ANGLICAN CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 229, 20 June 1908, Page 5

ANGLICAN CONGRESS.

LABOUR QUESTIONS. HOW TO DEAL WITH THE UNEMPLOYED SWEATING AND WAGES. Pi TELEGRAPH—:FBE6S ASSOCIATION —COPTBIQHI. London, June 18. The social section of the Pan-Anglican Congress, sitting at Albert Hall, discusscd tho question of sweating. Senator Robson urged the need of regulation of the machinery dealing with the unemployed. Ho recommended the establishment of labour bureaus; also the founding of a ponal colony for unwilling workers, and a labour colony for the physically inefficient, but a better colony for honest men who wero unable to find an honest day's work. Thero ought, he declared, to be somo arbitration authority to settle the wages question. The speaker added: "Wo must tax the Left of the Labour party with materialism. Thero was no spiritual force behind it." The Rev. J. L. Dore, of New Zealand, explained tho reasons for tho absence of sweating in New Zealand. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. ITS VITAL PRINCIPLE. \ London, June 18. The Christian Truth section, at Kensington Town Hall, discusscd Christian Science. Tho majority of the speakers favoured rejection of its orrors and retention of its vital principle by the 'Church the healing office exercised in apostolic days. It was stated that thero was a uniquo clinic in Boston, where the physician and the theologic psychologist successfully co-operate in tho alleviation of nervous disorders. The Baptist Union sent the Congress an affectionate greeting. THE CHURCH'S WATERLOO. A QUESTION BY BISHOP NELIGAN. . (Rec. Juno 19, 11.10 p.m.) London, Juno 19. The Pan-Anglican Congress yesterday discussed the temperance question, tho speakers including tho Rev. Harold Anson, formerly warden of St. John's College, Auckland. Tho Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Neligan), who presided over tho seotiou for. the discussion of tho preparation of tho young for personal service in tlio Churchj asked: "Remembering that this is tho anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, what 'would 'win the Church's Waterloo?" ■ He answered: "A wholehearted and devoted clergy and laity." CHURCH jAND SOCIALISM.^ With regard to the abovo discussion on labour questions by the Congress, it should ba borne in mind that among the Anglican clcrjy at Home there is a very enthusiastic body of Socialists, who flatly dony the assertion that the trend of English Socialism is towards athoium, thoujh it must be admitted that much has been said and written by a seotion' of Socialists to give colour to this idea. The Rev. F. L. Donaldson, one of tho leaders of tho Anglican Socialists, recently stated"Socialism flows along liko a. river crowing mightier in volume and puror in quality. as its proceeds. What is our duly towards it? Surely not a carping criticism, or a dull repetition of ancient slander; but rather "a' sympathetic not of books merely, but of the living realities of its movement, its policy, its idwils. Socialism is nnt, indeed, an adequate philosophy pf life; nor does its profess to be that, its main objective is the socialisation of capital, and. the social redemption of the poor. These objectives aro not alien to, but in . sympathy with, the earthward side of tho glad tidings of our Lord —a fellowship of mon, a kingdom of God on oarth.. It seems to mo morally and spiritually perilous, in face of Socialism as it now j proceeds, for tho clergy and the Church to stand aside in supercilious oriticism. Supposing the main conceptions' of Socialism prove—as they are rapidly promising to prove—indubitably true? At the- very least wo would imploro those multitudes of Christians, . whoso prejudices ho undoubtedly articulates, to hesitate in reckless condemnation."

A • Church Socialist Loaguo was recently formed at a conference at Morecambo in June, 1905. Its object is stated to bo "to convert the christened, people of England to Socialism. It consists of clergy and laity, men and women. Its .mombei's are committed to the definite economic Socialism of accredited Socialist bodies throughout tho world." Among its members are such representative Churchmen as Father Addcrley, T. Suiamerbell, M.P., George Lansbury, Rots. W. B. Moll (of Newcastle), Lewis Donaldson (of Leicester), Arnold Pinchard (of Birmingham), father Frere (Superior of the Community of the Resurrection), Fathers Paul Bull and Healy, the Dean, of Jersey, eto. HEALING OFFICE OF THE CHURCH. The "healing office" of the Church has received a good deal of attention during recent years in connection with tho question or mental healing. In her book on tho "Truth and Error of Christian Science," Hiss M. Carta Sturge (Moral, Science Tripos, Cambridge) gives a very candid criticism from. a philosophical, scientific, and religious point of riow, of the Christian Science movement. She writes:— "Mrs. Eddy maintains that our minds are the sole creators of the external world. There are, however, other schools of Mental Healera who reject this impossible teaching, but who, nev.ertheloss, lay great stress on the power of thought over tho body. How far they have successfully worked a more reasonable theory can hardly yet bo decided, as it seems to be only in procoss of development. 1 They endeavour to teach a systematic control of tho Mind by whioh its power over the body and its ailments may be greatly increased. They aro, in the words of Professor James, aiming at making 'what in our Protestant countries is an unprecedently great use of the sub-conscious life.' It is possible that this may lead to great results; it may be a great coming movement, but, if so, it will need to be understood thoroughly and scientifically, and tho practice of it based upon correct theory as far as this can be arrived at. The new Psychology which treats of the sub-conscious is in its infancy, but happilr is already making rapid strides towards a development, it is to bo hoped, of sound and scientific knowledge. Even when this may have been attained, it is, as said before, questionable how far it may bring about a method of therapeutics which shall bo safe and generally .applicable. A new discovery in tho constitution of Man by which his bodily health may bo, at least in part, controlled, does not militate against Christianity as we ordinarily understand it. On the- contrary, the dooper the knowledge that Psychology is able to reveal to us in regard to Man, the more does it interpret for us the profound knowledge of him possessed by Chrißt and by His immediate followers."