CHRIST IN BUSINESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19963, 4 June 1928, Page 12

CHRIST IN BUSINESS.

Sir.—May Ibe allowed to say that I have had 60 years of business life, and without being prejudiced, I must submit that my experience is that those who tais most of the need, and possibility, of bringing Christian ethics into business invariably display a sad lack of it themselves. Recently f was at a conference of big business men, and one of them—lnmseU an official of a Presbyterian Church—told me of his being employed by a firm o drapers in London who make a great parade of being Christians and taking Christ into all business transactions. Ine head of the firm was addressing the start —a very large one—and stressing the tact that the firm sought in every way to consider the spiritual, and material, welfare of the staff, when a voice cried out "£1 14s 8d!" That was the month s wages they paid qualified assistants—-the staff living in, of course. Thousands ot similar instances can be reported. 1 listened years ago to the Rev. Dr. Sevan address business men in Sydney, and he made a most eloquent appeal for the introduction of Christ into the workshop, the big emporiums, banks, etc. All very beautiful, but in no sense practicable under the present organisation of society. A bank manager can only advance money under proper security, and the business mail who attempts to cairy on by following the ethics of Christ in any true sense will soon be in the Bankruptcy Court, As a matter of fact, while there is so much poverty—honest poverty, if 1 1 may use the term—in all parts of the world, it would seem very doubtful whether any wealthy man has the right to claim that he is carrying out Christ's commands. Hamilton.