A Courageous Minister.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 181, 4 August 1904, Page 3

A Courageous Minister.

PLAIN SPEAKING ABOUT FASH- . ABLE EXTRAVAGANCE. -■ * *r l V h<! Course ° f M address at iianley (Stalls) as president of the National Free Church Council, the ' ' Rev. F. B. Meyer, pastor oftheweli- » known South London Baptist Church alluded to the social condition of the metropolis. Many a girl, he said, ' < had given herself up to ruin to find bread for father and mother and children, too, and a t the Judgment pay ■• ho would rather a hundred times ■ ~ stand m the shoes of such a woman . than. In the shoes of the wan who paid her wages which would-not adequately and properly provide for the '. atcessaries of life. If he were a woman, he would, rataer be'a season behind the Paris fasliions and have hie thiflgs made in Hanley and Stoke, ;;,;■.. "find know that they were made under libß auspices of a decent man who >\ paid a decent wage; than he would go to London..and get an article in Ihe latest fashion, and not be sure of the circumstances under which it was produced. (Cheers;. People applauded these things, but they did not carry them out. Were there • not a .-■ great many people in the church who were living beyond their incomes ; .; young people who had married on the hire system ? Theio never was a flillier thing to do. Young people should prolong their courting days. ' It was the happiest time, and in .their courting days they should get their articles and see that they were paid for. "Ah," continued the speaker, "if I ,could induce all of you here to make up your mind never to order auoth- ' <ej* honnet, hat, or dress until you Jiayepaid for the things you have .'..."'jfot on ! (Laughter und cheers.) ] wonder what would happen if by "■'■. isome touch of magic all the things in ' :; .this ca»gW)gation which are not paid S for shbuM drop off. (Great laugh- ' '['■ .ter.) I wonder wjhat a sorry plight '' some of the women would twin." ' {Renewed laughter.) Mr Meyer went on to say that ho did not understand the cant of some people. If they were going to talk a high doctrine 2et them live a high morality and "hitch their waggons to a star." If ; *hey could only get straight with .men, straight with the people whose umbrellas they had borrowed—(lau- .. tenter)—straight with the people hose books they had filled their li•y shelves with, straight with "dy, it would be worth while - short commons for a< few onths.

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