The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1913. TO STUDY THE SOCIAL QUESTION

New Zealand Tablet, 18 September 1913, Page 33

The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1913. TO STUDY THE SOCIAL QUESTION

't/T.—M* n the very wide range of interest and !j| A* activity which. Catholic journalism of the j{, ||p>3 present day embraces there are two objects which we have specially at heart and wa <&M which every thoughtful Catholic editor and Catholic priest must necessarily have very much at heart— extension of the use- * s-Zs* * fulness of our young men's clubs and the promotion amongst our Catholic people of a close and definite study of the social question. In regard to the latter urgent and pressing necessity for a thorough and widely-diffused knowledge of the true principles of social economicsthere is now no room for two opinions. Socialism is being preached and printed and propagated in every conceivable way and in every possible direction; and it makes its insistent and alluring appeal to Catholics as to others. So far Catholics have been fairly well instructed in regard to the moral —and even economic objections to which the principles of Socialism, strictly so called, are indubitably open; but something more than this purely negative and destructive attitude is obviously necessary. To the Catholic criticisms and objections the Socialist naturally replies: 'Well, since you reject Socialism, what do you propose to put in its place Where are your principles? and what are yow plans and proposals for easing or removing the burdens under which in every country, in greater or less degree, the great mass of the people labor as the result of the capitalism, monopolies, and cut-throat competition of our existing social and industrial system V " These are entirely reasonable inquiries; but if the Catholic layman is to be in a position to answer them he must be prepared to give himself to some measure of serious and definite study of the question. * * With these considerations in mind, we have decided to initiate a movement which, if supported to any tolerable extent by our young men, will in a notable degree accomplish both the objects above referred to. It is nothing more nor less than the introduction into New Zealand of the system of study and. examinations in social science and political economy carried out in England by the Catholic Social Guild, which now undertakes to grant passes, certificates, and diplomas tj the Catholic student who, by scientific knowledge proved by examination, qualifies for these distinctions.

As we explained some time ago, the Catholic Social Guild -was inaugurated at a conference summoned by the Catholic Truth Society and held at Manchester some four years ago. The objects of the guild are officially defined to be: (1) To facilitate intercourse between Catholic students and workers; (2) to assist in working out the application of Catholic principles to actual social- conditions; and (3) .to create a wider interest among: Catholics in social questions, and to secure their co-operation in promoting social reform on Catholic lines. In order to furnish definite lines of work, the guild has devised a scheme in accordance with which three separate courses of study are mapped out, examiners appointed, and certificates and diplomas granted to those who gain a given percentage of marks. Each course is divided into two stages, each of which covers one year's, work; and the courses are: (A) Economic Theory (Elementary and Advanced); (B) Social and Industrial History; and (C) Some Social Problems of the Day (First and Second Year). .A fair idea of the character of the work done may be gathered from the syllabus for the year ended July, 1913. It will suffice for our present purpose to give the syllabus for the first course only, which is as follows StudySubject A.Economic Theory. I.—Text-Book The Elements of Social Science and Political Economy, Dardano. (Gill and Son, Dublin. 3s 6d, discount 2s 8d). ll.—Books of Reference(a) The Science of Wealth. J. A. Hobson. (Home University Series. Is net.) (b) Social Duties of Catholics. Devas. (C.T.S., 3d.) (c) The Pope and the People. (C.T.S., Is.) Containing Encyclicals of Leo XIII. on (1) The Condition of the Working Classes. (2) The Duties of Christians, as Citizens. (3) Christian Democracy. The Board of Examiners consists of the following, who are all well-known and recognised authorities on social and economic subjects:Right Rev. Mgr. Parkinson, D.D., Ph.D.; Rev. Thos. Gerrard; Rev. Michael Maher, S.J.; Rev. Thos. Wright; A. P. Mooney, M.D.; Leslie A. Toke, P.L.G.; F. F. Urquhart, M.A., Fellow of Balliol; Miss G. Broughton, L. School of Economics; Urs. V. M. Crawford, P.L.G. The questions' are set as follows: —One half on the given textbook and the other half on the books recommended for a collateral course of study. Any student who has passed in either an Elementary or Advanced Course of any one Study-subject is entitled to a Pass; any student who has obtained Passes in the Elementary and. Advanced Courses of any one Study-subject is entitled to a Certificate; and any student who has obtained Certificates for all three Courses A, B, and C is entitled to a Diploma. * •; Knowing something of the working of our young men's clubs and of the splendid material which is to be found within their ranks it seemed clear to us that such work as is outlined above could be easily and successfully taken up as a side line to their regular literary programme; and we put ourselves in communication with the secretary of the C.S.G., Mrs. Philip Gibbs, and with the energetic and enthusiastic cosecretary, Father Thomas Wright. Both write that they are delighted -with the suggestion, and consider it entirely feasible. The only important point to be arranged is as to the holding of the examinations; and this J does _ not present any insuperable difficulty. Not because we have not already plenty to do, but merely to give the movement a start and to show our deep personal interest in the work, we have ourselves undertaken to act, personally as superviser of the examinations for the Dunedin district, and have agreed, also, •to act. as general representative of the C.S.G. in New Zealand, for the purpose of making arrangements for the,,examinations in other centres until such time as a more complete machinery can be organised. The C.S.G. have given us a free hand in the matter of arranging the examinations providing that we undertake to hold them not later than the back end of August; and have.assured us that the Examiners will be pleased to examine all papers sent through us or by us. The point of present importance is that we should have as soon as possible some idea of the probable

number of candidates, .so that we may be able to giv« our Catholic booksellers some approximate estimate of the number of text-books that are likely to be required. Will, therefore, the members of our Catholic clubs, Catholic Federations, Newman Societies, and Catholic laity generally (men and women) who are willing to take advantage of the opportunity to take up this invaluable course of study kindly send us their names at earliest convenience? In so doing they will not, of course, bind themselves to anything; but early information as to their probable intentions will furnish us with a rough indication as to where and to what number books will be required. The names of the text-books prescribed for the current year, ■ending July, 1914, have not yet reached us, but we expect to have them certainly not later than the end of next month; and the information will be published in our columns at the earliest possible date. The only condition imposed on candidates to which reference need now be made is the payment of an entrance fee of one shilling, which must reach the office of the guild by June 1. * Although we anticipate that candidates will be drawn mostly from the ranks of our Catholic clubs, the examinations are, as we have already indicated, open to every Catholic man and woman without restriction or limitation of any kind. In England the movement has appealed to a very large degree even to busy men and women, who have, according to the examiners, been able to show very satisfactory and in some instances excellent results in all three branches of the Study Scheme. The great advantage of the scheme is that it supplies definite lines of study and a definite objective. Most people are interested in the social question and are vaguely desirous of studying only, they do not know where to begin. The C.S.G. scheme furnishes the necessary starting-point; and in such a way that the candidate who goes through even the first elementary course will have gained a knowledge of general economic principles which will serve as an admirable foundation for wider and more extendedstudy. The special benefit which our Catholic clubs will derive from taking up the scheme is almost self-evident. By the time they meet again in winter session members will have had time to go through the whole of the text-books for the first course, and will be in a position to contribute essays and carry out discussions on questions involved in the course as part of their regular syllabus work for the session; so that the club work will help members in carrying out the study scheme, and the study scheme will furnish a welcome addition to the regular programme of the club. We believe our best clubs will take the matter up with energy and enthusiasm. At any rate we have done our part in giving them the opportunity; and it only remains for them to do theirs. As one of the guild circulars admirably puts it: 'Do not argue whether you can or cannot try—give yourself and the scheme a trial. Furthermore, you have friends—bring the scheme to their notice, and urge them to try with you. There are passes, certificates, diplomas,—the C.S.G? desires to see them won.'