THE CHURCH AND SOCIAL PROGRESS

Evening Star, Issue 15515, 10 June 1914, Page 7

THE CHURCH AND SOCIAL PROGRESS

The final meeting of tho series arranged bv the Kev. R. 8. Gray to discuss tho relations of Church and Labor and kindred subjects was held on Sunday evening in the Hanover Street Schoolroom, when there was an attendance of upwards of 300 men.

Mr Gray stated at the commencement of the meeting that, owing to the pressure of other work, he had been advised to close the meetings for this year. He was very reluctant to do so. They had grown in interest and enthusiasm from the veryfirst, and he hoped that it would bo possible to continue them next year. (Applause.) If the working men of the City had been influenced at all toward the Church and her ideals, and if the Church had broadened her sympathies toward Labor, the meetings would have justified their existence.

Mr Perry said the thanks of the men were due to Mr Gray and his Church, and he felt sure that nothing but good could como from the meetings. Ke hoped they would bo continued next year. The subject set down for the evening was ’Tile Church and Social Progress,’ and Mr M’Carthy opened. He emphasised the fact that there were many things in which the Church and Socialists could work together. Christianity taught that it was useless to try to better man’s environment until he was spiritually regenerated. Socialists taught that it was impossible to develop the highest*life until man’s surroundings were bettered. The whole truth was in neither. But both taken together would solve the problem. He deprecated the materialistic Socialism that was finding acceptance by many of its leaders. He was as strongly opposed to the apathy of the Church on social questions. He proceeded to give illustrations, quoting the Defence Act, the strike, and other matters of public interest. Mr M’Cutcheon followed, traversing the remarks of several speakers at the last meeting. Mr Perry said ho had been brought ivi in the State Church. What had that Church ever done for social progress? He gave historical instances of the Church’s opposition to progressive legislation, and asked what it was doing to-day. Its bishops voted against reform, its clergy were apathetic on almost all social questions, and it could not keep in step with social progress. Mr Neilson was the last speaker, and he claimed to be a materialistic Socialist. He did not believe in compromise. Let the church people road Voltaire, Paine, and Blatch'ford, and their views would be altered. What wa% the Church doing today? he asked. Dispensing charity, and thus frustrating the aims ot Democracy. The Chairman, in reply, said he was particularly impressed with the conciliatory tone of Mr M'Carthy’s remarks, and although he disagreed with him in some of his conclusions, it was by such utterances that Church and Labor would be brought closer together. Mr M'Carthy had asked where the Church stood on the Compulsory Training Act. He would toll them where he stood. Until some bettor means of defending the country were obtained he was a supporter of the Defence scheme. Half the objections made by 44 conscientious ” objectors had no foundation in conscience at all. He had asked one of the lads who had been imprisoned on Ripa Island whether*, if the Japs came, he would defend his mother from insult. 44 Wouldn’t I!” said the boy. “ Then,” said Mr Gray, 44 the State has a right to say to you; ’You shall be trained efficiently, so that if an enemy should come wo will not be mowed down as a defenceless rabble.’ ” The Waihi strike and the taking gf the miners’ hall had been referred to. As far as he (the speaker) could gather, there was a large section of intelligent working men opposed to the strike. And where there was such a divergence of opinion it was no function of the Church to interfere in such matters. Other matters referred to by previous speakers were dealt ■with, and several questions answered. In conclusion, he quoted an extract from one of Mr Ramsay Macdonald’s speeches aptly summing up the position. The Church must retain the confidence of the active spirits in .the Labor movement, and the Labor movement must be based on a sound religions faith. Let the Church and Labor understand each other and co-operate with each other, and the future would belong to both.