SPIRIT OF HUMANISM.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15289, 16 July 1923, Page 8

SPIRIT OF HUMANISM.

MOVEMENTS FOR GENERAL WELFARE. On one occasion Richard John Scddon, the great Liberal Statesman, said "I am not a Socialist, I am what you may call a Humanist." That was a good "word and quite applicable in mny respects to the man who used Humanism is the spirit which seeks the general welfare of the people independent of race, parly, sect or class limitations. Amongst our British people this spirit finds expression through many institutions and organisations. In the held of industry we find this impulse for human good manifested very fully in Britain in a national organisation named •'The Industrial Welfare Association," of which the Duke of York is President and which contains in membership both Labour men and Capitalists. We should like to see more of such co-operation in NewZealand. Welfare Foundations. During the war a great work was done in the way of human amelioration, revision of previously existing conditions, and the broadening of human sympathies and understanding. Amongst the thousands of munition workers, in the Hed Cross work of mercy, in movements of conference and genuine co-operation, earnest men and women learnt the lesson of this great education and have resolved that the spirit of service that actuated our people shall not be allowed to die. The first principle of the welfare movement, then, is acceptance of the call to service. It is not a movement of conscripts but of those who give their service freely and gladly 'because they have learnt the inner meaning o'f'the sentiment that "it is more blessed to give than to receive." The whole welfare structure rests upon the affirmation of the three principles: —(a) The law of human partnership; (b) The essential value of service; (c) The recognition that all of value is the outcome of productive effort.

Applying these principles as tests to our present-day economic situation, all will realise the need for them if only by way of tempering the sectional impulses of selfishness that are met on all sides. Of both capitalists and workers we may say with justice thai bath are far too intent upon what they will receive, and far from sufflciontb concerned as to what service they will give. If all were seeking ti. give their best service we should then be free from the burden of the idle rich and idle poor. The essentia! value of free service, which after all Is but living Christianity, is the principle that binds all together. In its exercise we will learn that humunil} Is something higher than groups, ciasses, parties, an'd sects, and instead of looking for enrichment from some Fortunalus bag, filled we know not how or care not, we would recognise definitely that all our energies of bod\ and mind should be concentrated on the fullest production and wisest distribution.

The foundation of the welfare movement is in recognising that tin needs of men, women, and children are lo be met in weaving theories o. tlxed rules for application to mutable condition, but by concentration on the duty of honest service in the spiril of broad-minded humanity, holding to the motto "Labour Omnia Vincit." There are those who think thai socialism and humanism are identical. This is not so, socialism is doctrinaire and partisan. Humanism is practical and above all party restrictions. Some who call themselves socialists could more fittingly be called humanists—a Robert Blatchford for instance—and others who name themselves individualists are so liberal in their individuality as to prove them real humanists in practice. Humanism Versus Socialism. Socialism is a graet movement. Great because of the numbers win; espouse it. Great in its sentiment, its inspiration, and its illusions. It is greatest of all, however, as a failure, because in theory and practice it builds upon a misunderstanding of the real nature of man. The welfare movement does not enter the lists to light Socialism with a negation. In Australia Sir George Reid led an ant ; - Socialist compaign which failed because it was little else than "anti." The people turned to the Labour Party because it gave them hope. Instinctively we all realise that "\vith»Jt hope the people perish." Politicians, at limes, knowing that fact, bui'.i i> cunlains of hope from the clouds of ill lsion, which in time are swept, away by the winds of critical dissension Socialism is the cloud that to-day looms over all nations. Seen from some points it is bright and shining, lint from others merely dark and ominous. As a creed of professed human progress it is theoretic, rigid, and largely materialistic. Resting on the arithmetical conception thai because two is more than one, therefore the collective body should ever have precedence of the individual, it loses sight of the qualitative character of man. In its application to the practical affairs of life it tends always in the direction of communism of goods, generalisation of standards' of life, and centralis.ii ion of authority, and the necessary subjection of the family and the individual. Socialism is by force revolutionary, and seeks change from the exercise of power, whether it be that of the mob or an enthused minority, as its impulse is from an ideal rather than the result of practical tests or experience. The revisionist policy of the welfare movement is necessarily in opposition to socialism, but it is not because it is "anti." The movement is affirmative in itself. It places neither the individual nor the collective whole as Gods over its intellect, but teaches the rational doctrine that man's welfare as an individual is to be found in his faithful service to all whilst the general welfare is best secured by the protection of the individual.

Humanism is not the virtue of any one people. We And it manifested more or less by individuals in all parties. People" are mystified sometimes in finding the same electors voting for a conservative on one oc : casion, for a liberal on another and still again for a laborito or socialist. There is no mystery about it —some touch of humanity moves the electors to vote for the man. After alt creeds and doctrines in politics have not the weight in dec-, tions we often assume. It is the man who counts. Humanity calls for humanity and the ablest are they who know how, in a practical way, to respond to that in the advancement )i' the general welfare. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League).