The Irish standard., 1912-10-26
Talks Good Humoredly on Subject
to a Delighted and Appreciative
Vancouver Audience.
Materia'ism Makes the Christian
and the Socialist Walk in
Opposite Directions.
Not Creatures of Environment but
Architects of it, Declared the
Eloquent Clergyman.

A dispatch from Vancouver, II. c.,
dated Oct. il, gives the following re-
port of an address on Socialism deliv-
cred In that city by the Rev. Bernard
Vaughan, S. j.. of England:
That Socialism is not the panacea
for all ills was, broadly speaking. the
foundation on which Father Vaughan
in his great lecture on Socialism
built ~ slperstructurc of clever, tell
ing argument, interspcrscd with fash
cs of true Irish wit that filled the hall
with laughter internationally the cven-
ing through. The Alexandra Club hall
was thronged with a crowd composed
OF all classes, eager to hear the fn-
nous priest give his popular lecture.
After being introduced in Il few ft-
ting words by Mayor Rccliwith, and
after thanking the people of Victoria
for their cordial welcome TO him, the
Father ngurativcly hucklcd on his
armor and tackled the great problem
of Socialism, which he designated as
"thc burning question of the hour
He hoped at the outset that he would
not hurt the feelings of the Socialists:
his quarrel was not with them. but
with Socialism.
Sc a. waiter nf fact, the -leeiurnr !.
Went on to state, the world WAS under
:, ,Jon,, ,Jrhf Of ,rra tudn tf, the Snoul-
ist He had set Il splendid example of
hard working and lighting for IL cause:
of self sacrifice ana enterprise for an
idea; and all nctuntcd by the very
Socialists set us Il great example. We
were not energetic enough perhaps, we
were too domestic too parochial.
The propaganda Of Socialism which
had been hurled at mankind by would
he rcforncrs, had at least accomplish
cd one great thing for the world. 1t
had revealed social sores, long hidden:
it has shown the utter Egyptian dark
ness OF the great chnsm which yawncd
between plenty on the one side and
pcnury on tho other: it had unl,ared
the mighty evil which obsesscd great
civilized nations in the form OF sweat
ed industries, OF men working for a
stlinted, almost hopeless lives in the
bare pittance of girls living their
great factories and laundres of the old
country. They had cast aside the veil
which shroudcd the figure Of Truth
and shown it. to the world in man
Ilcr that was prliscworthy.
"And | thank and bless them for
It," said Father Vaughan. But having
said that for tho Socialist, having met
him on common ground on that point.
he must perforcc now shake hands
with him, and say good bye. Now their
ways lay in different directions. Flo
could be friendly with all Socialists, Of
course. There was Il good old tradition
in the old country that people could
hold different views, and yet be good
friends. He had met Mr.. Bnlfour and
Mr.. Asuuith at the same table, and the
DIcScHCe ol IL PfedL OppOllCHL IldO llOL
seemed to spoil their dinner, nor did
either attempt to eat the others din
ncr.
But though he could be friendly
with the Socialists he could not see
Gye-to-cye with them when they aver
red that Socialism was the cure-all
for the social and industrial problems
of the hour. The Philosophers Stone
was the one thing sought after by me-
diaeval alchemists to transmute all
baser metals to gold, but it had never
been accomplished; neither would So
cialsm accomplish all that was ex-
pected Of it. But just as the pursuit
of the Philosophers Stone helped on
chemistry, SO Socialism, though it
would not cure all ills, had been
fruitful in the study Of sociological
questions, and had produced among
/ right-thinking men the desire to up
lift the condition Of the worker. With
deep and real feeling vibrating in his
voice. Father Vaughan told of his
/ love for the poor. s.
81 have immense sympathy for
Gods aristocracy, the poor" he said.
Il know them. love them. They ara
. ID & !, t n