measured, not by the amount given, but by the sacrifice made.