SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 198, 15 May 1908, Page 8

SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

' ——— —r - REV. J. J. NORTH ON THE CHURCH'S - MISSION.

RELIGIOUS AND LABOUR FORCE&. Thero was a largo.'audienco.at.tho Trades and Labour Council Chambers last' evohing, to hear an address by the R-ov. J. J. Northon "Social and Political Problems-from tho Church's Standpoint." Mr; North received a very patient and attentive ' hearing throughout Mr. W. H. Hampton, president of the Council, occupied the chair. . Mr. North, who was warmly received, said that tho two powerful forces operating in the world wore ■ tho 'economic and religious forces; it was very natural.to ask a minister to address them, and ho had come representing the religious instincts of the community, whuo his hearers represented tho economic interests. Thoso_ two forces in combination must be potent in shaping human'life, for religion .could not run' along without material provision for necessities,' but in • the same way economics could not get on- without religion, or, at any rate, without morals,'for, which religion stood. Economics without morals would certainly fail. He could, conceive no worse condition of affairs than that the religious and labour forces of tht? community should be at antagonism with' each oJior. The ideals of both we're identical in part, although the' ideals of . the Church reached to more distant goals; but both were striving to destroy tho awful inequalities that existed. The matter should be looked at dispassionately, for a-great social.change was imminent, and the Church 'was ardent for change. ( A ..voice:; "No.") Perhaps that was a matter of opinion possibly, but it' was so as far as he understood the position, Mr. North , spoke against class spirit,' at which, ho said Christ struck a tremendous blow. The speaker believed that the final ■ amelioration of - society, would bo achieved'. throughthe best minds and j hearts in the whole conlmumty. The Church, was: pledged- to reform m tho sense that it-believed .that ..God's Kingdom. ought, to • be : established on earth that -was to. say, .that men's' rights,.liberties, and. freedoms. should be regarded as sae'red," arid: the Church would do; all' it . could-to bring this -about.- -It .was- true .- that' the Church had blundered badly, but.-the right Church was' really a powerhouse:io aid: the right. The-orily_ things that -finally satisfied the heart's,..aspirations .were ;and the acquirement of. goodness,' which jyas the. only real goal, and the ouly real wealth was character. The- speaker also,.referred .-to drink, arid gambling, and remarked that he. was sorry for the man who-did, not throw himself into the crusade/against them : with vigour, - and.--those .great vices -. must be checked and hindered; If half the vices were caused by the social , conditions, how,' ho asked, could tho -Church be mute? He irieni tione'd -that the. Church, had dono a lot for which' it received no, credit'. ' Tho .'worst'mate; rial was the, grasping rich-, 1 and th'6.;clearer-' members of the Church saw, thorn creating, tho. cruel' pov.orty; that, prevented a man from developing ■ intellectually.-; - No one could pretend that it,'was right; for-a. man ,to .speculate in suclf va way as.; to-,make two, .three,- h'nd, four hundred per .cerity'out of the working ;man < who- 'had to . pay so dearly,- ' The' igolden ; year, v hofcovor, was coming, .and _ the., world ; was, marching to the' goal, - .which, was .humanity; in -its'- perfection, j'aii'd'.he •, believed,'that 1 ' Christianity would';give "that. moral'' Work' for reform.,;- (Prolonged' applause;) i- : Tho • ch'airmau . then, ,aniVp'uric.ed, that.! Mr. North : would answer' questions 'op. the ''subject m.atte.r.' of-his "address., ■ : .A. Voice.: ; Is"ifc.' moral-" for: tho\ Church to take large grants of land -and/to invest, the money in exploiting 'tho public ? i (Laughter.)'' Mr. North:' I'belong' to "a" Church; which has never-taken any.-graut-'pf laiiid:''- : A Voice:' Is Mr. North''a Socialist?.'- .• :. Mr..North': 'We'are all.'So'ciSlisis.' ' The Voice : " Are • you a - member 'of the party? -• - ', . . / ' Mr. North: .1 am not.-ai member, of any party." ,'; ■" A questioner, referred; to-'what- he;• .called tho inconsistency of allowing newspapers to publish the latest stock exchange quotations' and not totalisator dividends. , . "• Mi 1 . North said-that garnbling'on'thdStock' Exchange should bo prevented. He.did, not object to legitimate speculation;'but it often became gambling. '.'•/• v",-."' Tho Questioner: You oppose one ;tiling ;■ wliy.-not'opposo the other?' • ' Mr. .North: • As , soori; as.. I;.opposo something, people say " Thero. flic is j again!:" (Laughter.) - : -.. ..■' -' After a number of-further -questions had boon' disposed of, a . hearty.-'vote of thanks was'accorded' Mr. North for his .address".- -