THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22546, 13 April 1935, Page 19

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND

THE UNEMPLOYED TO TUE«EDITOR

Sir,—When I read of the Presbyterians' appeal to the city councillors on behalf of the unemployed I at first thanked God that at last Saul was to be numbered among the prophets; but the reason for this sudden concern for the welfare of their fellow-men mav not be so far to seek when one remembers that "Ralph Connor" is coming, and after his pronouncements hi Wellington it behoves the Presbyterian coterie to simulate at least some concern in the matter. But what egregious humbug! _ This present council has only one month's lite left. Why do not these "diehards" wait till a new council is elected? " Oh! the matter is too pressing," they reply. "We have waited 11 months before acting, and now that ' Ralph Connor' is coming we would like him to realise that we are a real live church down here. Of course, most of our social work has been in entertaining the more respectable members of the community. Students, for instance, living away from home have to be amused, and eo we must have Sunday entertainments for them. They are likely some dav to earn quite decent incomes, especially the young medical students—such fine innocent young fellows! " • And so on—as a church the Presbyterians are too respectable and afraid of poverty ever to do much good in this world except to help their wealthy members to lay the flattering unction to their souls that they are not as other men are. and thus to administer an anesthetic to their consciences. No, give me Archbishop Averill every time. —I am, etc Anti-huiibug.