THE BAPTIST CONFERENCE—THE. REV. J. K. ARCHER'S SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 17, 15 October 1918, Page 7

THE BAPTIST CONFERENCE—THE . REV. J. K. ARCHER'S SPEECH

(To the Editor.) Sir,—The Rev. J. K. Archer's speech at tho Baptist Conference opening was in some respects remarkable. He quoted Sir Conau Doyle with manifest approval when he said tho last two centuries have been the most wicked in the world's history. With nil due deference to the preacher and his knight, that statement is not true. But let us hear him further. Mr. Archer says this wickedness is not due to drunkenness, or'tho war, .but to. idolatry, and the trinity of this idolatry is—mechanism,Imperialism and Mammonisui. The Baptist Church and other nonconforming churches do not escape. Do they not employ mechanism in their worship? Aro they not Imperialistic? Are they not niammouised, pew and pulpit alike P Are these ministers not themselves responsible for all tin's idolatry? Of course they aro. Then Mr. Archer quotes tlie Minister of Agriculture about "sordid commercialism," and utters n most unpatriotic sentiment when he declares that "wo lmyo little right to throw stones of criticism at Germany's solf-suoking." Thus Mr. Archer condones Germany's war-making for plunder, because we are all plunderers! What priggishiicsK is this! Where has Mr. Archer been living these last four years? Has he heard nothing of what Germany has done in this war? Nothing of tho destruction and desolation of "small countries? Nothing of the rapine, murder, massacre, slavery and violation that Germans have, wrought iu their self-seeking? And yet! we who know have dished up to us in a column and more a'clergyman's assertion that we. have little right to throw stones at Germany. This is tho limit in pecksniffian grace! Then ho says poverty is not due to drink save in individual cases, but to commercial competition and landed aggregation. Tho land he cites as harms been purchased from' tho Maoris was worth no more at tho time, and tho influx of people and the spending of public money have niade it more valuable. And the"land is always taxable. This parson does not know the first, principles of political economy and taxation. Finally, Mr.- Archer talks of national efficiency: "National efficiency is not to bo raised or improved by tho Efficiency Board recommendation," ho says, "for the national efficiency most needed just now is efficiency of distribution. AH civilised ' countriesj" he concludes, "aro efficient enough in production if they would be content to produce for use instead of profit." Heaywis above! New Zealand is efficient in production. She has attained a high degree of efficiency all round, but the. sliinnliitin'r factor has been "use and profit." Why is Mr. Archer a parson of the Baptist Church? Ho is n minister of roliizion hocausc he thinks his usefulness lies in religion, but would he lm lons i" his job if he could not niiikc ii living at it? Rah! It makes mo sick to hi'iir sump parsons' palaver iibmit things of which they know nothing.—l am, etc., A. DANIEL Wlipn Mrs. I'Yiinecs Frcpman was fined £1 at Wnltlmm Abbey for having taken matches into a factory (says an Knglis.li report) it was staled that two matches, one spent, were found in her liair. Sim ssiid that shn used tlieni as hairpins, thinking that both worn spent. "Arc ordinary hairpins prohibited iu tlu> factory " asked the chairman of the lioiich. "Yes, strictly," replied the superintendent (Major Kvaus). "Then how do the girls fasten their hair?" "Thoy keep their hair up by wearing Tani o' Shantcr hats."