IS THE LABOUR PARTY ANTI CHRISTIAN?

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 144, 16 December 1919, Page 4

IS THE LABOUR PARTY ANTI CHRISTIAN?

(-ÜBUSHED M _RK_N-E_ENT.)

MR. SEMPLE'S LOGIC.

(To the Editor N.Z. Times.)

Dear Sir, — _ desire to discuss the general question: "is tho Labour Party aiiti-Cnnstian?" Mr. Semple says it is, but he has some strange ideas of logic. He says: '•The present-labour Party__s o_r-e clergymen standing in its name, therefore tuat proves thai, it is' not antiChristian." 1 fail to sco that it proves anything about doctrine at all. All it does is to show that there are three clergymen upholding tho banner of the party, nothing more. .

__ To decide tiie question which Mr. Semple raises, we nave to consider what are the principles, the policy, arid the methods of the party in question. To commence with 'the first principle, indeed the very foundation of this party's social philosophy is materialistic and seeularistic. This is demonstrated by two or three facts, first of all the whole programme of tho party looks entirely to economic factors for the solution of the evils that afflict society. The consistent teaching of the party's spokesmen is that if material wealth is only constituted mot. and more common property, that is all that is required. It cannot be denied that the sociology of this party is that of dogmatic affirmation of International Socialism of the school of Karl Marx, the Socialist Economist. The philosophy of this school of political economy from which the Labour Party draws its inspiration is based upon a materialistic interpretation of history. The party shows its secularism in this way, that wherever it can it holds meetings on Sundays for the discussion of secular subjects rather than religious; that whenever it holds such meetings it never at any time attaches to them any religious observances, but makes them entirely secular. That by reason of this trend it attracts to its ranks men of avowed free thought principles. Further than this, in those'localities where men and women are fully convinced of the Socialist principles of the party, the step is taken of substituting Socialist Sunday Schools (where secularism is fully taught to the young) in place of the ordinary Sabbath Schools and Bible Classes.

So much for the principles of this party miscalled Labour. As regards the policy oij the party, I am doing it no injustice when I say that it aim 3at transforming tho present private ownership of land and other forms of wealth into common or public ownorship, without troubling to indicate how the present owners' moral or legal rights aro to be dealt with. Tho tendency undoubtedly of spreading belief .in such an ill-defined policy is to inculcate in the minds of the mass of the" people, first a most vicious spirit of envy and hatred, and secondly a disregard for the rights of others that is disruptive of social order and injurious to the State.

The methods of the party should be well known and widely reprobated by all Christian people within the Dominion, that is, if our Christianity is other than a mere' profession. Unfortunately there are persons supporting this party merely from a general feeling of sympathy with the masses, and there are men and women in the party who have never troubled to carefully analyse the meaning and trend of this party's philosophy and practice. I am a Protestant who writes this, bnt I. candidly acknowledge that the clearest exposition of the dangers attaching to this party's philosophy and practice that I have yet read was recently published by a Roman Catholic Bishop of our Dominion, who pointed --out that there could be no true sociology without Ml recognition of the spiritual and moral laws which govern mankind. The methods of the present Labour Party are exhibited in its supporters' perpetual tirades against the capitalists. No one can deny that hatred of the employers, of capitalists, and even in a degree of property owners in general, is eternally dinned into the ears of the public by the members of this party. This method of continually inciting to feelings of hatred, if it has any ethical basis at all, is certainly not Christian. The hampering of the Government in a time of national danger by seditions utterances and disloyal conduct; by claiming that any one has a right to break the law if he does not believe in it—these are methods that have been put into practice in comparatively recent times by members of this party, and you cannot dissociate the party from the members who compose it, especially when the acts re- | ferred to have never been denounced or objected to by any resolution .of the party. To get at the root of the subject Mr. *Semple has raised, with duo reverence I quote the words of Christ, Who laid down tho moral law, "Love thy neighbour as thyself." In the place of this the Labour Party inculcates the anti-Christian idea, " Love your fellowworker, but hate the capitalist." "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," said Christ. If the Labour men had the burden on them of managing and keeping going tho industries we depend upon, how would they like others to be obstructing them on every hand by '■ go slow strikes " and other methods of dislocating the machinery of trade and commerce? The clergymen who are coming into politics, and whose presenca in the Labour Party is being used to justify what are anything but Christian principles and methods, would be wise to reflect that if the Church comes into politics then politics may also go into the Church. If clergymen take up politics; they must be subject to exactly the* same criticism as any other men, and people will have a right to ask how far is a man sincere who preaches tho gospel of love inside his church and joins with a party ouside that preaches a gospel of hate.

- No, Mr. Scrapie, your party cannot shelter behind the cloth. It must stand or fall by its own principles, policy, and methods," which are either Christian or anti-Christian, according to their character/not according to tho persons who espouse them. If a thousand clergymen joined your pwty that would not make your doctrine of class hatred and internecine warfare a bit more Chtbtlwi—_t»ui-9i itc, LOGICIAN.