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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Personal Volume
The New Zealand Problems
The New Zealand Problems.
"We live in order to finish an as yet unfinished universe—unfinished so far as the human—that is, the highest—part of it is concerned. We live in order to develop the superior qualities of man, which are, as yet, for the most part latent. . . We are to go out as teachers among the people, discarding the limitations imposed by the theologies of the past, and holding up the moral idea, pure and simple, as the human ideal for all men, embracing all men, binding on all men—the ideal of a perfect society, of a society in which no men or class of men shall be mere hewers of wood and drawers of water for others; in which no man or woman, or class of men or class of women shall be used as tools for the lust of others, or for the greed of others; in which every human life, the life of every man, women, and child, shall be esteemed a sacred utterance of the Infinite."
This is ever the true prophet's message whenever and wherever delivered—three thousand years ago, or three years ago, in Palestine, or in New Zealand.
Have we heard the voice? The burden rests on us individually, and the message must be delivered by one and by all. There can be no substitute and no delegates. The duty is not to be performed by associations, or teachers. Each one who hears the voice must obey it. Let us also realise that regarding the many problems we have to consider we cannot remain neutral. There can be no neutrality on a moral issue. If you find anyone who desires to act as a leader of men, or to perform a prophet's function, saying that on a moral question—on an issue of life—he is neutral, or if we see a political
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party, or a church, or a social organisation declaring that it is neutral on such an issue, we must conclude "the voice" has not been heard.