A BETTER ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 142, 11 March 1919, Page 5

A BETTER ENGLAND

PROBLEMS FOR THE CHURCH TIME FOR NEW BEGINNING "What we desire to see in towns, counties", and villages is the organisation of all who share the Christian profession to act together in the namo of Christ for the making of a better England through the courageous application to the present-day situation of tho fundamental ethical principles of our religion." Such is tho declaration of the Archbishops' Committee which, with the Bishop of Winchester as chairman, was appointed "to consider and report upon tho ways in which the Church may best commend the teaching of Christ to those who are seeking to solve the problems of . industrial life." The book from which tho extract is made constitutes the fifth and last of the series o'f reports which are the outcome of the National Mission of Bepentance and Hope to which the people of England were called two years ago, and the Primate invites for it "with all earnestness" the "study and thought of men and women of good-will," and r.dvisea in regard to the whole series ("The Teaching Office"; "Worship"; "Evangelistic Work"; "Administrative Reform," and the present "Christianity and Industrial Problems") that.the subjects dealt with may be discussed at meetings largo and small, and that there may be sermons and addresses and study circles so "that wo may perceive and know what things we ought to do." In his weighty introduction the Bishop of Winchester 6ay6 the report "represents the belief, that tho time requires a new beginning on tho part of the Church in, defining its attitude to the economic and social life of tho nation . . . and the committee are not afraid to 6ay that they have tried to do something to take out of the way of large numbers of God's people stumblingblocks which have made faith in God and the reception of Christ more difficult for .them." Duty of the Clergy. In the chapter on "Urban Life and. Industry" it is stated as the opinion of tho committee that it is the duty of the clergy to teach the application of the Christian Faith' to social and industrial practice. It is desirable therefore— That they should acquaint themselves by every means in tlieir power with the 1 social aims and c6pirations of those to whom they minister. That they 6hould be drawn from all classes in the community, and that no boy who has a vocation for the ministry should be prevented by poverty from entering it. That the preparation of the clergy for tho ministry should include a training in economic, and social science. That the clergy should regard tho maintenance by their example and precept of a high standard of citizenship and social morality'as. part of the duties of their office, and should, when practicable, toke the initiative in promoting reforms, and . That they should consider the advisability of devolving upon tho laity koine of the duties of parochial administration which now fall upon them. \ As to Christian principles and their social application, the Committee come to the conclusion that: "Once more the Church inny commend its witness by asking the comrades with whom it joins in asserting tho funda-1 mental principles of social welfare and progress to recognise the real springs and securities of those principles. The sacredness of each human life, the rightfulness of claims for liberty of development and for equality of opportunity and consideration, the duty of mutual help an t corporate service—these are the indispensable and sovereign things.- The prima facie objections to tho suggestion that it is desirable to ascertain whether Christianity has any special message with regard to social ethics are not conclusive. They have some weight. They suggest warnings against hasty dogmatism. But they do not relieve Christians of the duty to consider carefully whether Christianity contains, principles of social conduct applicable oven in the complex circumstances of modern industrial communities." *■

' Unchristian Competition. To tho Master' of Balliol (Mr. A. L. Smith) was entrusted a chapter on historical illustrations of Christian thought on .social relationships. The following section, on urban Hie and industry is of great interest ns revealing a protest against the treatment of human beings as "hands," and containing a number.of suggestions for the amelioration of present conditions and the improvement of tho status of tho worker. The principal conclusions of the Committee may be thus'summarised: "The teaching of Christianity is binding upon men not only in their personal and domestic conduct but in their economic activity and industrial organisation. It is/'tho. duty of tho Christian Church to urge that considerations of Christian morality must be applied to all such social relationships. "The existing industrial system makes it exceedingly difficult to carry put the principles of Christianity. The solution of the industrial problem involves, therefore, not merely the improvement' of individuals, but a fundamental change in the spirit of the system itself. Tho fundamental evil of modern inI dustrialism is that it encourages competition for private gain instead of cooperation for public service. This fos--1 Iters,-for one thing, an organisation of \ndnstry which treats the workers as hands rather than as persons, and which deprives them of the control which they may reasonably claim to exercise over tho conditions,under which they earn their livelihood. It also gives riso to an attitude of mutual antagonism and suspicion between tho different parties engaged in industry. The conception of- industry as a selfish competitive struggle is unchristian. Industry ought to be regarded primarily as a social service, based on the effort of every individual to discharge his duly to his neighbour and to tho community. No inherited wealth or position can dispense any member of the Christian society from establishing by work his claim" to maintenance. Other paragraphs deal with the living wage need, continuity of employment, excessive profits, the protecting*of children, association of workers and employers, the industrial employment'of women, the need of a ne\v attitude towards profits, local government, and housing.

Education. The report insists on the need of a new attitude towards education: i The principles that education should be j liberal and not prematurely specialised, i that it should include care for the physical welfare and development of children, that it should cultivate .children by practical work as well as by more formal instruction and should strengthen their character through participation inthe corporate life of a school, that it should aim not merely, at selecting individuals for- intensive culture but at raisiug the moral and intellectual level of the whole society, are such, wo think, as should make a special appeal to those who accept tho social teaching of Christianity. If they are to receive effective application, there must, it is evident, bo certain dinners both in the national estimate of tho importance of education aud in the educational 6ystem itself. There must, in short, be a new attitude towards education on the part of the nation, and a now spirit in the "educational system. The primary object of educational effort should be to ,lay the. foundations of a broad and liberal culture, not to give specialised vocational training. It should lie the duty of local education authorities to give special attention to the physical development of tho children in their charge, and to provide curative treatment for their ailments. In all schools a larger place should be given to practical work. The proportion of the national income devoted to education should be largely and progressively increased. Compulsory continued education should be established. ■Education should be given a vocational bias only in the later years of school attendance. The growing desire for religious education among adults should bo mot by tho establishment, under expert guidance, of classes for the study of religion. It is eminently desirable thai a larger number-

of ministers should be drawn from tha milks of adult working people, and.suoh olasses are one method by which' the achievement of this result can be facilitated. ' Conclusion. An impressive final chapter has the following sentences: We repudiated at the outset the idea that Christ, and the religion of Christ, have no voice upon the social and economic departments of life which especially concern those who are engaged in industry or in solving its problems, We desire, in ending, with all emphasis to affirm the opposite. . . , Wo believo that in a "day of lire" like the present much that has been wrong and worldly in the past will be burnt away, and that in a coming time of. more equal-rights and better distributed power and l possession - the Christian Gospel and the Christian Church may be found to bo'among the ■»' sttongest forces making for a sound and wholesome progress. ... We would appeal to all whom it may concern for a close alliance and mutual regard between those who are working for the best organisation, of -industry and the Church of the world's Bcdecmer.. .. The value of the report is greatly!enhanced by a six-page g-uide to the books dealing with the. subjects discussed.