SOCIALISTS AND THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 195, 12 May 1908, Page 9

SOCIALISTS AND THE CHURCHES.

Sir,—The Socialist who, under tho influonco of Mr: North's strong coffoo at tho meeting on Saturday night, in .Vivian Street, took up his lament against the Churches, blundered • badly hi his statements concerning tho particular caso to which he referred. People did not give tho land on which tho shops aro built, it was bought anil paid for, mainly, out of tho proceeds of the snlo of land clsowhero. Its: devotion to the erection of shops 'is in no senso a, diversion of the objects contemplated: in, its acquisition, as tho proceeds are set apart exclusively'for church purposes. No sane man, who knows tho facts of tlio case, would speak of tho rents charged for the shops as exorbitant-. 1 Mr. North was disposed to thnnk God that his church was not as some other churches aro in tho uso they make of their land. If Mr. North is to take his cue from tho Socialists as to what tho Churches should do, ho lias hitchcd'his waggon,to.a star that will land him in some very queer places. As he knows very well, tho Baptist • Tabornacle trustees in Auckland are building a fine suito of shops on the scction adjoining tlio Tabernacle—a caso that is on all fours with the one concerning which, complaint was mado at his mooting. Is ho prepared to thank God that Wellington Baptists, are. so-much superior to Auckland Baptists? Trustees of church property are hard pressed if they seek counsel from tho crowd concerning their diities with regard to utilising such land as they may possess to tlio' best ailviuitiigo. By some they will bo called rogues if they do, 'and by others they will bo called fools if they dont. What wonder if, heedless of such-divided..criticism, they go on their way, making the best use tliev can of such wisdom as they may happen to possess?-! am, otc., ONE WHO KNOWS. May 11, 1908.