ADDRESS BY MR FISHER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 114, 12 May 1909, Page 5

ADDRESS BY MR FISHER.

WHERE THE CHURCH HAS FAILED.

[PEESS ASSOCIATION.] (Reecived Ma & lJ fe ,Jo ££>„. Mr Fisher, at the invitation of the Presbyterian General Assembly, addressed a. large gathering on the subject of the Church and Labor. The Rev. Mr Waugh, m opening the discussion, said that organised labor was looking at the Church with curious, sceptical eyes, wondering what the Church was going to do. There was need for something to be done. It was undeniable that a large number were not getting a living wage. Mr Fisher declared that the question was not a political but a social one, touching the very roots of civilisation. Instead of being in the lead in dealing with the matter the :Church had dragged behind, and proved unequal to its first social duty. What estranged people from the ■Church was the fact that they could make more progress by association with a movement which was not ■Church but contained for women and men something making for the welfare of their fellows.

During the last sixteen years, continued Mr Fisher, Australia had doubled in wealth, but the increase had not gone to the struggling people who were its backbone. If the Church allowed these things it would not progress, but be left behind the social movement and be ignored. We were in a way civilised, but were not really .Christians. We were not civilised when we would allow honest men to It would be impertinent to ;say there what remedy there was, but .he claimed the Church's sympathy for those in danger, not only of the pangs of hunger, but in mral danger "also. The Church failed miserably regarding the housing of the poor and working conditions. Vested interests were standing. against the lives of our women and children. There were .rings and combines on every hand. Some people in the high church told the people that these things operated for the good of the public. They thought nothing of cornering foodstuffs. It was degradation to the country, a disgrace to Parliament and -a reflection upon every Church that failed to condemn these. In his heart he hoped that the Church would deal with the question speedily, even if it had to call a special session of the Assembly. Replying to criticisms ;of his speech, Mr Fisher said he did not deny that the Church preached the gospel of "love your neighbour as-yourself," but preaching did not effect the result desired.

The Assembly expressed its thanks to Mr Fisher tor his address.