CHURCH AND SOCIALISM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 104, 25 January 1908, Page 5

CHURCH AND SOCIALISM.

THE NEW WARDEN OF-ST.'JOHN'S COLLEGE. ; INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS. (BV TEIiEGBANI—I'nr.SSI ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, January 24. Amongst tlio arrivals by tho Rippingham Grange, which reached Auckland last evoning from Southampton, was tho Rev. C. W. Scott Moncrieff, M.A., who has been appointed Warden of St. John's Collego, Tamaki, Auckland. Chatting with a Press representative, tho rev. gentleman imparted some interesting views on quastiona of moment in the religious world at Homo. " Socialism is in the air at Home," remarked Mr. Scott Moncrieff. "A year or two ago peoplo refusod to listen to the principles of Socialism advocated in tho streets; now the-subject copimands a patient hearing, aild there is no gainsaying tho progress that it is steadily making in England. The reason is not hard to find. Social evils aro such that any remedy is considered worth a trial, and tho ethics of'tho Socialist suggest the easiest solving of the problom." On tho subject of the ritualistic aspect, the rev. gentleman was somewhat reticient, hut ho stated, "It is really remarkable how many High Church clorgy aro supporting tho Socialist movement. Besides the Christian Social Union, which is pledged to study sooial problems from a Christian point of view, there is also a Church Socialist League, and many of the clorgy aro supporting tho full Socialistic doctrine of collective ownership. Two or three members of tho brotherhood at Mii'field, established by tho Bishop of Birmingham (Dr. Gore) aro avowed Socialists, and the question is ono over which there is a perfect turmoil within tho last two years. Soveral friends of mino who aro clorgy have become definite Socialists." [It will bo noted that the above observations, made at first hand on tho spot, support tho statements mado on this subject in Wednesday's issuo of Tun Dominion.]