A SOCIALIST PARSON.

NZ Truth, Issue 179, 21 November 1908, Page 5

A SOCIALIST PARSON.

Hear, Hear, to Harris.

'■Truth" learns, with astonishmtt*. tkat there is a Methodist parsen aa >w»ate who is not on the side ef boodle. The eircurastance is so unusual that it is specially mentioned . here. In a recent sesmon Rev. Harris sjJoke of the Church's attitude towards Socialism., and advanced the heretical doctrine that it was t&e duty of the Church to tight for a emKtition that would give every .psrien aa eqoal opportunity. Millions to-day lire* under wretched conditi»Bs, and the won At was, not that so many of these people were given over to sin, but that even a few. all them should be found worshipping Wotl through it all. Many might say that the special mission of the Church was spiritual, but Christianity had a message for the whole man as a citizen and a homemaker and salvation for him as a sinner. Socialism frightened many timid Christians, who associated it with materudism, atheism and anarchy ; many, too, were afraid of their influence and comfort being disturbed ; but Rev. Harris believed that m so far as it aimed at destroying monopoly and giving opportunity to all, it contained muoh of the teaching of Jesus Christ, who preached that all men are brothers. It is so refreshing to find a Methadist parson who is not a wowser, that prominence is given to the above remarks. Had they been uttered m a fat, comfortable city bethel, they would have given offence to a large section of the cashigrafobing congregation, and: Harris would have been hauled over the coals for being "indiscreet." It is a significant fact that one of the rare clergymen who literally follow the teachings of Christ should be buried by his superiors m a one-horse hamlet like Waimate. .