LONDON CHURCH CONGRESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2629, 11 October 1909, Page 5

LONDON CHURCH CONGRESS.

SOCIALISM AND CHRISTIANITY

United Press Association— Copyright, LONDON, Oct. 8.

At the Church Congress, Dr Arthur Shadwell held that there was not much in the jumble of ideas labelled “Socialism” which appealed to a Christian. He was surprised that many clergymen so readily accepted a theory based on money, the have-nots wanting other people’s goods. No factor had so littlo to do with happiness as the economic conditions. Sociialism fanned cupidity, envy, and hatred.

Mr Wakeford, of Liverpool, considered Socialism an ally of Christianity. He favored nationalisation of land, minerals, and railways. The Bishop of London declared that h.e shared the Socialists’ discontent in things as they are. There was nothing un-Christian, in common ownership of land and means of production, but. he added, “more than directors make a jolly mess of it.” Socialism set class against class. Drink and gambling were the chief causes of misery.

Bishop Weldon said that although the first Christians were Socialists, it was voluntary Socialism. There was nothing inherently wrong in Socialism, but it was the materialistic that appealed to the worst elements of human nature.