SOCIALISM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 233, 25 June 1908, Page 7

SOCIALISM.

THE CHURCH AS CHAMPION OF TQQ WEAK

LORD CECIL'S ARCUMENT. " SAVE THE POOR PROM THE STATE." fcY lELSOBAPH—PBEBS ASSOCIATION —COFTBIGHI. London, Juno 23. Tho Pan-Anglican Congress discussed " Christianity and Socialism." Tho Bishop of Birmingham (Dr. Gore), who recently underwent an operation for appendicitis, sent a paper, claiming, that the Church ought to mako a tremendous act of ponitonco for so long failing to behave as tho champion of tho oppressed and weak,. Major Everitt (an-, Australian) declared that Socialistic legislation had benefited Australia. ■: . The Rev. Lord William Cecil (Rural Dean of Hertford, second, son of third Marquess of Salisbury) put the.oase against Socialism in tho interests of tho poor. As the poor man's friend, he pleaded that tho neck of tho poor should not bo put,under the iron heel of the Govornment. • Senator H. Dobson (formerly Premier of Tasmania, and now '•representing, that Stato in the Australian Senate). admitted that it was delusive to hopo that tho Stato' would be able to take over immediately all means of production .and distribution, but an advance oould be made.

DR. GORE'S ATTITUDE. The Bishop of Birmingham • (Dr. Gore), in his preliminary paper on Socialism, stated that the indictment of our present social organisation is'overwhelming, 1 "-'.and that the Church needs "a tremendous act of penitence." They had followed the old sohool of,, politicaleconomy instead of the prophets and _ Christ. "On the whole Christianity is with Socialism." These views, 6ays a writer iu the "Edinburgh Beview," are spreading .rapidly "among the High Churoh clergy, who are making a determined effort to enlist the sympathies of thq working man with the Church by offering him in roturn sympathy and countenance in their struggle against capitalism. The writer of tlio article, who regards Dr. Gore as "one of this most poworful spiritual forces, in our' generation," fears tlio consequences if the Anglican Church should throw its whole weight into the cause of Socialism.