AN APPEAL TO THE CLERGY.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12500, 29 March 1909, Page 3

AN APPEAL TO THE CLERGY.

ALLEGED " HOWLING JINGO- - ISM." (Special to "The Colonist.) ■ Christchurch, March 28. Mr James Thorn, the well-known . Socialist leader, has addressed the . following letter to the ministers of re-. ligion in Christchurch, under date of March 27th :— "Reverend Sir, You are a follower of. the meek and gentle |.r- Jesus, who we are told came to this j- world with a message ;of peace* and. , good-will. .As such,- . a mere layman, y who in the past has 'taken some in- .■'• terest in Church work, I can, I trusty look to you at times of national crises to take a stand compatible with the ethical teaching of this Jesus. In the hope that I am not mistaken, I am taking this liberty to -address these lines to you. You will doubtless, be aware that in regard to our entire foreign relations _the position has become critical, at least those whom the people in .their, wisdom have established in authority ..tell us . so. To meet the crisis frenzied measures are being taken to increase our naval armaments, and to maintain them at a two-Power standard. This is merely the continuance of 'a : policy, which, as you know, has reduced the English- : people to a condition of alriiost general [ pauperism. The cost this policy has been, and the almost complete neg-. iSct of those national duties involvedby the existence of unsocial material conditions, the people' starve while Mars is glutted. Despite these pal-- ■ pable consequences, our country lias , been pledged by the popularly unli-r, - censed action of our Prime Minister i to give a- ship of war to: tjie : Mother • Country, and this at a time when our . people are plunged so much. in. debt' • and financial disability that public • servants are being, dismissed by the i score. The Government ■'■ is talking "retrenchment." Roads' and bridges for our farmers which -are badly wanted, remain unbuilt. Educational matters and social conditions are crying aloud for improvement, and the evils of unemployment, and of the developing of social organism, are making their appearance. _ This is not all. Not merely are we being saddled with further debt, and the mrr convenience of neglect, but by the • usual stereotyped methods .of press - and politicians, attempts are being made to inflame in us a lust for our neighbour's blood. Strained reports of alleged overheard conversations are being published in the papers with the intention of exciting national animosities. In the 'Lyttelton Times.' for instance, we are told of a ' stolid-look-ing Briton' who said in a paroxysm of patriotic fervour, that 'if England ■wanted to tear anybody's heart out, he would be with her.'- This, to be , sure, is inelegant brutality, but for ' all that it is a type of the means used to inflame our people without the slightest real cause .against the people of another nation." 'Anybody with the meanest powers of recollec--tion will remember that precisely the same methods were adopted to foster . and- encourage the desire for war with the Boers. Now, as one who has participated in war, and as one who ha.s some respect still left for the ethical teaching of Christ, I abhor the slaughter of men,' and the preparations for the slaughter of men, and consequently knowing your wide contact with men and women, and the influence you wield over their- lives, and ,feeling sure of your heartfelt desire to eradicate harmful lusts "from-hu-man kind. I am" appealing to. you to - place_ yourself against this ; howling jingoism, and to do something to in.culcate an abiding spirit of peace in ;the hearts of the people. No doubt if you express your sympathy with me, you will be bitterly criticised, and probably called ' a mean spirited eneniy of your country,', and the like, "but in that case you should take heart of courage from the example of Him, whom you profess to follow, and stand . up and do the right thing. With very • kind regards — I am, etc., James Thorn." :