PERILS OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1912, 21 November 1913, Page 10

PERILS OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

REV. R. J. CAMPBELL SPEAKS. The Rev. R. J. Campbell preached at Pembroke Chapel, Liverpool, last month. He said he- had received a letter from a Liverpool citizen,, who appeared to boa local Labour leader, asking him to give his views on the present labour unrest, his opinion on the almost unbroken silence of the Christian with respect to labour, problems,, and his ideas with respect to the possibilities of the Labour press. On tins last question, Mr. Campbell said he had no competence to pronounce an opinion. On the main question he had. more definite views. One's sympathies, at the present time, were, in the maul, with the workers. Ho believed that tho present- labour upheaval was a groping after a fuller, nobler, more abundant life. The disinherited were coming into their own. The people were pressing into the promised land, But it was a movement fraught with great danger. Ho knew too much o£ history to treat that danger lightly. On rcurrent conditions (Mr. Campbell continued) had existed < almost exactly in former civilisations. Wcro they going to fail, as did Greece and Rome? Stall could not live by bread alone. Was the labour movement going to be materialistic, or would tt endeavour to cultivate a true spiritual consciousness ? Democracy in this country was on its trial, and so far it had dome nothing very wonderful. As to the statement about the silence of the Christian Church, ho respectfully demurred to the opinion expressed by his correspondent. It was no longer true that tho Christian Church was a silent witness ot labour troubles. At. the Church Congress just over, tho whole subject was frankly treated, and the views of the workers fearlessly expressed by men like Conrad Noel and Philip Snow-den. The function of the Church was something other than merely to labour for a reform of social conditions. That is tho complement that follows from its higher function. The principal function of tho Christian Church was that of a witness to the Eternal,, and if the Church ever made that second, she would prove no good to anyone, and perish. Pray God that neither the. Christian Church nor the Labour movement would fail in the trust committed to their charge. A .charming country home, within "l< : miles at Wellington, is described in this issue by Mr. S. Geo. Nathan, Customhouse Quay, who is agent for its sale. A heavy fall of masonry has occurred iii the ancient Ire*)) of F'anitimii Castle, the Bishop of Winclwster's residence, near Guildford, at a place where Hie wall had be«u found to bo uafly HI. out of the ner-psjidipular.