THE CHURCH AND LABOUR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8411, 13 November 1912, Page 6

THE CHURCH AND LABOUR.

The committee.from whose report wo have been quoting: has also-.'something, to say about the ".vast ■Labour, movement of social' discontent that has "come ■npon'us-r-unique in its nature, its extent, its ramifications, and in it's mighty -and far-reaching issues." In all 1 civilised countries, the committee says, *' it pervades the world, of toil; it has swept whole trades into the net of its organisations, and has well nigh seized the wholo realm b of ■ industry. Its,.life flows from hidden springs, it is actuated by powerful andvaried motives, and it is eagerly ufgecl on by the sufferings and hardships of their common lot as workers. To make light of this tremendous problem, or to ' offer' mere palliations as a makeshift, or to advocate a'policy of rest and quiet days •would be to live in a fool's paradise. There is no need to say that our Church is not appealing to the workers. Shfe is, but admitting as much as ;we can, a big proportion of those remain outside the pale-'.of the, Christian Church. Hundreds :of men entertaiii :no real interest in the Church. Indeed, they have the crudest ideas of what the Church has done, or .is doing. . - . Could our Church, ■■ especially in the cities and larger towns, not take somo steps to justify herself in tho eyea of these nionr, ... . . In Auckland, lor tho past two years, ■ the Opera House has been ■ used every Sunday night for what is essentially a crusade against tho Church. Could we not meet it?" The.committees, recommendations aro that ministers and theological students specially should make a study of economic questions in ; order to give sound 'advice, and practical assistance in tho endeavour, to ameliorate industrial hardships;_ that lectures on tho place and fiuiction of the Church in relation to Labour be nrrariged by Presbyteries where practicable, and that suitable literature be distributed. . ' .--,•