LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THE INDUSTRIAL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
[To the Editor of the SrEerz.roa.]
SIR,—In your issue dated April 1pth I notice an article on the Industrial Christian Fellowship. The author of the
article seems rather puzzled as to why the I.C.F. is attacked as being Socialistic, but a study of the tactics of this organization would seem to show that there are grounds for this attack.
The aim of the Industrial Christian Fellowship—" that Christian principles, independent of party, be applied to industrial life "—is a most worthy one, but unhappily politics, not a little tainted with Socialism, 'seem to have permeated the organization. Let me give an instance. During the coal stoppage in 1921 the Industrial Christian Fellowship made an appeal in favour of a national wages pool, thus taking sides with the miners against the employers and the Govern- ment. It has also taken a hand in the present crisis in the coal industry. Some few months ago the Industrial Christian Fellowship issued a questionnaire on the 'coal industry, asking
for information from miners, clergymen, &c. ThiS questionnaire contained clause's that were definitely political,' and .SOMe of them " might well have been prepared by an opponent of private enterprise. The . Industrial Christian Fellowship issued this document before the Coal ComMission had made its Report, which seems a curious action for a non-political organization.
The author of your article seems to pin great faith to the appeal signed by various Labour leaders calling for a spirit of Christianity in industry. This appeal the writer says " should • strike despair into the members of the Russian Soviet." Amongst others, this appeal for industrial peace was signed by Mr. A. A. Purcell, an honorary member of the Moscow Soviet, Mr. A. J. Cook, and Mr. Ben Tillett. While in Russia in 1924 with the Trade Union Mission, Mr. Purcell was reported by the Pravda of November 21st, as having said that "First of all it is necessary to organize and unite all those who stand for class war.". Addressing the Congress of the Soviet Trade Unions on November 12th, Mr. Tillett was reported by. the Isvestia as having declared that " Our ruling class are the most clever, cunning and energetic organizers of capitalist despotism. They hide their greed and selfishness under a cloud of good will towards the toiling masses." Speaking at Pontypridd on August 16th, 1925, Mr. Cook is reported as having said, " I want a revolution that will have a disciplined army, and a revolution that will not only have discipline but be organized with an objective before it." Such are the sentiments expressed by three -signatories to the Industrial Christian Fellowship. appeal, sentiments that are in direct apposition to industrial peace.
• Many people, believe that the Industrial Christian Fellow- ship is a religious organization, wholly unconnected -with politics. It -would appear, however, that on occasions politics become intermingled with the organization's very worthy activities, and when they do they seem to have a tendency towards the Socialist side.---I am, Sir, &c.,
. Junior Carlton Club, S.W.1. • J. B. WHITE.
.• [This. is a strong argument for what we said—that if the I.C.F. is really controlled by Socialistically minded persons there is a great need for the services within the Fellowship of those who approve of its declared principles, which are quite unexceptionable. We must leave Mr. A. J. Cook to the judgment of the Soviet. The Soviet has condemned Chris- tianity ; Mr. Cook has declared for it. Probably the Soviet will not be pleased with him.—ED-Spectator.]
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