Responsible Nationhood

BISHOP HUNT:

"I proclaimed a fast that we might humble ourselves before God to seek from Him a straight way for ourselves, our children and our goods."-Ezra 8.21.

In this service of praise and thanksgiving, marking the Diamond Jubilee of the Empire Club of Canada, my subject, as a member of the Club, is Responsible Nationhood. For the text I have chosen a passage in one of the obscure and rather difficult historical books of the Old Testament, the Book of Ezra. Despite its textual and other problems, this small book proclaims a glorious event. It records a fact of tremendous historical importance in the annals of the Jewish people. It tells of the re-birth of a nation after many years of exile and captivity. Under the blessing, protection and favour of the Persian King Artaxerxes, successor to Cyrus and Darius, the Jews were allowed, in large numbers, to return from Babylon to Jerusalem, and joining the remnants of their countrymen there, rebuild the sacred city and reconstitute the ancient worship in the Temple.

Already Nehemiah, the King's cup-bearer, had begun the great work of restoration. Now Ezra the scribe, reinforced by heads of houses, leading men and a great company of people, and laden with treasure from the King, set out on the holy mission of rebuilding the nation, giving it order, strength and purpose. This was his high destiny under God, his life's vocation. At the outset of the journey he set the basis, not only for the safe conduct of the people from Babylonia to Palestine, but also for responsible nationhood: "I proclaimed a fast that we might humble ourselves before God and seek from him a straight way for ourselves, our children and our goods."

In any nation throughout history the well-being and progress of the people require the setting of a straight course. There must be the choice of high principles and worthy ideals and steadfast allegiance to them. It was in order that such a straight way might be made for our Canadian people, ourselves, our children and the responsible use of our goods, our vast national resources, that sixty years ago this month the Empire Club of Canada was founded. At that time certain leading citizens of this community, representing various responsibilities in society, legal, educational, military, business, and the press, were deeply concerned about national tendencies and problems. There was talk of a Canadian separatist movement, breaking the historic ties with the Motherland. There was interest in annexation to the United States of America. Were these proposals, to sever the bond with Great Britain or to become part of the American Republic, setting a straight way under God for Canada? The founders of the Empire Club thought not.

So under the initiative and at the invitation of Lt. Col. James Mason the famous meeting was held at Webb's Restaurant in this city on November 18th, 1903, at which the decision was made to "form an organization following the plan of weekly luncheons, to be addressed by men speaking with authority on the issues of the day, and having a distinctive basis of British Unity in its work and policy." The following week at the constitutive meeting the principles and rules were adopted by the 70 charter members, and the policy accepted as "the advancement of the interests of Canada and a United Empire." A week later, December 3rd, the inaugural luncheon was held, with more than 100 present, under the chairmanship of Lt. Col. Mason as President and with the Rev. Professor William Clark as the speaker on the subject: "The Empire Club of Canada and Its Ideal of Imperialism."

Within a short time membership rose to 500 and was held firm at that point, so that soon a lengthy waiting-list developed. Week by week, year by year, the meetings have continued until now there is a record of 59 illustrious names in the Presidency, including the present holder of the office, Mr. Arthur Langley, who read the First Lesson at this Service. Each year the addresses given at the luncheons have been printed in full in a handsomely bound Year Book. It is fascinating reading to peruse these volumes from the 1903 edition, through all the years of storm and stress, war and peace, adversity and prosperity, and to note how the high standards of responsible nationhood and imperial sentiment and loyalty have been maintained. Of particular interest, in our national situation today, is the call of a French Canadian M.P., the Honourable L. P. Brodeur, Minister of the Interior, in March, 1904, for the union in Canada "of all creeds and races in one grand effort for the development and the progress of this fair Dominion." To this we add the judicious word of another great Canadian of cherished memory, the beloved Professor Maurice Hutton, one-time Principal of University College, Toronto, in his address in February 1904: "We trust to the French element: if we do our duty by it: if we really mingle with it: why should we not, for example, accept that ancient flag of theirs, the Lilies of France, which has no other home throughout the world, and add it to our own Union Jack? We trust to the French element: if we honestly unite with it and make it one people with us-we trust to the French people to introduce all the logic and the science, the art and the literature which always reach their height in Frenchmen or Greeks." Here indeed is a brave and prophetic plea for biculturism!

today, with a membership of 2,500, the Empire Club of Canada faces a world and a responsibility vastly different from that of the founding year, 1903. At that happy, far away time, Empire had its finest hour. Rudyard Kipling's Recessional, in exultant recognition of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, embodied the spirit of that nostalgic period. Now, after two devastating wars, the rise of new and powerful imperialisms, their deadly struggle for supremacy, the transition of many peoples and nations, under Britain's wise and benign direction, from colonial status to independence, the phenomenal and frightening advances in science, the pressures Of secularism, technology and automation, the new morality which is no morality: all of these trends, events and social changes have revolutionized society. Since 1903 our world has undergone a total metamorphosis.

New occasions teach new duties, and the duties of responsible nationhood today are many and enthralling. Our country and the great Commonwealth of which it forms an important part, despite the world-shaking changes of the past sixty years, have a contribution of tremendous value to make in the world of today. Now, no less, perhaps even more, than in past years, the aspirations expressed so nobly in the prayer for Empire and Commonwealth, as found in our Book of Common Prayer, are both relevant and meaningful: "We beseech thee to continue thy living kindness to us, that, united, free and mindful of our stewardship, we may through thy grace fulfil thy purpose, that our Commonwealth may be a witness to thee among the nations of the earth, to the advancement of thy glory and the good of all mankind. Grant that the heritage received from our fathers may be preserved in our time, and handed down unimpaired to our children: and that from generation to generation we may remain a united people, loyal to our Sovereign and our country."

To do all this means, not only God's guidance, but dedication and resolute effort on our part. It means the setting of a straight course and holding steadfastly to it. Here the action of Ezra, the national leader of the restoration period in Jewish history, is especially pertinent for us: "I proclaimed a fast that we might humble ourselves before God to seek a straight way for ourselves, our children and our goods."

Fasting means discipline, complete control of body and mind. today, as in all ages, responsible nationhood begins with strict discipline for the individual and society at large. Note how the First Lesson appointed for this Service stresses repeatedly the absolute necessity of discipline for national health. This is the true way of wisdom: "Be disciplined by my words and you shall profit: long for them and you shall be trained by their discipline. True beginning is desire of discipline-and desire of wisdom promotes to a Kingdom."

Our age is not an age of discipline. It is an age of selfindulgence, of creaturely comforts, of soft, luxurious living, with status measured in terms of prestige homes, prestige automobiles, prestige connections. It is a selfish age, that is a self-seeking age, and therefore, in many respects a corrupt age. Evidences of corruption are all around us, pressing in on every side. Our business as responsible citizens, seeking responsible nationhood for our country, is to search out the straight way. Adhering loyally to it ourselves we set the standard for others, influencing them by word and example. This is the point of the words of Wisdom: "Strict scrutiny comes upon the powerful: therefore learn wisdom and fall not from the right way."

One of the fruits of discipline is humility, "to humble ourselves before God." Humility gives perspective, seeing ourselves in right proportions, not an end in ourselves but accountable for what we are, what we say and do to God. What Lord Tweedsmuir said in his Memoirs during the war years is particularly applicable today: "Our achievement in perfecting life's material opportunities has produced a mood of self-confidence and pride. Our peril has been indifference. I believe that the challenge with which we are now faced may restore to us that manly humility which alone gives power. It may bring us back to God. In that case our victory is assured."

May I add further that the setting of a straight way for our nation involves more than discipline and religious perspective, the fruit of humility. It means the responsible and large-hearted care of our fellowmen wherever they are, whoever they are. In 1903 foreign aid was a foreign term. today foreign aid is one of the primary compulsions and responsibilities of national life. Last week's announcement in Parliament of the Honourable Paul Martin, Secretary of State for External Affairs, that our total foreign aid programme will be increased in 1964 to about 180 to 190 millions of dollars, including grants and loans, as compared with 120 millions this year, is certainly a step in the right direction. It raises Canada from 1/s of 1 % to 1/a of 1 % of Gross National Product, equal to Japan, but still leaving us, with all our prosperity and affluence, behind Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, the United States, Portugal and France. Giving this amount to our needy brethren in other lands, both in and beyond the Commonwealth, we give half of the standard set by the United Nations' Organization as the minimum for any nation for foreign aid, that is 1 % of Gross National Product. With this dismal record before us, just how meaningful for us are those words in today's Lesson from the Book of James: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this-to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.... ?"

Yes, indeed, in the words again of John Buchan: "Today the quality of our religion is being put to the test. More is being challenged than the system of ethics which we be lieve to the the basis of our laws and liberties. I am of Blake's view: 'Man must and will have some religion: If he has not the religion of Jesus, he will have the religion of Satan, and will erect a synagogue of Satan.' I believe that civilization must have a Christian basis and must ultimately rest on the Christian Church." Here surely is a straight course, a clear direction and purpose, for ourselves, our children, our nation. As you go forward in the principles and programme of the Empire Club to all the opportunities and glories of the future, hold to this course. So will you be blessed yourselves and an inspiration and a blessing to Canada.