IF CHRIST WERE REBORN

Evening Star, Issue 19199, 16 March 1926, Page 6

IF CHRIST WERE REBORN

WOULD BE BASHED FHOffl AUSTRALIA CLERGYMAN OH THE COLOR OUESTION [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 16. “ If Jesus Christ wore born again in tho self-same way He would be debarred from Australia, and if He came to New Zealand wo should have to take up a retiring collection to pay His poll tax.” The Rev. Stanley Morrison, of Mount Eden, made this arresting assertion last evening during tho course of a dissertation on the clash of color, in tho Beresford Street Congregational Church. This speaker was followed by tho Rev. Mr Dowling, M.A., oi the Congregational Union of Australia and New Zealand, who dealt _ with tho color question from a Christian point of view. The Christian church had come by a sad misfortune if it had not got the message definite and clear wflE regard to the color problem, lie said. The colored races had raised the question—ls tho white civilisation really the higher civilisation?—and their answer was “No.” It was not possible to repress any considerable portion of the human race. Why did Australia close tho door on colored people? Did any Australian honestly believe that it was done because of economic reasons? in any case, it was easy for a colored race to look upon Australia’s attitude as an insult. White people had the notion that they were superior, that they wore born to rule, and that it was for tho colored peoples to obey; hut tho speaker doubted whether racial differences were as great as was generally thought. Xu the end it was the test of intellect. Was there any race on earth that 'could _ not make the sublime answer to Christ? Jesus was a colored man, and Air Dowling believed that Christ was able to give all of Himself to the colored man. Tho answer to the color, problem was more perfect understanding. _ The world would have to look to Christ if things were to be put right, and tho simplest thing to do was to do our job by the colored races in tho name of Jcsfis.