THE CHURCH AND SOCIALISM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12410, 21 March 1911, Page 2

THE CHURCH AND SOCIALISM.

The Rev. E. Ward, vicar of Waerenga • a-hika, was the preacher at Holy Trimly Church on Sunday morning. The subject of tUe address, which was the third of a Lenten course on "The Church and Present Day Problems," was "The Church and Socialism." The text was 1. St. John, 3-17, "Whoso hath this world's goods and seeth his brother have need, and shutlet-h up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God m himT" Socialism, said the preacher, is a vast and important subject than which there is none bulking Jarger among present-day problems. It is loud-voiced, militant, and. urgent, and presses itself upon the attention of men all the world over. If the conditions of life here m New Zealand were comparatively easy, we were face to /ace with appalling-- conditions 'm the old lands, and amid the vast populations of great cities. . Iniquity abounding, vice and crime flourishing m congenial surroundings, the conditions of life such that morality and cleanliness and health were practically , impossible, and m tho midst of such an atmosphere children being brought up without, a possibility of < escape to swell the ranks of the criminal and outcast. These things must fqrce themselves on. the attention of the thoughtful; person. Socialism proposed- to put these deplorable conditions right Ly doing away with individualism — that' is free competition — and to give every one an equal chance m life.. In factj it is its aim to establish the universal . brotherhood of man as <a working principle of life. The underlying iaeals are grand, and at once commend themselves to us, for they are tlie ideals of Christianity. They are the ideals of Christ, and so far\ socialism would appear to range itself side by side with Christ's cause. But when we con< sider the details by which socialism'; seeks to bring about its aims, ■we find reason to pauso and much to check Our enthusiasm, i Many of its leaders aro openly and violently opposed to Christian teaching, to mention: only, the wellknown name of Robert Blatchford, wh^o m his works has- taken ,■. such a strong opposition to revealed truth. Again it is essential from a Christian standpoint that the means employed must be m accord with, Christ's teaching as.WQll as the desired end.. Many of the, means advocated by present-day socialism cannot be accepted by any true Christian. How, then, shall the brotherhood of man ■ be brought about? Evil comes from the heart,' and every movement for social regeneration should therefore begin at the heart. Socialism would bring about a new order by means of law. m this age of ours law is -more operative than iii any previous* stage of history,- < Its nature i& to repress individual freedom for> the general benefit of , society j ' The socialist would desire thfeb , law Should be carried to a stage which; would control the whole., life. > He would .make it regulate competition, eliminate private interests and ownership, organise labor and output, and some exponents of socialism would propose to take our children , and bring them up as children of the State. Jiow, law at the root is based upon violence; behind itiis \he policeman's baton and the gaol "td[*in- i force its decrees. What has Christianity to say to this?. First, that it has no right to interfere with methods of govI eminent unless such laws interfere with. Christianity. We may go on out .way unconcerned as to. rival programmes and legislative proposals. The gospel of violence is no part of Christ's teaching. His attitude was that of non-resistance by foTce to ..evil..: His teaching was to influence like leaven, riot to compel. But undoubtedly to enable religion to have a chance' to operate and uplift the lives of countless numbers a better environment is a- .necessity. Anything that will improve such conditions of life must interest Christians. • It would appear that Socialists have no profound faith m their own methods. Blatchford writes: "Given universal love of man ,for .man we should have-^something, foetr ter than Socialism." Christ's Work ie to enforce this better aim, a work by their own confession deeper thai that of Socialism. To; sum jup then the relations between the Qliurcli and Socialism — Its ideals are magnificent, they are jour own; its methods we cannot accept. How, then* is Christianity going to deal with admitted evils. They, say that England, for instance, has been Christian for 2000 years, and Christianity has failed there. England is n6t Christian; it is a perversion of the truth to say so. It has not be*n so for a single day. There have always been Christians, but m the mass there are vast numbers Christian only m; name, who are not only not advancing the teaching of their Lord, but actually re. tarding it. They are the curse of the Christian Church. When Christians live their faith as taught by Christ ; when they realise that God is our Father and every, man a brother, theTi it will* be seen that Christ's . teaching is everything the world need* to bring .ah»ut better conditions of 'life and to cure. It is for, us to put that teaching into practice individually. There are hopeful signs. Societies m which men. recognise the claims of brotherhood are coming- into being m the Church. Such a brotherhood is the world-wide Church of England Men's Society. Ally yourself with such a society, he said, and make its aims your own. tto this and there; will be no necessity to. throw m your lot with those Mho, advocate violent nostruma and penaceaa, for the regeneration of society. .; Christ calls us back from, 1 these to> the reform of seif-r---the qnly. reform really needed, to take our place under His banneiv to. cultivate brotherly love aa member? one of another under one head; and' to pitt it into practice. .So we shall do our part to remove all these ills under which humanity is suffering to-day."' Next Sunday the Rev. M l . W. field, RD.; will take' the snhjeot of "The Church and CapUal,"