SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 650, 29 October 1909, Page 7

SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH. PLAIN SPEAKING BY DR. GIBB. "MUST STAND CLEAR.OP POLITICAL . PACTIONS." 1 (Br Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright.! Chrlstchurch, October 28. .The Presbyterian General Assembly hold a public meeting to-night in connection with this > Calvin quater-centenary colobrations. i ; The Rov. W. Gray Dixon (Auckland) spoke on Calvin and tho modern world. ; v , Dr, Gibb, speaking on "The: Church and Social Problems," said Calvin was tho origina- * 1 tor of modern democracy. It was difficult to determine the right attitude of tho Church democracy's ideas and inspirations, and its insistent claim for justice. Difficult ■ also was the attitude of; the Church to tho question of collectivism' wrens individualism, All. teal improvement in tha social conditions anil institutions of mankind depended on tho oharftctef of the people; and that depended on - the people s attitude to Christ. Tho dynamic' of -all social development was tho dynamic of Calvary, .ihp Church must stand clear of alt ■ ' pplitica factions. - its members might bo individliallsti or Socialists, but tho ' Church had no politics, and must have nbne. ' It was mi wise for the Church to meddle with questions of Labour and hours of labour, with the exception of "sweated labour." The Church r other option bat to take : tip a stand'' • on the side .of the oppressed and (lefoncclnss. During his. vocefit visit :Home lie found tha Churches discussing their attitudo, toward* soeial; problemv'and'tho idea, was'advanced . that if bettep wflgcS and houra of labonr vera * secured, tlie workiag'men. would flook into tho , Church, Ho wasable to; disabuse their minds 1 ' qn that point. Tho only means of advoscc(ment was by, so . moralising ' industry aa' lo - bring abottt a- higher■ conception of tho corae n Tho Church ought to spiak with tho greatest , ploihness ■■. to the rich , Ho would brand as utterly con-' - temptible the idea that a man ;WM a eood*' foan who pa djiis debts and'loved liis wifo and children, and then, without Considering; Ohuroh ar hUte,. left them; thousands'and, tlibUßands : ■ S ' lol 'H ho branded no i •> ho was afraid thofo.'' guilty of it : would fmd- themselves somo day in ■ t W , h r CTO Dot exactly comramble. (Laughter.) v'JDho church should wake rich man to tho duties.ho ciuld rehdet -v . ' the. church and, community,; He would also ; liavo tho churoh : spe(ik' With fldolity to the ' .wirkingman.-: 1 They: should' brand the maxim 'v, ■ df. the iniaximurt of pay, for tho minimum of work as one thiit came from the dovil himself, : ' and the very loimsl dovll at Uiat. There Wat no greatness foi 1 ,; a comhianity! which adopted a maxim .like that. .Ss advocated' profit- ■' ■! sharing. and indicated that: at-a ' lato'' Stage he would like to. ask tho assembly tp form n ■ department of Church and labour, such as they had iii! the United 1 States. Continuing, life saiil ' they knew tho population- was decreasing. iiV 1 ' ■ New, Zealand os well as elsewhere,. 1 This ha* 7 « :seandal; to,the ohurch, attd,'• to' to' thoso outside it;ln 1907 .New Zealand's > birth- rate Wfts 'only.'seveii .more.-, per thousand' than ' that.of; ; France,which;was a dccadeitt 1 ' nation: Legislation, wotlld not cure the evil.'' It was a sonie, or responsibility- not merely to • ,s\v Stato .and Church, but to God and huinnnlty. . Without any.-fear, .of, criticism,-lie bonld say > that" the wives. and: mbthets ,0f New. ' great multitudes of whom were • ardent politieians and strong in social wotk, would be doi#B, v - the Kingdott' of God and tho future 'welfaire of tho Dominion- by bringing .• a due j number of children into the world than by " their;; political . mbvemciila , apdv social \propa-, : ; gando. 1 ''