The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-04-02
From the Catholic World, for March 1870.
Views Of the Labor Movement.

(CONTINUED.1

(CONTINUED.)
And here we ask particular attention to
the grand and glorious trait which dis
tinguishes Christian reductionism from
socialism, agrarianism, cooperation, and all
other worldly plans Of association.
The object Of worldly association is mere
ly to benefit ite own members in secular
welfare. 1t has no overfowing. 1t is a
partnership for distribution Of products,
profits, pleasure, or knowledge among The
members, contributors, or co-operators
only. Thus it was with the Essenes. Tho
principle and purpose Of their community Of
goods was not the extension of its beneGts
to the neighbor. They had and enjoyed
Sseir wesl1h amoag gSeasslxss exclusively.
Their associations were just as selfish as
any individual; the only difference being
that in one case it is single person, and in
the other company that is selfish, and
clannishly withholds its own from the rest
Of the world. They did not practice true
charity, that charity which goes beyond
home TIE communication of the Essenes
began and ended at home. 1t did not,
therefore, resemble the Christian charity
described BY st. Paul they bad no idea Of
it. Modern society has many examples Of
participation like that of the Essenes. The
freemasons and other mutual aid societies
are of this kind.
Of course, reciprocity or cooper alton ex-
lsted in the apostolic community but this
was only incidental and secondary. One
OF the main elements Of charity is it's uni
versatility, and therefore it extends far be-
yond mere mutually. 1t gives-rt is no1
a contract of exchange or insurance. As.
sociations Of the Christian kind do lot
limit themselves to themselves. Besides
mutual help. they give help to any and all
men. Indeed, most frequently Christian
charitable institutions entirely lose sight Of
any mutuality. The members, as It were,
forget themselves individually, think Of no
restitution, and have their whole attention
and sentiments, with those of the company.
fixed beyond their own wants and upon the
alienation Of the burdens and pains Of the
poor in genera. Every reader knows eff
many illustrations of this difference. We
need not mention particular cases.
Indeed, the very nature of Christian
charity precludes the limiting of benefits to
the members Of society. Therefore, the
moment any company resolves to contribute
or work for the purpose of division among
its own m, -nbers exclusively, it can have no
claim to be acting on the principle of char
ity. Charity ignores any such distinction !;
she tends toward all men indiscrimateIy !;
she feels for them all alike, as brethren and
neigbbors; she sympathizes with all she
is spontaneous, she is expansive, she radi-
ates. She loves; and her love overhows: :
then runs in diverging rills to every door
Association recommends itself to the
Christian from other considerations than
those Of economy, security against want,
multiplication Of productions, and increase
of wealth. He enters into association to
increase bis power with God, to attract
grace, to set up . common defence against
sin, to have the strength Of union against
Satan, to have more time and opportunity
to do good, and to do it more efficiently.
The fundamental motive of the Christian
throughout is love of God and man, piety
and mercy. II is the spirit Of sacrifice it
is actuated by no prospect of selfadvan-
tage; or, at worst, it expects personal ad-
vantage only through and under the uni
versal good. This was the absolute self
abnegation and exuberance Of love out of
which the apostolic community spontaneous
ly sprang.
IL IS an error to suppose that the primi-
tive Christians abandoned their community
Of things upon their first dispcrsions
flight from persecution. (Acts viii. -
It continued long afterward, as we learn
from the fathers Of the church. Justin
Martyr, (ApoL C. p describing Christian
society as it was in his time. CA. D. 1907,
says:
I'VE who formerly delighted in adul-
terry, now observe the strictest chastity
we who used the charms of magic, have de-
voted ourselves to the true God and we
who valued money and gain above all
things, now cast what we have in common,
and distribute to every man according to
bis necessities"
The writings Of other primitive fathers
contain similar passages.
lie needs NO argument tn make n Catholic