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| Rev. W.J. Gomersall |
“patriotism and there was patriotism. By patriotism he
did not mean pewter-pot patriotism, or profit-making patriotism, or the
patriotism that did all the shouting, but none of the soldiering. True
patriotism was none of those things. It was not vindictive, but brought
calmness, courage and charity to the great struggle. Above all true patriotism
never committed the sin of shirking – never shirked the call of duty. The sin
of shirking in such a crisis as the present was neglect of duty. It was a sin
of omission. Those who did not come to the help of their country were guilty of
the sin of Meroz, who “did not come to the help of the Lord” and brought down a
curse upon themselves. Meroz was a little place, so was Otterburn, but he would
remind them that this “Benjamin of Craven”, had, by the mouth of one of its
inhabitants – Mr.H.G. Tunstill – made an appeal for 99 men and that more than
half had already responded. The Settle District had, equally with Bolton Abbey
and other parts of Craven, always been loyal to the core. History was repeating
itself in this crisis and the story of Bible wars presented a philosophy of
history applicable to the present time. We were learning our lessons just as
the Israelites had learnt theirs and God’s purpose still held good for the
training of the human race. We have only shifted the ground of conflict. The
particular sin had changed its name, but not its nature, and military despotism
had provided the occasion for God’s visitation. But in this, as in all life’s
other battles, duty was the great law of the moral world, and there must be no
sin of shirking either on the part of those who are left at home, or those who
have gone to the front. The curse of Meroz lives in the conscience of those who
neglect the call of duty".
** For further information on William Joseph Gomersall see: http://www.gomersall.info/myf/WJG.htm
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