CHURCH AND LABOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16983, 17 October 1918, Page 6

CHURCH AND LABOUR.

BETTER UNDERSTANDING

DESIKE OF ANGLICAN BODY.

The quarterly conference of the Auckland branches of the Church of England Men's Society was held last evening in St. Matthew's parish hall. Dr. A. W. Averill, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, presided, and there was a good attendance of the clergy and lay members. The lion, secretary, the Rev. Oliver J. Kirnberley, stated that at the last Dominion conference it bad been decided to urge the various branches to consider the study of social and economic questions. The local executive had decided to arrange four central meetings, to be open to members of tho society and to other churchmen, at which addresses would be given by selected speakers. It had been decided that tho general subject to be dealt with should be " The Church and Democracy," and that discussion should follow each address. Tho first meeting would bo held next month. The bishop said there was no doubt that the relations of capital and labour was tho question of the future. He thought, illdeed, that tho industrial question was going to be very serious, if not even of a revolutionary nature. He approved, therefore, of the Church endeavouring to get j into touch with Labour in order' to find | out what its real aims and aspirations were. This would undoubtedly lead to a better understanding. Though the Church must not take sides, much good would be done by the procedure suggested, which he heartily supported. The Rev. J. Wilkinson said it was a 6ad fact that tho Church was out of touch wish the people. The Church itself might be charged with the din of indifference. It was a mistake to hold that social and economic questions, had nothing to do with moral and spiritual matters. The Church ought to try to understand Labour's point of view, and ascertain why the masses weift outside religion. The Rev. Jasper Calder advocated roing humbly to Labour and frankly acknowledging the Church's past shortcomings as regard* ite attitude towards the masses, with the view of coming to a better understanding. The Rev. W. E. Lush, while approving of an endeavour to understand the point; of view of Labour, said he would also like to get to the bottom of the sou! of the j capitalist. After further discussion it was dccicSd to invite certain Auckland Labour leaders to attend and address a future meeting of the society. ; th the object of improving the social, or fellowship, side of the society's work, it was decided to arranjre for quarterly combined meetings of the branches. It was announced that the next Dominion Conference would be held in Auckland in January.