OWNER AND TENANT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 34

OWNER AND TENANT.

BIBLE RESEARCH SOCIETY AND ITS MEMBERS.

AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING.

RECRIMINATION AND INVECTIVE.

The question of to what extent the owner of a premises may interfere with the tenant thereof in the matter, .of the conduct of the business carried on in sucb premises has for the past week and more been engaging the serious attention of a local society which bears the name of the Bible Research Society. The parties concerned in this matter are Mr James Neil, herbalist, the owner of a shop in George street, and Mr G. A. Rawson, his tenant, a bookseller, who among his stock displays for sale what are known as Rationalist press publications. To the sale of this class of literature Mr Neil takes strong and determined exception, and has informed Mr Rawson that unless he ceases to display for sale " those infidel books " he must cease to occupy his shop. Mr Rawson has resented this as a deliberate and unwarranted interference with the liberty of the subject, and the Bible Research Society, of which both he and Mr Neil are members, took up the cudgels on Mr Rawson's behalf. The whole position was ventilated on Sunday afternoon at the ordinary meeting, held in the Chess Club Rooms, in Liverpool

The members of this society com-

prise self-confessed infidels, Atheists, Agnostics, Freethinkers, Socialists — in fact, representatives of all creeds and beliefs other than what is known as the Christian religion. Mr Neil, however, who is the president of this society, would appear to be the

only member who gives strict credence to everything contained in the Bible. The meeting was of a most extraordinary character, and from unbridled tongues there was hurled forth a mass of invective, abase,

recrimination, charge, end counter charge, 'and so forth, for the space of two hours

and a-quarter.

When the time for the meeting arrived there were over 50 persons in the room. Mr M'DonneH acted as chairman, and

seated beside him was Mr J. Neil, who was announced to deliver an address entitled *' The Good Results of Christian Missions." There was an absence of harmony from the start. Mr Neil essayed to take charge of the meeting in the matter of reading the new rules and regulations of the society. Be would persist in -commenting on the rules as he read them, and the meeting resenting this the rules were read by Mr Boreham, the see-rotary. Mr Neil persisted tb&t he was president still, although the new rules changed the name of the society. Eventually the rules were adopted, th© meeting refusing to hear Mr Neil. That gentleman announced that he had taken iht* room* for next Sunday. He would charge nothing, acd those who like to come hero may come frealy, but be would have the Soriptures as the basis of .his remarks. Mr Crawford then broached the subject which.- was to occupy so. much attention. He said he wo"uld call upon Mr Rawson himself -to. explain fhe -position. Mr Rawson said they had heard the new rules ajid regulations of the eocietv. They enjoined broad principles of toleration, consideration for the feelings and opinions of others, full liberty of speech a.nd of conscience, and a recognition of our common humanity. Notwithstanding that such rules had been adopted by th* meeting, he regretted that the principles embodied therein were not always put into practice by those who were ready to subscriba to them. He had two seli-explanatorv documents to read to them. The first "was: — Mr Raw«on. — I wish to resume possession of my shop on the Ist of October of this year, and unless you remove -those infidel books I will this week let my shop to another tenant.— -(Signed) J. . Neil. -A good deal of futile argument occurred after this, continued the speaker, and then d© endeavoured to effect a compromise with Mr Neil. • He (Mr Rawson) asked Mr Neil -to grant him a lease of the premises on condition that he removed these books from the door window and undertook not .to expose them there again. Mr Neil ref used to grant a lease, but told his (the speaker's) friends that if he would give him an undertaking- not to exhibit the books he in his turn would give a written statement undertaking not to interfere with the tenancy of the premises nor further to interfere with the conduct of the business. : He (the speaker) accordingly signed a | document giving effect to his part of the] compromise, but he had done it very much ' against his inclinations, and only because so much was at stake and so many considerations were involved. Mr Neil handed him a written reply, and in doing to verbally imposed extra, conditions to the effect that not only must the books be removed from the door, but also from their present position inside the shop to a 6helf at the back, where they would not b» seen at all and could only be produced when asked for. The written reply re•exved from Mr Xeil was as follows: — I do not want you to stay in my shop. I am not going to sign any bond, but the only condition on which you cm occupy the shop is that you do not expose those infidel books published by the so-called Rationalist press of London. This is what the booksellers do and you must do so, or else leave now. • I am fully resolved to let my shop on Monday if these books -are there. If you keep theni outside to-morrow it may be to your disadvantage. In that, said the speaker, there was a veiled threat. 'On the reading of these letters there were cries of "Shame," "Is it a fact?" and general commotion. The Chairman said he would like Mr Neils version of this matter. It was a very serious case. If one member should be 60 hard on another and profess to possess Christian charity, he was greatly surprised. I will now call upon Mr Neil to explain bimcelf," he conoluded. Voice*: Don't hang him. Mr Boreham: It is too serious to joke " about. Mr Neil said his creed trae the Bible, «nd the Bible alone. He read in the Bible that he was not to partake in another man's sins. In the presence of God. and before those present, he said the books .which were being sold in this shop were reeking with blasphemy and falsehood, and be was not going to allow his premises to be used for the sale of books that blasphemed God. He had come to the conclusion that the shop belonged to him. In fact, ifc did. — (" Hear, hear.") He did not frant Mr Raweon to be his tenant. He

had ridiculed him (the speaker) and his God. Why could he not be like a man and go elsewhere. — (Mr Rawson: "So I would if I could.") — Mr Neil : " That is where it pinches. — (Voices: "And you know it!") He had thought a great deal about this matter, and lost some hours' sleep over it. "If • you are not out of that 6hop tomorrow," he said, addressing Mr Rawson, " I will let the shop to another man." — (Cries of " Shame, coward," etc.)

Mr Neil: You would have been in the Bankruptcy Court but for me. This man asked me to lend him a few pounds. A Voice: "Liar." Mr Neil: You are another one.

and a big

Mr Neil : I would rather let my premises for a whisky shop than for the sale of these books. I will let it stand empty until doomsday before another man will occupy it and seli this class of books. He believes in the devil's doctrine of determinism. — (Uproar.) I have a perfect right to dictate what shall be sold in my premises. — (Voices: "No, no") You can go on as you like. I cannot allow these books to be exposed for sale. So long as Mr Rawson exposes these books he docs not occupy my shop after the Ist of January next year.

Mr Chairman : Ah a result of what Mr Neil eaid,- I would ask Mr Eaweon to explain his financial position. Mr Rsuwson complied, and proceeded to 6tate various "transactions between himself and Mr Neil.

Mr Boreham 6aid the matter was so serious that some motion must be moved. It showed the splenetic doctrine held by Mr Neil to act as he had done. Jesus of Nazareth had come here not to crush the infidel, but to save him. Mr Neil had come along and attempted to throw Mr Rawson into the street^ He had taken Mr Neil's part time and again, but never again would he associate himself with him. He was surprised, and he felt very indignant, and grjeved to feel that a man of Mr Neil's position— financially, socially, and morally— should come and command a man to take away books that the English law permitted a man to sell, and which no other man should say he should not sell. He considered Mr Rawson had a case in equity. Only the other night Mr Neil had eaid he . would never throw a man into the street. The Trades and Labour Council should take thiV matter up. That bedy and tho — some of whom he noticed were present — should call a public indignation meeting to deal with this matter. It was a national prirciple," and did not merely include one individual.

The meeting clamoured for a reply from Mr Neil, and he acceded to the request. Mr Rawson, he 6aid. did not tell the whole truth about the transactions between them. He was not turning him out into the street. He was merely trying to make him keep those infidel books out of sigiSt. The shop belonged to him, and he w-as quite right in doing what he Hiked with his own. — (Voices: "No.")

A member 6akl that when he discovered that in their society there was a man who had the audacity to say that he professed Christ, and endeavoured by virtue of position and wealth to treat a man in the way he was doing, he had come to the conclusion that that man was worthy of the contempt of everyone. — (" Hear, hoar," and applause.) He did not think Mr Neil could have been epuil-ty of such a tniafemeanour. — (Voioss : "He is attempting 1 it.") If this position were reversed Mr Neil would not be permitted to cell Bibles. He had waited until Mr R-aw6on. by months of diligence, had built up a business, and then tried to crush him. Why had he not at -first refused to have Mr Rawson as a tenant. He was attempting to crush a fpllow-work»r in a mo?t despotic and tyrannical manner. Each individual had to answer for his own actions. People were not compe'lerl to bu. f thoso book=-. It was a case of the rich man trying to crush the poor man out cf existence. Whore was it going to end? They should put the ; r foot down on it.

The Chairman askcvl if the discussion should be continued, and the meeting agreed, with ono dissentient. Mr Xeil : [ have been accivscd. I wanfe to roplv. Mr Barr said one man's liberty should not be ju<l«e<l by another man's eonscie"^. Ho himself visitfd many places of religion He bolongre<i to the "ST.M.C.A. He belies oil in pelting iiito everything.

Mr Rawson said that last Saturday night he had 6old 26 of thesa " infklol" books to two members of the V.M.C.A., who wanted to hear tho other side.

Mr AI. Silverstone eaid that Mr Neil, if permitted to do so. would erect a gibbet in the town. He would block off Customhouse square, and every day have a bonfire and burn these books. He would drivo Mr Rawson into bankruptcy and ruin. If he had power ho would prevent any Rationalist literature coming irato the country. — (Mr Neil: "I would.") They should not allow such actions. They should not allow him to trample on the liberty loft them by their forefathers. Mr Nei! had asked the Police Commission for protection and the right of liberty of the subject. He was expecting rent from the snip of these books. — (Voices: "Shcme!") I"nlo&3 Mr N^il stopped this business ho (the speaker) would send out such a row that it would be beard from Auckland to t.he Bluff.

Mr W. H. Peiry said they had no right to let a tigress wander along th-e strong, and similarly they had no right to allow this man to practise his tyranny. He con tinued viciously: '"He is the man who would give tho final clutch to the rack." Tho books vhich Mr Neil had called infidel hooks were by Huxley, Haeckel, Spencer, Tngersoll, Blalchford, Darwin, and others. Mr Neil had never read one of tho6© books. (Mr Neil: ''False.'") You ha\e never read "The Age of Reason."

Mr Neil

Mr Perry: Then you read it wrong elfe up. What would happen if Mr Neil were a juryman and I was in the dock. I would not have the ohost of a chance. — (Voices : " They would hang you.") Is it not right that w» should hold up this bigot? This -would go the longti and breadth of Australia—from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Western Australia. Let those be merciful who* would wish to obtain mercy. — (Mr Neil (fervently): "Amen.' 1 ) I hope Ido not go to the same heaven as you do. Hear this! Hear this; (The speaker here read a lengthy quotation from Scripture.) This man lias the audacity and the hardihood to say that he is humble. He is a bully of humility. I have protected him. I have taken out my handkerchief and wiped away fche water that was throwa on him at

the Fountain. He wants to be rubbed -«ith a currycomb. Another member said if he were- in Mr Neil's position ho would want to sink through a hole in the floor. In taking the rent of this shop he was a sinner. Ho interfered with Mr Rawson in his sale of Rationalist literature. On the same grounds they should interfere with him in his sals of medicines and pills. Would Mr Rawson bo permitted, ho asked, to send Mr Neil off the premises? He said yes. They must not permit this despotism to go on. Mr Neil had said himself that as long as this capitalistic system prevailed he could <io what he liked with iris property. The question was, Should they stop him by other means than moral suasion? They should announce this busin.es>s from Auckland to the Bluff, and, if possible, throughout tho world. They should voice it as far as possible.

Mr W. S. Pattison said it was a case of the rich man trying to crush the poor. They should fight it to the bitter end. He would announce it to all the organisations he was acquainted with, and endeavour to have this iniquity condemned. Other people sold these books without handicap. — (Voices: "That is the point.") They were the only books that were being bought. Very few people were buying Bibles. — (Laughter.)

Mr H. Bastings sifted the position from its moral and legal standpoints. Mr Neil was entirely wrong in his action. He had appointed himeelf judge and arbiter in another man's actions,' ard if he persisted in it h© would be dubbed fanatic throughout the Dominion and the universe.

Mr Gore said Mr Neil had made his fortune by associating himself with Freethinkers.

Mr N«il said it was no use getting angry. He did not want to lose their company. He paid for the room, and he had a right to boss it.

Mr Boreham rose to a point of order. Mr Neil said that on future Sundays he was going to carry pn fche meetin.g6 on his own responsibility. The Bible Research Society could find another place. — (A Voice : "He is turning our two tenants.") That was all he had to say on the matter. If they did not like t o come, let them stopaway. Mr Rawson was -not prompt in paying h : s rent.

Mr Rawson: That is a direct lie. Mr JSeil said if Mr Rawson paid him £10 a week he would not pet the ehon. They could publish it in all the papers. They could send it up to Mare. He woul.l havo nothinsr f"o do with a book .by Haeckel. A statement by a member was supported cr hh V e - mark: "" E rery Jew says so." Mr Xeil: Every Jew is a liar. I would rather burn my shop down IT*,, V? ;ce: ," And the insurance."(Laughtor and uproar.) Mr Perry launched out on furthw maleWn^atThcTta^ «* *» * i-SK Young nfen were Sf £c {££ being led away by Paine"'* WiiS T Kv in- * helV"'^ ContinuT ing, fie said: No one haa a-i-ieht to d\r means scoffing. ') 1Z t M «™. b . er ■■ p ooi- old Tom Paine J'JeiUM, a Christian. -(VoicesDoubtful.") I have been told by a mini*. |er of rho church that lam ri ? ht in what w') ces: " Wo don?t believe

" Ye- '^) eU '' ThCn I ai " a Har '— ( Voi "s : Mr Neil: Someone referred to my m^dicuw. I was nearly forgetting that Last night two men came into my shop and one said "I want a boy of Dandelion' i>ihV. Thoy arc the hast I have taken." I Pm actiP? in acpovTanc« with my conscience — (A Voice: "You hiive none.") You are an inconsjsffnt lot You Paid a minute ago you would crush and burn me.— (A Voico • •' Someone sai d ycu were noJ . worth th^ coal. )

Mr Rawson «a:d lie was not desirous of publicity in this matter.— (Mr Noil: "Got another shop.") Ho would not stand this intolerable business if he could get another tshop. He would not. have Mr Noil interfering in his business.— (Mr Neil: "I don't want your rent.") He was prepared to fi?ht this matter to tho bitter end. If Mr Neil was going to crush and persecute him he was not going to stand it. He would not treat a doc in thp gutter like this. This is the golden rulo put into application. If he turns me out it means bankruptcy, but I will go bankrupt before I submit to his treatment and sacrifice my liberrv. Mr Neil : You will go out to-morrow. Voices : Sh\ lock. It was then moved and seconded — " That Mr Noil bo ext>e)!<Hl from tho Koeiof\."

The motion was carried amidst acclamation and vigorous " hear, hears."

Mr Neil, it was suggested, should be ffivon an opportunity of retracting what he had said and of changing his proposed course of action.

Mr Xpil firmly -declined to do so.

Mr Boreham then moved — " That this society take &teps to call an indignation meeting of the Dunedin public to prevent thr» tjranny of one cf our felknv citizens."

The motion was carried unanimously, and p. subscription was opened in the room to further Mr Rawfon's case.

Mr Neil had a parting phot by telling those present lhat he would hold the room on the following Sunday.

Mr Perry eaid they had another and a better room at their disposal. The meeting then broke up.