THE CHURCHES & THE STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1896, 3 November 1913, Page 6

THE CHURCHES & THE STRIKE.

AN APPEAL. VIEWS OF CLERGYMEN. The attitude of the Protestant churches of Wellington towards tha strike is defined in a resolution wllich was passed at i\ mooting held in tlio Vivian Street Baptist Church last evening, tho Rev. A. T. Rrainsby presiding. AH tho Protestant churches ol tho city oxcept the Anglican were represented by clergymen. Anglican laymen wcro present, and tho absenco of clergymen of that .denomination was accounted for by the fact that Isto communion services wcro being held eoincklently with tho mooting. Several Anglican clergyman, Archdeacon I-farpcr amongst tho numijcr, wrote, sympathy with tho objects of tlio meeting. Tho following resolution was carried unanimously "That in view of tho present industrial strifo in our city, and having regard to tho existing bitterness and deplorable preparations for an armed conflict, this meeting of representatives of tho Christian churches of Wellington, believing that all means to a peaceful settlement liave not yet been exhausted, hereby calls upon the Employers' Federation and tho Worksrs' Federation to reconsider tho situation in another conference of representatives, and urges upon tho Government meanwhile that all proposed operations by free labour bliall bo suspended till tho conference ba concluded." Subsequently the resolution Was com* munieated to the Hon. W. F. Mnssey (Prime Minister). A delegation also convoyed it to tlin meeting convened by tho strikers at tho Opera House last evening. By tho assemblage at this place the resolution was received with enthusiasm. In addition, tho resolution was conveyed by a deputation to Mr. \V. Hopkirk (of the Employers' Federaton), who promised to submit it in the proper quarter.

DR. GIBB ON THE PRESENT STRIKE. 'At St. John's Church, Willis Street) last evening tho llev. Dr. Gibb, taking for bis text, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you oven so to tbcm," spoke at soma length oil the present strike. Tho only solution, stated the speaker, of the problem of industrial unrest, of which their own present trouble was just a phase, was to bo found in tha gospel of Christ, and the practical ndop : tion of tho words which ho had quoted at tho opening of his sermon. Only Christ's Churcji could accomplish this tremendous task. It had accomplished things quito as wonderful as this in the U.'ist. The clamant need of tho industrial world to-day was the application of tliiß text bo had quoted. The chief cause of tho industrial unrest was.duo to the fact that during the last deeado tho wealth of tho English-speaking world had vastly increased, and of this increase tho worker had received only very small proportion., which had been more than swallowed up by the increased cost of living. For iin iiicrcasa in tho wages of 2s. 3d. in tho £ in England, the cost of living had increased compartively Bs. Gd. in tho £. Ho did not knew whether this was tho casa in Now Zealand. ' They were face to faeo, ccintinuod Dr. Gibb, with a problem which, as earnest iueii and women, it became them to Solve. Tho problem would bo a slow and laborious oho t<i Unravel, and it must be worked ouf under tho dominant noto of his opening text. Tho speaker wont 011 to re:>.q extracts from prominent books 'on tha question at issue. Continuing, ho said 110 would give some hints as to the solution of the present trouble. It was tho urgent and boundcu duty of capitalists to entirely shake off tho idea that their employees wero inferior to themselves j they should regard their employees as partners, and treat them as such. "I say to you, who are employers,'' said tho speaker, "to cultivate this spirit in relation to your workers, and regard them as your coiifidentials in tho production nf wealth." The.v must develop tho idea, of brotherhood of man. Wealth must face its responsibilities. The speaker remarked that ho know many employers in tho city who wero hardor pushed in their business and financially than' their employees. However, ho continued, take the majority of rich peoplo in New Zealand. How many of thorn wero Christian Godfearing men ? Most of them cultivated golf 011 tho Sabbath, and oilier selfish amusements. "My spirit buriis within mo as I think of thorn," said tho speaker. Wealth was a trust, itiid rich people ought to lie- an example of noblenoss, purity, and truth. _ Another hint towards tho avoidance of industrial trouble was tho clamant need for recognition on tho part of -the workers that thoy had duties to perform, and must lenrft to gifo as well as to take. In his clamour for his rights, tho worker was apt to forget his duties. Whatever view the vast majority in the city had in regard to the present trouble, they must all bo of tho samo mind, that the city must not bo given over to iiiQb rule. The speaker concluded his discourse by exhorting His hearers to tho strict observance of his opening text.

"BLESSED ARE THE PEACE: MAKERS." At St. James's Presbyterian Church lost'evening tho Rev. Win. Shirer preached .from tho text, "Rut- when Ho saw the multitudes-, Ho was moved with compassion on them'''' (Matthow, 9, 30). Ho said that tho Church had « great duty iii times of trouble, when it should bo guided by tho attitude taken by tlio Saviour in relation to tho pcop'o and their needs. It was a time tor earnest prayer. Tlio Church called upon men to look on things unseen but eternal, nric] then to come with calmet minds to consider their duties. It was tho duty of the Church to point out that law mid order must always bo rcspoclcd, and it should make it clear in teaching that duo regard must bo paid to persons and tho interests of tho whole community, and whilst differences of state might continue, yet Micro should be at tlio same timo mutual respect between men, whatever their rank in life. Tliero was an urgent call to do something to alleviate the present trouble, and, in tho words of tho Master, "lilobsed B.ro the peacemakers."