THE DEMOCRATIC TRUMPET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3618, 3 September 1912, Page 5

THE DEMOCRATIC TRUMPET.

ITS RISE NOT A HOPEFUL SICM. SERMON BY BISHOP OF WAIAPU. CHURCH WORK AND THE EMPIRE. By Telegraph—Special CorrespondentNAPIER, Sept. 2. “One sees the absence of vision only coo plainly in political life, and the decay of the statesman and the >-i r< the Democratic trumpet is not a i.orefill sign,” said Bishop Averili, in the course of a sermon at Napier CaTb-vi-ral last night.

The text was, "Where there is r.o vision the people perish.” and the Bishop, who has just returned from rc visit to the Old Country, gave a most interesting sermon on the subject. The strong powerful leader, the man of principle, courage, and high idea”: seemed, he said, to he capitulating to tile popular Demagogue, who was will - ing to surrender principles to expediency and right to might.

“Tort: ef Democracy.” Referring to his recent experience.: at Home, Bishop Averili stated that lie had come to the conclusion that England had no politics at the present time. So-called politics were entirely subordinated to local popular demand:: and the cries of statesmen were ceasing to exist. So-called statesmen

seemed to have- lost the gift of seer ship and to- he drifting into being toots of democracy instead of leaders.

“It is an absurd idea,” continued the Bishop, “'to suppose that deffiO* craey needs only trumpets to voice its demands. It- needs, first- and foremost. leaders, guides and inspire?-. Without such leaders the people ma y perish for tyranny becomes the substitute for law, and might for right.”

Bishop Averili spoke strongly •' r_ downgrade Christianity in India. "Where Christian nations are -enable or unwilling to see the trend of events outside the limits of their ovrt seagirt islands, and are indifferent to the great world movements going o n around them,” he said, “surely sn-: r : indiffeneuce must recoil upon the’r own heads!”

Til a key t-n tile British Empire vrs probably India, and all thiMhng m- n were aware that the internal cone - tion of india was far from being what they would like it to be. Had they done for India what their bound- r< duty compelled them to do a= Christians and as members of the great Ex - pire now on its trial? The future of India depended mot -- upon the Gospel than the sword, ard the Christian Church must act n- v

or lose its God-given opportunity. The speaker dealt at some length with China and pointed out that- t: ~ Church would have to determine jtt 1 now how much the educational system of China was religious.

■‘The world "is face t-o face." he sa-?. ‘•’with a vast problem and if it err: do nothing more than deplore the •- come of the Yellow Peril there emy soon be still greater problems to face. The Mohammedans in North ard Central Africa- were easily winning it. the race for conversion of the -50 m> lion negroes and were renewing the-: missionary zeal of early days. Self Complacency. In his concluding remarks the Behop said he had put before Ills congregation what might have seemed very gloomy view of things, but he was more and more impressed with the danger lying before the Christian: Church and our nominally Christian Empire lest it should perish from wa.vt> of vision and narrow insularity. There was a terrible danger of ri.o British people slumbering and taking their ease, while the very foundations of their security were undermined. •‘lt does, indeed, behove true ir.~ u and women of to-day to look at -rie more seriously, to widen their horizon, to realise their true mission and -by unselfishness and self-sacrifice to strive to stem the selfish and downgrade movement of society,” concluded the Bishop.