CRUSADE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

Northern Advocate, 6 January 1937, Page 3

CRUSADE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I have read with interest of a movement lately started in New Zealand —the Crusade for Social Justice — the patron of which is the Dean of Canterbury, while a number of prominent Church and laymen form its j executive. Surely, sir, it is high time | the Church came out into this, in my opinion, a great movement-, for what but a united church is able to sweep away the abuses and iniquities of a

perverted social system and restore in its place a new order based on Christian ethics? The Government of the day has admittedly improved the social and economic conditions of the masses compared with what they were a few years ago, but it is only by a full recognition of Christian principles and social justice that we can hope to secure permanent security from even the best intentioned Acts I of Parliament, for, after all, the founj dation of lasting economic security | and social welfare lies deeper than is ! reached by mere legislative measures; j it lies in the very hearts and lives of the people. With a sympathetic Gov- ; eminent to back up its teachings, the 1 Church is at last given an opportun- j ity to take a more active and effective : | part in social life and conditions of j I the masses —a Christian duty. We j I must not forget that the whole of our I social and economic trouble can be j traced to the lack of Christian teach- ! ing (as taught by the “Carpenter”), j and to that contagious product of j economic insecurity—fear—which has | without a doubt crept into religion, as lit has everywhere else. When econo- | mic security and social justice have i been attained, something will have bei gun, and it is the duty of cur clergy--1 men to advocate a social order found- ' ed on Christian principles and social j justice, and to denounce social and i economic conditions, which so obviously are the very opposite to Christ’s teachings. I am etc F E. WARD.