CLERGYMEN AND SOCIALISTS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9140, 8 May 1908, Page 7

CLERGYM EN AND SOCIALISTS.

„ A LIVELY MEETING. Three Wellington clergymen who addressed an open-a ; r meeting on Tuesday in front of the General Post Office had a lively time. They were the Revs. J. J. North, A. Dewdney and H. Hobday. .Acco rdiug to the Evening Post's report, Mr Dewdney was the first to speak.

“Gentleman,” he began. “Comrades, ” scooted a voice on the edge o! the crowd, w! e.’o a potvalo”ons and extremely aigomeutative individual was ccndacting a little forum of his own. “Wo want questions answered,” came a haK-d.ozen voices in front of the waggon. “They ti'ai 1 he answered.,” said Mr North, rising, “five minutes from the close of the meeting.” Mr North’s reception was not what cotrld be described as cord?ah Mr Dewdney: \Ve may be everything as bad as some people say we are.

“So you are,” came from t 7i e centre of the group. “But,” resumed Mr Dewdney, “all we wish to tel 1 you is that the Gospel of Jesus Oh ■•lst——” “ Why don’t you preacu it?’ ’ “We do. We do,” cried Mr Dewdney. “Jesus O’? ist was the biggest Socialist who ever walked tin’s earth,” shouted an elderly wharf worker. “So He was. So He was,” as seated Mr Dewdney. The boisterous interruptions rendered the reverend gentleman’s remarks only partially audible, bat lie was understood to l evel a severe charge of grinding the faces of the poor against the Eugrrh landlord in “Tory Surrey,” whence Mr Dewdney said he came. “Did you ever shovel coal?” asked a lumper. The reply, if any was made, was lost in the laughter. Then several men shouted, “We want North!” and up stood Mr North, to a chorus of hooting. ‘Thave fought many a fight, and have always fought fairly,” said Mr North.

“Oh, oh,” cried the crowd. “Heaven is not a jug of beer, a pipe or short hours,” continued Mr North. “We want no hours at all,’ ’ cried a worker.

it was very difficult to follow Mr North, by reason of the uproar, but he was heard to say that he would willingly answer reasonable ques • tions. This invitation brought forth a request for a tip for the Marlborough Oup Mr North smiled, bat expressed no opinion. “Now, Mr North,” asked a grimy interrogator, “is it possible to live the Christian life under the present competitive system?” rMr North; That srstsin is wrong. The querist; If ’ the system is wrong, why do yon advocate it? ■ Mr North : I have never advocated ft. 1 have always condemned it.

“Very well,” said the querist, returning" to the attack, “is it the will of God that 30,000 people made in His image and likeness should die of starvation annually?” Mr North : No. God does not will any to die of starvation. is a scandal,” the queristagreed, “but why,” he asked, “does God permit it?” Mr North was understood, through the hubbub, to place upon men the responsibility for this unsatisfactory state of things. The interruptions continued for a, time, until a gentleman who said his name was “H. J. Baker” got up into the waggon. “Everybody knows me,” added Mr Baker. He then referred to a letter sent to the City Council in connection with the billiardjjsalcous, written, he said, by Mr North, and charging certain bookmakers whom he named with running their business in connection with, the saloons.. Just then a seaman clambered up into the waggon. Everybody cheered. The seaman’s face was red, bis voice husky, and he disagreed with everybody. Mr Baker got down. So did the seaman. Mr Baker got up agaim 1 I’ll give £lO to any charity in Wellington,” he said, “if Mr North proves that bookmakers a"e using their billiard saloons as a cloak for their bookmaking. If Mr North fails to prove bis statements, tiien lie will give £lO to some charitable purpose. ”_ Mr North : I’ll do it. Mr Baker (flourishing a tobacco bos and a pocket-book.) Here’s my money. The crowd cheered. -More questions followed, and more disorder, and a final invitation, was given by a youth (who was on the waggon) to Mr North and bis friends to “join oor Socialist party, where we’ll give him a warm welcome.” Mr North said as he was leaving “We’ll come here again.”