"COMMERCIAL MORALITY. ' DISCUSSION BY THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION. Auckland, Feb. 28.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 348, 6 March 1889, Page 5

"COMMERCIAL MORALITY. ' DISCUSSION BY THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION. Auckland, Feb. 28.

A MObT interesting paper on "Commercial Morality was read by Mr J. E. Baker, of Wellington, ab Wednesday afternoon's session of the Congregational Union. In his opening remarks Mr Baker said tho subject was of vital moment to overy right-thinking person who had to do with the business of everyday life. Everyone was directly or indhectly under the influence of commerce or responsible for its morality ; he might change the word and say the commercial immorality, which so largely exists ab the present day. The disgraceful revelations of the sweating system show how work-people are oppressed. The buyer will have cheap goods, and the seller must be able to supply, or be passed by in these days of keen competition. The true end of commerce was, he thought, a ministry of man to man, and not, as some supposed, merely to make cram. Trade and merchandise, as much as spring and winter, are ordinances of God, and business rightly understood is a part of our duty to Him. After gh ing a number of striking illustrations of commercial dishonesty, Mr Baker pointed out that tho cause was to be found in the love of money, and the making haste to become rich. The antidote was to be found in tho Church doing its duty, and in society and the press giving heaity co-operation. The concluding passages of the paper were as follows :—: — Many times does the conscientious busi-ness-man find himself brought face to face with moial difficulties, and thab he must directly or indiieotly It\v© to do with bloodmoney. A merchant, convinced that smoking is an evil, decided he would not encourage the habit by selling tobacco. Said a friend : " You've thrown away a large amount of income." Convinced that tho drink traffic is wrong, he decided to have nothing whatever to do with its sale. But it was pointed out to him, " Your ships cany spit its." " Then J'il chaiter them," he said. His attention was drawn to the fact that the charterer carried liquor, and out of the freight deiived from such a source paid him. " Then I'll sell my ships, and take shares in some Company." "But the Company ha\ing an application from a brewer for an advance on mortgage ; the application is gianted, and this very money lent." The foregoing is not an imaginary case. lam an auctioneer. My well-wisher, a banker, instructs me to sell some uncleared goods; or the Railway Department some unclaimed luggage and j effects ; or the Harbour Board some articles upon which wharfage is due In each instance thoro are several lines of brandy, wine and beer. Now, as a temperance man I have promised not to take, sell, or encourage drink. Am Ito say io each of those who select me to auction for them : Give me the various goods, bub take tho diink to someone else ; or bo decline the whole business ? All will admit thab, as a house agenb, I ought noc bo let house? for immoral uses ; and yet in the presenb state of society some houses must be thus occupied. But where is the line to be drawn ? Why should these bwo be thought so evil when thoro aie nob degrees in wrongdoing ? A thing is either right, or it is wrong ; there is no middle couise. Am I jusbitied, as a stationer, in selling cards which are to be used in gambling ; or as a bookseller, in selling novels and books other bhan of a high standard in tone and character ? Have I any right, as a draper and a man of principle, to sell a reel of cotton marked 200 yatds, knowing full well that the measurement is short ; or, as an honest grocer, ia selling candles thought to be a pound in weight, when I know they don't contain 16oz? Ought Ito grow hops, seeing that when purchased from me they are sure to be sold for the purpose o f making beer ; or to sell sugar for the s ame use ? Must I, as a glass manufacturer, or second-hand dealer, decline an order for bottles that are to bo used in the public- house ? Such aro a few of the questions which have to be decided by the business men whose track is crossed by similar things in his o very-day commercial transactions with the co mmunity, as it is now constituted. I was asked, is it possible to live in accordance with the precepts laid down in the "Sermon on the Mount," and yet be a successful business (in other words) a prosperous man ? and I reply unhesitatingly, yes. If business were nob divinely appointed would Christ have followed the occupation of a carpenter, or would St. Paul have pursued hia calling of tent-maker? And because God is the author of perfection, it follows that ib is natural for His creatures to be able to make a success of bhab which is of His appointment, and that it is lawful for men to have business to control to the extent of their ability. If Christianity is nob practicable, it is not true — nob divine. If ib is nob good for this world, it is of no use for any other. In that case let ib be rejected once for all. Livo it or reject ib. Don'b try to ignore its teachings for this life and expect to grasp its rewards in the next. Of course, the practico of such pxunciples as I have refsrrod to must begin somewhere, and where the Christian

is in the minority ho may have to suffer. But have not our clearest privileges been securod by the tears and blood of thoso who have gone before us ? If we suffer for conscience' sake we are linked into the golden chain of martyrs and horoes. We shali be the followers of Him who said, "He that lo&eth his lifo for my sake shall find it."