THE CHURCH AND SOCIALISM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 493, 12 October 1909, Page 2

THE CHURCH AND SOCIALISM.

London, October 8. At the Anglican Church Congress now sitting at Swansea, Dr. Arthur Shadwell stated that there was much in the jumble of ideas labelled “Socialism” which appealed to the Christian. He was, however, surprised at many clergymen so readily accepting a theory based on money—the “have nots ” wanting other people’s goods. No factor he declared, had so little to do with happiness as economic conditions. Socialism fanned cupidity, envy, and hatred. The Rev. John Wakeford, of Liverpool, considered that Socialism was the ally of Christianity. He favoured nationalisation of the land, minerals, and railways. The Bishop of London (Dr. Winnington Ingram) declared that he shared the Socialists’ discontent in things as they are. There was nothing un-Christian in the common ownership of land and the means of production, but a move in that direction would make a “ jolly mess of it.” Socialism set class against class. ( Drink and gambling were the chief causes of misery. Bishop Welldoa (Dean of Manchester) said that though the first Christians were Socialists it was voluntary Socialism. There was nothing inherently wrong in Socialism, but it was materialistic, and appealed to the worst elements of human nature.