HARD TIMES.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 203, 30 August 1886, Page 3

HARD TIMES.

(To Uie Editor.)

fciJi.-OH SUndiiJ- OVoning Itov. C, Wol'boyfl tireached in Pitt and Viiicent-stroet Ohtn'eli on "Hard Times,", being the llm of a series of discourses on " Questions of the day." The text was, "That there be no complaining in our streets" (Psalm cxiv. If), lie spoke of the character of the depression now in Auckland, many buing dependant on the charily of the benevolent, others living On the Pes'tlt Df previous thrift; and tradesmen siidefiiig all tlin distress of insufficient pro/Us ."'.ml bml ileHts; He said it is a libel on the unemployed to sKy they are loafers. There are some men everywhere who will sponge on public charity, or on their wives and families, mere waistrils ; but to speak of the whole in terms that can only deaeribe a small part, if i>. word may be borrowed is an " infernal" wrong. It does seem that the existence of unworthy men must be acknowledged, it cannot be denied, and they should be denounced as the.v deserve. He spoke of tlie eilbrts of churily in Auckland exceeding any. thing ho had ever met with anywhere.

-Amongst various causes lie remarked on (lie violation of rlglit principle bringing certain penalties. The fraud and cheating in liiiiuufacturca and trade, tlio drinking customa of society alsu as leading to poverty and distress. True religion, tlui pi'vaeher urged, was Iho surest reniedy. If the world were reconciled to God in his uUrity and love, it WOUIO bo tlie best fomulnlioii for pl'os|ieiltv, Tliin I'oiild only be t'll'ecti.'d by every man getting personally right, wilh GO((; Then would follow as an eiloot tlie manwurd tidpofvMiL'jOn, a tide too much lost sight of. "He lliift loAfiHi not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not noon?" True religion brings good out of evil, inspires leaitrnatioii, hope and foith. C.\V*.