" PROGRESS and AFTERWARDS." Auckland, November 21.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 319, 24 November 1888, Page 4

" PROGRESS and AFTERWARDS." Auckland, November 21.

The announcement that the Rev. E. H. Gulliver, M.A., would deliver a lecture on " Progre&6 and Afterwards " was sufficient to ensure a large attendance last evening in the Foresters' Hall, Karangahape Road. I The meeting was under the auspices of the Anti-Poverty Society, and the large number present showed the interest felt by the public in the work of the association. The proceedings "Mere opened with an overture on the piano, which was played in good style by Miss Hamilton. The arrival of Sir George Grey, the Chairman, was the signal for applause. He was accompanied on to the platform by Messrs Batty (President of the Anti-Poverty Society), H. N. Far nail, G. War burton, Hould, Dr. Beale and the lecturer. Sir George Grey, in opening tho proeeediugs, expressed the pleasure lie felb at the establishment of such a socieby in Auckland, and remarked upon the fact that in almost every part of the world mon seemed to have awakened to the nccebsity of making efforts to stay, and, if possible, to put a comparative end to the distress which wore upon men in a manner almost unknown hitherto. The President of the Society (Mr Batty) then explained tbe objects of the Society, which, he &aid, were the same us those shadowed forth iv the writings of Herbert Spencer in the Old World and Henry George in the New (applause), and he might also add by Sir George Grey in the Southern Britain. The Socieby was inaugurated for the purposeof enlightening.

" PROGRESS AND AFTERWARDS." The Rev. Mr Guilliver then stepped forward anaidsfc great applause. He said lhat although he was a mere student whose thought and work had perhaps gone somewliat outside of the usual lines, there weie advantages in that, for he was disinterested ; he had no bias nor any interest;, but looked upon the question as a culm, dispassionate man, and as an onlooker could always seethe moves in a game better than those actually engaged, so might he claim to a certain extent the same advantage. Mr Gulliver then sp >ke with regard te the power exercised in the past by the Jesuit Society, and while be by no means compared the two societies, still he wished them to remember that the power of the Jesuits was due to the.ir having a strong inspiring idea and discipline. He would venture to recommend their Society oo copy the Jesuits on these two points. They had the initiative idea already, and all that was wanted was the discipline in the future. The lecturer then pointed out that the progress ot the last two centuries was mainly scientific in its origin. He instanced the powers of steam and electricity. Such students as Watt and Stephenson had converted steam into a miehty power, while Winstone and Edison had converted the electrical toy — which had previously shocked or amused people — into a mighty power, which, together with steam, had almost 1 evolutionised the world. A few centuries ago it was generally thought that this earth was the centre of the planetary system. Then arose Gallileo, Copernicus, and Kepler, who completely swept away that belief. They, too, were students workiisgoutagreatque^tionwhich would yetrevolutionise the world. Scientific discoveries had increased wealth and commerce by the increased inter-communication, and also by the increase of the products of agiicultuie. Theie was a national pride in contemplating- that. No wonder that their statesmen lost their heads and dazzled them with the tale of success. But were they nofc in the whole matter like children watchiu>i the process of some tremendous conflagration '' They laughed in glee at the mighty flames, careless or unconscious of thu fact that death lay hidden there. So in i he case of their vaunted progress — there was a dauger lurking very near, a danger a* horrible as that lurking within the leapii'£ tongues of flame.

A FORECAST. Liaten, and they might hear amidst the lOarofthe strain engines and the deafeniug whiz of the mighty factories and mills, a murmuring sound like the coming of a cstorrn. It told of possibilities ot revolution, of anarchy, of an overthrow as universal «.nd far-reaching as that which in ancient da>s wrecked the civilisation of mighty Rome and laid the gretvt empire impotent at the feet of Goth, Vandal and Hun. (Applaufae.) Mr Gulliver then pointed out that the national wealth oi Great Britain and Ireland was estimated at £900,000,000, which would give an average of £200 or £300 per head of the population. Let them see how the people got their share. Strike out the exeat landholders such as Lord Portman, the Du'«.e of Westminster, the Duke of Bedfoid, and their merchant princes, and what then became of the boasted average of £2GO or £300 per head which looked so fine on paper ? What part or lot in that wealth had the 300,000 peop c in London of whom ie was said that they knew not whence their next meal would be obtained ? Let one of them take so much as a pennyworth of it, and he would find himself in the nearest lock-up. All such idle statistics were like telling a hungry man to whet hid appetite on the savoury disbes which were displayed through the plate glass window of a confectioner's shop. The lecturer then read a description of how the poor live in London, by George Simms. He advised them to study the bitter cry of outcast London, the evidence given before the lioyal Commission on the sweating system, the life of the London poor which had come out in the horrible and appalling Whitechapel murders. They all told the same story — that side by side with their boasted progress there existed a loathsome, bestial type of human life, compared with which the savagery of the Polynesian Islands stood forth as Paradise compared with the darkest vision of Dante's hell — honour, decency, love and religion were all trodden down into hideous degradation by the feet of the city crowd.

AFTERWARDS. What he had referred to was part of their progress. Then came the afterwards which hung like a shadow in the city life of the 19th century of the Christian era. The old ties which bound men to their masters had been loosened. The guilds and cratt? were gone. Under that departed system men were at least secure of life, and knew that work would never fail them though they lacked the advantages of their modern freedom. Under Ihe present system men were crowded into large factories and mills until they were merely looked upon as a "hand." It did not lequire much foresight or keenness of vision to see the danger which threatened society when things like these were facts — revolutions of the most disastrous and terrible kind. Mr Gulliver then read a quotation from a letter forwarded by Lord Macaulay to an American statesman thirty years ago, in which he predicted that unless some Cassar or Napoleon arose to seize the power, the result of the democracy would be that the Republic would be laid bare by Huns and Vandals nurtured by their own country. (Applause. )

. LAND NATIONALISATION. •Ever since the publication of Henry George's work ifc had been felt that the

question of the land was all important. There were certain things which were given to man along with the gift of life. Setting aside food, there was the air he breathed and the earth he trod. With regard to the former, no question had yet been raiaed, but not so with the latter. Progress had laid it 3 hand heavily upon it. In the old days the land was the property of the Crown, and only lent to the barons in consideration of certain duties to be performed. There was no actual property in land then. Now land was regarded as a matter for legitimate speculation — as merchandise. He felt sure that if he were to put the question whether it was right to give that absolute freohold to anyone, he would get an emphatic "No !" Nature itself had laughed freehold in land to scorn. Men died, they came and passed away, and the house they built crumbled to ruin. When King Harold, at Stamford Bridge, was asked by his brother Tostig how much English land he would give tho Norwegian King Harold Hadfredda he replied, "Six feet of English earth, or rather more, as he is larger than ordinary," and mother Nature told them the same. Six feet was all they get at the last, and even that could not be called freehold. (Applause.) Mr Gulliver then quoted from the " Builder " newspaper to show that 60,000 persons owned the whole of Great Britain and Ireland. He said most of it had either been obtained by the sword or by fraud, and it was wrong that such should be the ease, for the land belonged to the people. They I should carefully distinguish between the | land itself and the improvements. The latter were undeniably the property of the occupants and should not be interfered with.

HOW TO MEND MATTERS. Tho question was how to alter the existing state of affairs. To do justice and have regard to existing rights was difficult. A Draconian policy of confiscation would be vsimply wholesale robbery, and that could be no more justified than Bill Sykes burglariously taking possession of their houses. It was useless to blame tho landlord. The fault lay with the community at large. (Applause). When amanhadexpencled thousands in purchasing land, they had no right to say to him, " Your title is invalid, you must stand the, loss." Nature was the best guide in these matters. Her changes were gradual, saving an occasional eruption like Tarawera, which meant ruin all round. They wanted no sudden revolution, as that might involve the country in general bankruptcy or ruin. The people must be carefuily educated in this matter long before action could be taken. Great changes should, if possible, be gradually effected. They could see what might be in the future. In Russia there was Nihilism, in Germany Socialism, and in France Communism, all of which, though they might not agree with them, still contained the theory of univeisal brotherhood. Let them teach the people that they were one and all brethren, even though one was a master and the other a workman. He would like to see the time when it should be that no heart should throb with want without some other heart being affected. (Applause.) Mr Gulliver concluded by reciting the following lines :—: — There shall come from out the noise and groaning A broader and a juster brotherhood, A deep equality of aim. postpomug All selfish seeking to the general good. There shall come a time when each shall to another Be as Christ would have him, brother unto brother. There shall come a time when brotherhood shows stronger Than tho narrow bonds which now distract the \\ orld ; When ihe trumpet Atiict. and -wai-d-ium throbs no longer. And the nonclads rust and battle flags are furled. When the bais of creeds, and race and speech which sever Shall be mixed in one humanity for ever. Ob, blessed time ! Oh, glorious consummation ! Oh, happy day, for which men wan and yearn ; T_en shall co-ne and knit each nation unto nation, But not for us who watch to day and learn. Then shall come, but after what long j cars of trial, Weary waiting, baifled longing, full denial. Mr Gullher resumed his seat amidst prolonged applause. Mr Covvley, on behalf of the AntiPoverty Society, moved a vote of thanks to the rev. lecturer. He said thao it was not often they met with Christ's ministers who were of the same opinion as ttiey were, and ie was, therefore, a great pleasure to have such a man as Mr Gulliver to address them. The speaker also pointed out that, with all the advantages of art and science, the labouier was worse otl than he was in the feudal times. Why, even the untaught savage could not ailord to change places with him. Whilst, as individuals, they align t claim immunity from that, still, as a society, they were responsible tor it. It they did net attend to this matter there would be a terrible day of leckoning. [n thoir slums and gutters they were raising the Huns and Vandals who should in the futuie, as Lord Macaulay t-aid, wreck their civilisation. They were, with their Society, trying to get the people to think for ihembeh e&. Ihe motion was carried by acclamation. Mi Gulliver then briefly responded, and by doing &o moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman.