" Spiritual Rehabititation"

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 35, Issue 5, 1 July 1944, Page 1

" Spiritual Rehabititation"

(Address >by the Rev. G. Hyde, C.F.,of Waiiroa, at the Conference of the C.E.M.S., held at Lower Hutt.) .

It was my privilege to go forth from these shores with ». the First Echelon m January, 1940. I can give you. the beginning and early experiences of our men overseas up to the time of our return from Greece arid Crete. Then for a year on a hospital ship bringing back Australian and New Zealand soldiers, and for the last year m camp here m New Zealand I have been somewhat out of touch with the Division for some two years; So many of our splendid chaps go forth, as it were, to a new adventure, full of vigour -and life j little -heeding the seriousness of things, the regular churchmen among them at first attending their services. Sometimes they succumbed to the other influence's about them. A small number maintain their attendance at services, etc. So many of our fine* chaps; have little religious conviction . and lack any sound teaching. But, generally speaking, .when these same chaps have been "up against" it m battle, they inevitably turn to God and rely on whatever, little teaching they have had about God. Very often their teaching- has given them but a vague conception of their Creator, and a .mere smattering of -the great. Christian, truths. ' They see inconsistencies of life m War, cruelty, etc., and their mind is confused. Lack of teaching m their youth-, about God and the things of God is really appalling. So I ask" the First Question: — "What are we going to do about education of our

h young for the future?" The" faults A of the past are partly due to us. par r sons, but also partly the lay folk. Our religious life has been a hobby rather than a vital and real thing. Not Enough of God. The second point, I fear, is that there has been too much of the popular parson ancl not enough of God. There is a frightful lot of criticism of the clergy— not- that they do not sometimes deserve it— chaps will talk about "a popular Padre" — not about God the Creator. Too often we clergy and lay members occupy the centre of the stage Instead of staying off stage and allowing Christ the centre. Then we have those, -of whom it might be said, that "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." They have half -truth's about religion and . God, hence their /false conception about God. One, is reminded so much of the parable of our Lord's, regarding the Sower. Again, we have the chaps who are completely ignorant of- anything to do with religion and God. They have nothing to rehabilitate. To my mind then, there are three types oi soldiers for us to "deal with: (1) # Those who have strong con-, ; victions and nothing will waver their faith.

(2) Those with some religious leanings, for whom the war has either upset their faith, or made them more earnest ■ • \ seekers. :■-. /■ ' '■ • '.; ; ■ .' . ■'■' (3) Those who, have no religious convictions arid the war has not helped but only confused. .-'■■■ ■ ■ . •■ . . ■ ■ . - '. " . - The first group will eventually, on 1 , return, be keen to get on with a job, and will look for more earnestness amongst us and with us. They will ask of us: "What difference has this war made t*o you and your religious convictions?" ,We all change— even over a short period of years, /for" good or ill, and just as you will look to those returning to know of their experiences spiritually, . so they, too, may look to us for a more forthright and earnest faith ."in the future; ' Keep the Jobs for Our Men; Though I m no way depreciate the .very fine work done by our womenfolk m our churches, I believe it is quite wrong for them . to usurp jobs that men might well do. Women will usually find some other, job ' to do which they are more capable of doing. But do keep the jobs m the parishes open for our men and get men to fill them, find them a job m your parish life. Give them a * welcome back which is genuine. ,' Get them linked up with your branch of C.E.M.S. These returning men

have had experiences early m life which they litle thought about before. To stand beside a dying pal makes a' lifelong impression. To be dive-bombed incessantly for days on end is a nerve-racking experience. And because of all this, and much more, there will be required of you a real desire to understand and be patient With these chaps. At first they will want their homes, their families and peace and quiet Then after about a month or six ■ wfeeks, the restlessness Wilil -begin to set m. It is at that time you will be most helpful. Some will be distracted m thought, they may want to have discussions with you on vital matters— therey may even be disturbances m the home and domestic life and % relationship. You must /prove the ever ready friend. Your help and patience, and your stabilising influence, and your sympathetic understanding will be a great help. But, and here I'm going to strike hard, you will be of little help unless a man finds 1 m. you one who is absolutely sincere m his religious convictions, to whom prayer is a real thing, and one who has a vision. Yet you will need to be practical. Books and sermons will help, but. nothing so much as your own practical application of religion to your life. Then you can speak as one with authority. In some of his difficulties you will no doubt need the help and assistance of your vicar. : ' Don't hesitate to go to him. I give you this, then, as , the chief theme of this talk 1 to you: * "For their sakes I sanctify myself". Something of what I have already said will doubtless apply to the other two groups that I have sorted our men into.. But with them there will be need for a more definite witness to the power of Christ m our own lives, and a more earnest seeking after these men/ for God's service. Here you will need strong arugment for what your Church stands for. Some of these men wanting action are, to put it bluntly, disappointed m the Church. There is a great tendency to take Russia as an example, unqualified. Certainly Russia has done great things, certainly -she has progressed, but is she not at this very, moment opening up towards the Christian Church, realising that she has lacked 4 something over the past 25 , years or so? Russia has by no means all her difficulties. Nevertheless, to the layman who wants to see things accomplished, she has achieved success, and they look to the Church, and find her hardly stirred. ■ * But there is a stirring m the churches m spite of what they say.

Are we really awakening m our task as priests and as laity. . Here, then, is where we come m: we must be alive unto our task. FIRST, by a true preparation of ourselves and more earnest study of Scripture, the Church, and the applying of her teaching to meet the needs of our returning men. SECOND, by applying our personal .... knowledge and experience, when and where needed, and seeing that the machinery is working to bring our returning men m touch with their Church.