REV WATTS DITCHFIELD

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10711, 17 September 1912, Page 5

REV WATTS DITCHFIELD

MEETING JN MASTERTON. Last evening St. Matthew's Schoolroom was crowded with men, who were present to hear the Rev J. E. WattsDitchfield, vicar of St. James the Less, Bethnal Green, London, and it may be said that no more interesting and instructive address had been heard by the great majority of those present. Mr G. R. Sykes, M.P., presided, and in a brief speech introduced the speaker, who was accorded a hearty reeep- ■ tion. The Rev Watts-Ditclifield opened hi v, address by presenting the greeting's of the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York to the men of Masterton as representatives of the men of New Zealand. The speaker said that his knowledge of Australasia came mainly from the newspapers before ids arrival in the colonies, but since then he had learned many things for himself. In referring to the Mother Country the speaker-said. that.it was by no means "played out" Vs some people seemed to think. He was of the opinion that the result of the great labour upheaval at Homo would be <t nobler and happier country. He could tell them that England would always keep in front. But what wa& ! wanted was the Gospel. It was wrong to think that science had supplanted religion. The greatest scientists, poli--1 tieians. statesmen and the most intellectual men were true Christians. The greatest men of the present age were members of some Christian institution. "The old Gospel," he said, "appeals ! to the intellectual portions of the British race." Mr Watts-Ditchfield con- ' tinning s.iid that every great work, every great and noble reform, had been the result of the efforts of Christian- men. One heard cries for better wages, less working .hours, ,and im- , proved housing, but he was sure that men would not be improved by these j alone. They must ze first put right by the Gospel. The speaker referred to political elections and indicated how j Christianity and politics may go hand in hand for the uplifting of humanity. The Church to-day. he said, was weak in respect to character. The effect of Christianity should be Lo build up and uplift a man, and imbue him with character which would j make itself felt upon those with whom J he came in contact. Men did \ not think of this most important matter nearly enough, and he appealed to them to* strive for character which tended wholly to conquer the weaknesses which beset a man and his fel-;n.v-meii. Christianity did not entail

.< man's striving to get to Heaven. \ Chvistinn's life must be spent' iv, his fellows, and in sacrificing.. hK own life for his fellow-men. Everv man could do this "but he won't." Men were too selfish, hut he aopealed and prayed to those present to t.rv and form that character, which would benefit others hy its force and power for right.. Ho warned churchgoers nob to sit and look on. Let them do something for the good -J their fellows and strive to uplift for God and Humanity. Mr WattsDitchfield at the conclusion of his able address was loudly applauded, it boiiio- apparent that his words had struck a sympathetic chord amongst his listeners. In answer to n nucstion p.s to whether he believed the ethics of Christianity and Socialism were identical, Mr Watts-Ditchfiekl said that ho behoved such to bo the case, provided pne liad to tleal with the proper idea of Socialism.