AN OUTSPOKEN CLERGYMAN.

Inangahua Times, Volume XVI, Issue 302, 22 April 1892, Page 2

AN OUTSPOKEN CLERGYMAN.

At the harvest thanksgiving service at St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Albury (N. S. W.),the Vicar (Rev. Canon Kingsmill) delivered a sermon remarkable for it 3 vigorous denunication of private ownership in land. The discourse was commenced at the morning service and continued in the evening, when, owing to the sensation caused by the vigorous handling of the subject by the preacher, the church was so crowded that many were unable to gain admission. The sermon, which was listened to throughout with attention, was powerful and critical some very trenchant comment being directed against the system of private ownership inland. Basing his introductory remarks on the farming achievements of the Jews under the old Mossic land laws, which the canon said never contemplated such a thing as land monopoly, the preacher referred to the pre-eminouco of mankind over property in those days, the laws of Moses being specially framed for the protection of humanity, and not for that

of goods and chattels. "When private ownership supervened, the people were driven off the land, and the sequel was that they flocked into the cities, where, in consequence of the congested condition, vice degradation, and misery were created to an enormous extent — an extent that ■was impossible when they were settled on the land throughout the country. When the great Eoman Empire fell, the land of the whole world was owned by some 18,000 persons, and in every other case it was precisely the same. "When the people were driven off the land by ineffective laws and monopoly in any country it was but the prelude to the downfall of that country. Nation after nation had sunk la to insignificance chiefly owing to defective land laws. Which enabled individuals to create great monopolies. He pointed out that the land was the absolute birthright of mankind, and, as such, indivisable. No country which allowed the wholesale alienation of the landed estate of the people could hope to prosper permanently, though this had now gone on to such an extent that the resumption of the land by the State was next to impossible. It was, despite that, the duty ol the Government to enact laws for the protection of humanity. The old Mosaic laws could not very well be applied now, but there was no doubt the Government should do something to prevent the crushing of the weak off the face of the earth by those, who through fortuitous circumstances, perhaps, had been enabled to acquire monopolies in- land which the Creator had designed for the human race and not for individuals. Politicians now. a-days seem to be elected simply for the protection of property, and little attention was paid to the protection of humanity. It was proudly boasted that the British people were free, yet it was an undoubted fact that millions were also starving. Such a condition of things had led up to the downfall of the Roman and Babylonian Empires. The Commission appointed in -England had made the striking discovery that it was impossible to recruit the army from the country districts, and that only the weak, sickly inhabitants of the cities could be obtained. Furthermore there was evidence that not a single man in the British Army could be depended upon. The inference was that men would not fight when they had not interest or patriotism, and, like the Eoman soldiers who were crushed down, they might be glad, under the aggravatian of the existing condition of things, to welcome the invaders.— Sydney Telegraph.