SOCIAL IDEALS.

Shannon News, 16 August 1927, Page 4

SOCIAL IDEALS.

W.E.A. LECTURE. Tlu> weekly meeting of the Levin branch of the W.E.A. was held in the . Bandroom on Tuesday at 7.30, Mr W. Balloon presiding. Tlie lecturer (Rev. J. D. McArthur) stated that societies, like other aspects of human life, are essentially progressive, and it is important that we should try to understand not merely what they are to-day, but to know what they once were, and also to know as far as possible what they have it in them to be. Potentiality must be understood. In most living things there are generally very definite liniits to development. A seed unfolds into a particular type of plant, and an embryo into a certain type of animal and the modifications that are possible are slight. We cannot by taking thought add one cubic to our stature, and it does not seem possible to change very much our native endowments. But apart from these things there is practically no limit to the possibilities of the race.

In studying social ideals no unbiassed student over disregards the Bible.—the Library of rile Wisdom of the Ages. In the Old Testament we have the social ideal of the Hebrew law-givers and this was inherited by the greatest Teacher of all—Jesus. The dominating fact throughout ilie Hebrew progress and . development* was the interplay of a Iheoeratic basis and a democratic form. The people held themselves answerable in the last resort only to God, but they chose their king and they claimed the right—and exercised it—to dismiss him. Jesus taught that there was no longer a kingdom of Israel, but a kingdom of Heaven. To understand just how progressive was the Hebrew ideal one needs but to study their system of land tenure. Land was not the property of the State or of the community, but of the individual—peasant proprietorship. No man could sell his land —lie must conserve it for his family. Many of the prophetic utterances are against those who remove landmarks and try to take possession of land belonging to others A second feature was that while there was absolute equality before the law, there was no idea of equality of gifts or rank.'. A third feature —distinguishing the. Hebrews from others —was this: A condition of society was banned as evil, however it might, advalice the wealth and comfort of the people, and however it might delifht them in learning and in art, if it hindered them from serving God. Prosperity alone was not the first aim of the people Micah summed up this ideal in these words:— “What doth the law require of tlieo, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to work humbly with tliy God.” Jesus taught us that only by doing unto ( tliers, as a regular life habit, the tilings we wish them "to do to us, can we reach the supreme ideal. Time, was, says Bok, when monasteries ruled the people, but they tottered and fell. Then the church took the lead : nd she too became second in her turn to the State. To-day we view our problems from the economical angle, but already there are signs that this viewpoint is inadequate. This leads to the question: “Is not the solution of the world’s troubles n spiritual one? It is being slowly forced upon our minds that economic prosperity has not produced, and is not yet producing, complete happiness. The faith of the materialist in gold and silver as the bulwark of the nation is not, founded oii any very hopeful signs. Nineteen hundred years ago it was said: “Man can-

not live by bread alone.” The lecturer -dealt with the two outstanding social Meals that have been sought by men during recent years —the aristocratic—where rulers are selected from those who excel —who are the most . capable of 1 tiling; and the democratic —the rule by the majority. As long as democratic rule is—as expressed by Abraham Lincoln,''‘Government of the people, by the people, for the people,” then it is well, but when we see party government —when the party not in power

seeks only the distinction of the party in power, we are doubtful. Included in this ideal is the ideal of fraternity, with which no one has any quarrel; equality, which may reasonably be disputed, and liberty which also needs a rigid definition. Dr. Horton, speaking

recently in London on the social outlook of Britain, stressed the fact of worship. He pointed out that those who are act-

ually doing good in the community, trying to get mercy and .justice to prevail, are worshippers, they have come into contact with 'the, influence that touches conscience. We shall never get -.ocial reform or any improvement in society of any enduring value from people who try to rule God out of His own universe. The lecturer briefly traversed the work of the church showing that while she had during certain ages been almost criminally apathetic, on

the whole she had deserved better at the hands of her detractors than slie had ever received. To-day, one of the chief notes in church life is the social. The old order —when a man rvas concerned only with his own personal safety —has gone, and, while it is still individual, it is also social. The question asked frequently: “Can Christianity give us social justice, get rid of slums, of war, of extremes of wealth and povirty.”’ is answerable only as the people practise Christianity. It is not a

•it of use quarrelling with the medicine

inside the bottle, the while leaving the coik in. The trouble with , many .who find it fatally easy to sling mud at the church is that they seldom of never go to find out what the church is.trying to do, and certainly would begin to apologise if caught there. One has not to go far to discover the'way to the best. It is in the New Testament—Matthew 5, 6, and 7, and I. Corinthians 13.

The late Mr Gladstone was, possibly, the first to relate political ideas to Christian principles and was not afraid or ashamed to introduce these ideals into the House of Commons. Take an* other realm —Evolution. Sir Arthur Thomson has shown us the change that has come about in our thinking on this matter. It is no longer considered to be a godless materialism. Christian principles are re-emerging and it is being recognised more and more that the Golden Rule is not accidental. - But until we begin seriously to practise it, we can never be right. It is only as it is put into practice that a corrupt society is transformed. Our responsibility comes to us when we realise that we owe something to the future just as we do to the past.