SOCIALISM AND SECULARISM

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1921, Page 1

SOCIALISM AND SECULARISM

MATERIALISTIC LABOURISAI

SI’NIUV HI.ECTIONKKIUNO

It is reported that the Central Bolshevik Committee has issued a sharp reprimand to tho Reds who pray. It says: Paragraph thirteen of our programme whereby all members undertake to conduct anti-religious propaganda., is often completely ignored by individual members of the party, who even assist in strengthening religious prejudices by public fulfilment of the most stupid religious rites.” That report may be doubtful. The Russian Soviet Constitution clause thirteen reads thus: ‘With a view to ensuring to the workers true liberty of conscience the Church is disestablished in the State and in the school, and freedom of religious and anti-religious propaganda is granted to all Citizens.” The words ‘freedom of anti-religious propaganda” are worthy of note. These facts raise the general question whether the Socialistic movement is not strongly secularistic and materialistic. It is disputed that the movement is anti-reli-gious and materialistic, but it is found most difficult to explain why it rests so very strongly on motives of material gain and why in practice it leans so strongly towards pure secularism. The Marxian philosophy of Socialism with its materialistic interpretation ol history undoubtedly inculcates a bias towards materialism and secularist practices. The Labour movement, especially in Great Britain, was not in its early stages materialistic, but with fhe spread of socialist ideas it has become more and more so. We find it establishing Socialist Sunday Schools which it re devoted to secularist and revolutionary teaching. Then the day of religious observance in Christian Communities is utilised for propaganda .of distinctly secular and frequently seditous character. Though here and there are t be found individual members who adhere to their religious beliels and attend their Church, the Party organi-sations-naming themselves labour are holding meetings and concerts etc. on lines totally subversive of that spirit of reverence so helpful in the restraint of violence and the maintenance of social order. WHAT OK NEW ZEALAND. Since the present extremists got control of the Official Labour Party there lias been an increasing tendency in the direction of materialism and secularist practices. Apart from the matter of religious belief there is a very deep conviction on the part of our people that the Institution of the Sabbath as a day of rest is very valuable on all grounds of health and social welfare. Those who seek, from selfish motives, or blind party zeal, to secularise the Sunday, and'make it just as any other day, are making an attack upon their fellow citizens which ought to he resented. Take the holding of political and electioneering meetings on Sunday, practice that the so-called ‘‘N’.Z. Labour Party” is carrying out wherever it possibly can. This is a deliberate attack upon the religious susceptibilities, of many citizens. What need is there to do that Y Is it because the member* of this party care for nobody hut themselves, or that they desire to completely secularise the Sabbath l" What oug’it to Ik' considered is that the workers above all others benefit from the one day in seven rest period. It is to Labour’s best interest to preserve thi.- privilege and yet wo find the men who style themselves Labourites taking a course that may destroy the institution of the day of rest. II all who are interested in politics were to lollow this party’s lead and hold their political meetings on Sundays instead of being the day ol rest, the day set, apart for inculcating the ideas of love and goodwill oil" towards the other, it would also become a day of foil. Our opinion, is that this practice of seeking to secularise the Sunday is hut the outcome of the materialism of the Socialist advocates. The acquirement of material wealth by the speediest means possible being their ideal they are ready in a spirit of ieonoelasm to break down all existing institutions political, social and religious. What others believe matters nothing to them for they know no conscience IniP*their own self will and no law hut that which may serve their own material advantago. ((•„,,((ibntod by the X.Z. Welfare League).