REV. J. R. GLASSON AND THE LABOUR MOVEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1059, 23 February 1911, Page 2

REV. J. R. GLASSON AND THE LABOUR MOVEMENT.

Sir, —Tn order to estimate the true value of -tho paper on the "Labour Movement, road last /Tuesday by the Itev.; J. it. Glasson at the meeting of the Congregational Union in Dunedin, and published in to-day's Dominion, tho reader ought to know whether, the Reverend gentleman is ah avowed- Socialist. - It is _ utterly" wrong for anvono to say that the*,old theological svsteip, crumbled into the dust before tho rising tide of critical and historical investigation." It is also .utter nonsense to say that "the' Church,- by long indifference and neglect; has alienated tho. working classes.-' The worki-ng classes so called in the old, land of our • fathers at most aro only;• a very small portion - of tho 45 million inhabitants of Great Britain, and'to. write or speak as if they wero the great-mass of the people, and the only working portion of tho populati&h'; is simply-absurd and leading. The people are not divided_int"o only two classes, as. many like to; infer, —the extremely' rich and the extremely poor, .or working classes. My experience, and the observation .of' a , long lifetime, teaches mo . that the - various ; churches and congregations have'-'aiwajslieen; far moro concerned about the social, general, and , spiritual welfare of the working class' than of any other section of the community, and I further believe that any : impartial and intelligent student of history will-bear out this plain, statement with regard to the past.Socialism,- as ■ preached by labour agitators, demagogues, and others, when put into plain, practical English simply moans "everything for the Government and the'municipality and oilothing for theipeople or the individual." I'Jirordfer lo bring about complete Sociall/.ism, the-,Government .must first, of all and plundct. -. ißocialism'Ttas been, for long .ages the-bane--ind curse of tho'black races of -America,'-Africa, and of. Aus--tralia,; including tho South Sea Islands. Trusting that this- short criticism' will not W. considered - too ' long' lor, . a: place in your valuable columns.—l am, • A READER. " Fobruary 18. ,