Dr. Moorhouse on Trade Societies.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 247, 24 October 1885, Page 5

Dr. Moorhouse on Trade Societies.

In his annual address to tho Church of England Assembly of Victoria, the Bishop of Melbourne thus referred to the duty of tho Church towards tho Trade Societies: —

" It is our duty to find or mako tho .eiders of such working mon's club. I believe that such institutions would not only defend our youths from danger, and promote their moral and spiritual good, but also supply a groat public need. The progress of democratic principles is fortunately thrusting forward a class of political questions to which our forefathers gave no heed. Start ing from the unquestionable truth that socioty ought to aim, not merely at keeping tho peace, and defending honest men against rogues, but further at giving to every ono ot its citizens the bost possible opportuniny of developing his humanity, modern legislators are striving to establish just relations between landlord and tenant, capitalist aud labourer, employer and omployed. This effort is bringing to the front questions which would have simply terrified our forefathers — questions about the right of property in land, tho laws of inheritance, co-operative manufacture, labour combinations, and the liko. And it is most important, as it seems to mo, that such questions should bo considered by working mon in the light of Christian principles. Somo people, I know,- urge that, (inestions liko theso Bhould be left to secular trade .fe'-iotics. Ido not think so. 1 havo the |.-<Sb<t sympathy with trade societies. 1 _,«_ffve that they originated in a simple determination to seek justice, to claim and obtain for tho working classes an equal share in tho holp and protection of society. And, boyond all doubt, thoy havo still an important part to pluy in the organisation of tho future. But there is ever tho danger that they may become onesided and soltish, that thoy may endeavour to gain for working men thoso exceptional class privileges which wero Been to bo so odious when claimed or enforced by capitalists or nobles. In a fight it is seldom that tho victor thinks of tho rights of the vanquished, and now that labour is winning along tho_ whole line, it is not impossible that it may imitate the selfishness which so long hold it down. Tho danger of such a rosult is greatly increasod whon men tako for their prinoipal object tho equalising of material benefits. This point of view is a low one, and the outlook from ir, narrow. The air of swampy bottoms of material intorest is clo.o and stilling, and it is not oasy to make such heavenly flowers as forbearance and self sacrifice thrive in them. That is why wo soo moro economists so often declining into narrowness of thought, hardness of feeling, and tho pitiful othics of tho counting-house. Without, thon, thinking for a moment of superseding trade societies, I beliove that wo may givo them important aid and do nolittlctowards preserving them from patent dangers, if in our working men's clubs wo accustom those who belong to trades' societies to consider economical questions under tho guidance of Christian truth. Suppo.o for instance, that social legislation has been suggested. It would ho one of tho objects of euch a club to consider carotully the proposed Act, to sco whether its provisiono wero in harmony with tho groat law—that everything should subserve the highest development, oi man; to suggest amendments, get up petitions, promote uiseus.-i.ii, watch and work and guide public opinion, till, if possible, tho best and must righteous end had been gained. Lot us then establish working men's clubs, guilds, unions, or eociot.es, in order to give practical effect to this grand conception, and then, instead ol looking helplessly on while great questions aro being debuted and decided, we shall havo organisations ready to tlo.il with every emergency as it", ari-es, and to make tho forco of Christian principles felt nnd acknowledged in c-vory provinco of our daily lifo."