New-York daily tribune., 1851-07-12
Social Christianity.

Some study of theories for the reorganl-
zation of Society, and some reflections OF my
own upon the subject, have induced me to send
YOU the following thoughts. J am convinced
that the dsconten, with existing social arrange
ments, and the yearning after some higher form
of social development, now so rfe are grounded
in real evils and real needs am as thoroughly
convinced bv the study OF history OF human ma
turc, and of Christianity, that nothing but the
living power of the Christian truth and spirit
can in any great degree alay this discomfort or
realize this yearning. The question then arises,
whether any organization, based upon the prin-
ciples of Christianity and suited TO meet the
wants of our times and country, is practicable?
Nothing can be more certain than that any
theory which fails to take into account the ma
ture and forces of organizations already existing,
however beautiful as theory. must be vision
ary IN practice Looking over our country, then,
what do we find Plainly, Its body rent from
it's soul-its spiritual and eternal interests sepa-
rate from, often at war with It's earthly and tenn
moral On the ore side the Church-let me not
sneak i'll of her, even seemingly, without reluc-
tance, for she is the Daughter of Heaven and
the Bride of the Son of God-tha spiritual body
founded by Christ, inspired by the Divine Spirt,
and commissioned 10 subdue the world, Is torn,
limb from limb, into rival sects, often warning
with more zeal and rancor against each other
than against the forces of the devil. OF how
many of her members can it be said that they
mark their membership only by the degree IN
which they disgrace her OF how few, that
they reproduce in some degree the broad-hearted
aud self-denylng herolsm of Christ And OF
these few how many are so warped by sectarlan
prejudice as To- disgust and repulse every earnest
seeker after Christianity That even IN tins
condition The Church Is dong vast work Tor
humanity. | fully believe. She has concerned
herself chiefly with the spiritual and future vel
fare of souls and tins Is well but Is II all her
work Has she IN this graspec her whole ms
SION Did not Christ command us 10 pray that
His kingdom might come, and His Will re done.
on Earth as IN Heaven Now az the presen;
time, the Church has no organized method Of
bringing the principles OF Christianity into IN
mediate contact with, and effcacious influence
upon the physical interests OF society. At inter-
walls, indeed, she doles out her voluntary char-
ties Tor the poor but these only soften. without
striking al the root of the evil This and other
means, If sufficient for times past, are far toe
feeble 10 meet the wants and cure the radical
evils Of our present mighty aad expanding clyla.
cation. There needs some more powerful anu
systematic influences 20 he brought into play, If
we would save society from ltS growing cOrrup-
tlons. and realize nObler Christian motherhood.
The welfare of thousands now deprived Of all
religious education demands II. The welfare Of
the Church demands II; io, this separation Of
the physical interests OF man from the spiritual,
at time WHEN these physical interests are such
all-ahsobng objects of attention, chlllS The piety
and dwarfs the Christian character OF her meul-
bers. Her genial and wide-reaching Sympatkies
are weakened by the want OF free play and or
ganized action.
But on the other side we md another kind OF
organizations ccextensive with the Church iiSeli,
and penetrating every village. aud almost every
family IN the land mean the Mutual Benefit
Societies, the Odd Fellows, Sons Of Temperance.
Rechahltes, Good SamaTltanS, and many others.
All these have sprung up within few years,
ard their wonderfully swift growth and spread
shows how great was the necessity for them.
They all have for their prime objects the physi-
cal interests of their members They vlsii and
minister 10 their sick, spportIon funds tor their
wants, pay expenses Of funerals. aid the widows
and orphans OF their deceased members, and N
many other respects help 10 better the physical
cordition Of those belonging 10 them. And vet
necessary as bread may be. " man doth no, hve
by bread alone, bu, by every word that procesdeh
ont If the mouth Of God :" IN other worS's, mere
ly physical interests without the religions are
not principles deep and vital enough 70 b. ths
clousGwork of . solid lasting and n0tlS organ.