The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 79
[introduction]
[ unclear: Soured] Fathers and Brethren,—
When the delegates attending the [ unclear: meetings] of the Union in Timaru [ unclear: February] re-elected me to the posi [ unclear: on] of chairman of the Union, I was surprised and sorry. I felt that the [ unclear: our] and the duty belonged by right [ unclear: ome] of the other brethren who had [ unclear: t] previously occupied the position. At [ unclear: e] [ unclear: time] I intended leaving shortly after [ unclear: meetings] for the Homeland, and but [ unclear: the] thought that I might have been [ unclear: some] service to our Churches by [ unclear: ns]of that visit, and that I would be [ unclear: e] to return in time for these annual [ unclear: things], I would have declined the posi [ unclear: on]. Circumstances which I was un- [ unclear: to] control prevented me from get- [ unclear: away] at the date I had anticipated, [ unclear: now] I find myself unfortunately [ unclear: pelled] to be absent from the present [ unclear: tings]. One consolation I have is [ unclear: t] the presence of our distinguished [ unclear: ors] from England, Dr. and Mrs. [ unclear: ney], will more than compensate for [ unclear: absence]. The Committee has decided [ unclear: I] am to leave my address from the [ unclear: to] be read at the meetings, and [ unclear: a] deep sense of my own short- [ unclear: ngs] I accept its decision, and leave [ unclear: d] me this imperfect utterance, [ unclear: h] has been produced amidst much and worry.
[ unclear: When] I last addressed you fifteen [ unclear: s] ago, from this chair, I took as my [ unclear: ect] "Progress Towards Unity." I [ unclear: s] reviewed some of the evidences of [ unclear: press] being made towards unity in [ unclear: religious], social, scientific, political, [ unclear: international] life of the world. On [ unclear: occasion] I feel impelled to take as [ unclear: subject], "The Drift Towards [ unclear: chy]." I suppose it is natural, or at [ unclear: usual] that as a man grows older [ unclear: loses] some of the buoyant optimism [ unclear: uth], but I think that a calm survey [ unclear: orld] movements to-day will convince [ unclear: that], quite apart from any personal [ unclear: permental] change which I may have [ unclear: rgone], there is ample reason for a [ unclear: ing] of' apprehension regarding the [ unclear: ediated] future of our western civilisa- [ unclear: tion]