INDIOTMENT OF BUSINESS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14653, 6 March 1918, Page 2

INDIOTMENT OF BUSINESS.

CLERGYMAN SPKAK3 OljT

EARLY CLOSING JUIOFITS

A pJea for the recognition of Christian principles in. ousiness was made by the Rev. A. M. i\"il>look in a Lenten address in the Chamber of Com.merco, Aucklr.nd (says the *,'Star">. The world, he said, was dominated by the war spirit, and what spirit .would";gain the ascendancy after war cquld not yev be known. Much had lieen written "on the ■ development of trade, especially in view of the greater efficiency and productive power of Britain. /One book, "Empire or Eclipse," preached the gospel of domination of the world's trade, and declared that the people of the Biitish Empire had it in their power to rule the earth in this respect-: The book was a clover one, but tiie spiiit of Christ was not/in it. It was idle to pretend, said the speaker that luroness to-day, in either England .ir ;\W Zealand, was swayed-by Christian principles He spoke from expectance, for he had been engaged in business for some years, and had seen much of the gambling that went on upon.the. Liverpool Cotton Exchange, the trickery and the numberless discreditable devices wit A which ib abounded. He had learned that it- was quite to deal in goods that had no existence at all. He had also been in the office of a China merchant, and had seen in operation some of those trade isiethods which, while not contrary to certain standai ds of business-: morality,, were abhorrent to the spirit of Christ. had-learned since iris airival iiv New Zealand, said r.Jie Mwilwr, Unit similar abuses were not unknown here. He had. had evidence that .a." cos tainfirm had subscribed several thoasaijd pounds to the early closing campaign fund because, as one of. ivs uwmLers declared, early closing would" divert money from the pocket <>f the "ciud.i" to its own pockets. lie knew tlsat nvinbers of ghls had loeii driven vpon tJio streets of this city beet use employ"ts would not pay 'sufficient wa^fs. ! licre were many more things that li-j coold say if he would. IVoplo spoke v. c ue tyranny of German trale after H;e war, but the tyranny of business greed, selfishness, and cruelty, which beforo the war had ground down millions in Britain, was capable even yet of making the world a hell instead of a Garden of Eden. The map in the street looked to professing Christians for a inanlfestation of Christ, but was riisaopc.'nted, for he found that they worshippcl aj vagurt, mystical, and remote Christ. l'Jie carrying of Christ's spirit; into evoiyd't-> life meant sacrifice, and it was sa'criii"e for greut-ideals..that business and Irasiness men greatly needed.