Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1922. CHURCHES AND POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2402, 9 March 1922, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1922. CHURCHES AND POLITICS.

AN appeal to the Churches to enter the arena of politics and take a more active part in the life of the people was made by the Prime Minister of Australia in an address to members of the New South Wales Conference of the Methodist Church of Australia. “It is sometimes asked,” said Mr Hughes, “why men do not go to church. Perhaps the fault lies with the Churches. The whole world to-day is concerned with the great industrial and economic' questions. Labour is looking for a leader, and the Clmreh is its natural and proper leader. If 1 am asked what the Church is to do, how it is to secure that, commanding position that it deserves, 1 say it mast go down into the arena. It must live the life of the great masses of the people. It must understand wlmt it is that the masses want, and what are their t roubles. It must so order its affairs that the people will say that it is a Church which concerns itself with the affairs of the worker, and not a Church that stands for those who oppress him. It must set its face against inequality and .sacrilico. Who, indeed, should speak with more authority than those who speak for the Christian religion, and who minister hourly and daily to the spiritual needs of the people. I do not agree that it is the duty of the Church, to hold aloof from political strife. I think, however, that it should hold aloof from party politics. It should he concerned with the uplifting of the whole of the .people. If all the Churches were alive, ye should hear less of this gospel of bate, less of this abysmal gulf which separates employer and employee. The Church these days has a task of great responsibility and great opportunities, and I believe that the Methodist Church will play its part, and it needs he show' the people that out of the chaos the Christian religion can bring hope and comfort.”