THE CHURCHES AND THE "RED FEDS."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1911, 20 November 1913, Page 10

THE CHURCHES AND THE "RED FEDS."

Sir, —I congratulate you in publishing a letter in issue of this dato signed ."Layman," and I fully agree in his defining some expressions of the "Red Fed" leaders as blasphemy. I have seen three great riots in Belfast, as an ordinary citizen with care of a large young family. I was railway stationmaster in Counties of Cork and Tipperary, as well as Kerry and Kilkenny, going to bed often with pistol at hand and other little arrangements made to meet possible visits by'Fcnians in 1865, 1866, and 1867. I had a narrow escape one night, hut beyond a temporary anxious time, all went well. I confess I am .moro concerned now for the outburst of devilry in New Zealand during the last three weeks, just because it is devilry without a shadow of excuse. Nothing could bo fairer than Arbitration Courts, but the gospel of the ll.F.'s is: "We arc going to rule," and they ai'c so cock-sure of success that those who are carried away by the exuberance of their own verbosity, and their hellish sentiments are on the job in large numbers, feeling their way with the masses, each trying to outdo his brother in sensational speech. The time has come when the churches, who arc true to their Master, the Prince of Peace, must with more earnestness than ever, preach the true evangel. There have unhappily been a few who, themselves blinded by their extreme political bias, have most foolishly allowed themselves to he drawn into a dangerous conspiracy against law and order, and for those men I see nothing to save them hut immediate retreat, difficult though'it may be, foz - they have wronged their own people and damaged tho cause of Christ, Whom they undertook to serve. ' This is a time for every man and woman, and ydnng people as well, who want to see tliis beautiful country happy and prosperous, to gird themselves and to speak out and act when they reasonably can, on the side of law and order. Good conduct at home and in the streets, at business, or play, and conversation free from slang are step-ping-stones to good citizenship. Tho competitions movement was too long coming, but is" doing excellent' worh. Something suitable to attract working men and improvo their mental outlook, seems to be very badly needed, and as your loading article to-day deals with the matter fully, I trust some good lessons may come from the degrading circumstances of the past three weeks.—l am, etc., UNION JACK. November 18.