CHURCH AND LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 20, 18 October 1907, Page 7

CHURCH AND LABOUR.

STIRRING ADDRESS BY BISHOP NELIGAN. SPEECH BY MR. BEN TILLET. [ITT TELEGRAPH.— OWN - CORRESPONDENT.] < Auckland, October 17. A groat mass mooting for men' only was held to-night in the Choral Hall in connection with tho Aiiglican Synod. The Mayor. (Mr. A. Myers), who presided, dwelt on tho question of tho relations between tho Church and Labour. Ho did not think anyone not blind to tho signs of tho. times and tho social unrest prevailing could fail to see that political power throughout tho. civilised wqrld was passing moro and moro into tiio hands of the.masses, and they wero showing a growing inclination to uso that power to remedy what, to them at. all events, seemed to bo tho injustice of the presont distribution of tho woalth which their labour playbd so large a part in providing. Tho' Bishop (Dr. Noligan) enumerated • certain indictments against Christianity. Ho deait with tho three social sores of drink, gambling, and impurity. Under theso heads, and using very plain terms, ho delivered a stirring and somewhat ,sonsational address. He contrasted expenditure on drink with amounts, contributed to the churches and charities,' tho onormous sums passing through the totalisator, tho increasing numbers of women in tho maternity homo, and tho Question of race suicide. Mr. I Bei. Tillot said tho Socialists had nover said anything so damning against'tho rich as had St. James. He attacked tho Church for want of sympathy with tho masses. He claimed that environment largely influenced tho workers,, and by the romoval of bad environment thoy would do much to promoto tho welfaro of tho people. Tho Rev. G. \V. Smailes said ho had started with tho dreams i' of" Socialists, and had obtained a seat in Parliament in ono of tho Australian states. Ho belidved it was impossible to achieve tho ends aimed at by Socialists by means of 'legislative mothods. 1 ■ ,