New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-15
CHRISTIANITY AND PAUPERISM.
me Efp DR. Johi. cotton Smith, at De Church q the Iscss


(I1otcsiant jspi~-oPa'
The subject OF the Rev. DIR. John Cotton
Smiths lecture at the Church OF the Ascension yesterday
afternoon was The Influence OF Christianity IN inc
Coming Century upon Social Evils and the Foreign Rcl
tons of the Republic" Following is an outline OF Dr.
Smiths address:
rgo unvers.lity OF law enables TO predict the IN
known from the known IL i Gods method oi grdiha
revelation there he silence OF bstory u Is because
history Is amenable to laws. II ce2tuy were DlCtttd
oIIt a careful student could supply the gap Inc laws
that govern societies ami races ARE variable, anu u'n
agency enters into the problem We can. ,ho"tt1i,
Fetch The general outlines OF the Republics history III
the coming century. tax" 1t Tor srahth that SOU VI"
Triumph over evil This country has Tremendous ~oIA
to do IN behalf OF Christianity. Tho moro nearly
Christian state aecOTds with me ChriS'it 'a
more circualiy will 1t oppose socia WIS 'aa HT
the best progies of the world sucI state mus. osI
both education and religion Religion Is 81 lnp0rtah. 10
the very being ri the state that IL c*hoI p. ' ,rI
to voluntary Efforts. DO not mean the union OF hHtc
ANA STATE 1t is only by means OF CnlI' ns M
the Kingdoms II This world sall become tuo
our Lord ard Of His Christ. Is Chrl.ilaihy pr ]
moral Influence upon s9c.'y me at;, thfS Tho ,t
Christianity have taken Inherent II uu "i','ii ' ri
twenty thirty years. There never WIS 'o'u ~, "a
study Of Lo Bibe Than now skepciahl hS o.s'lvu
more rcyercHt attitude, ana attIct5 uIu1n 'n r . az
have become more tender in regard To- the pcr,on ana
mission OF the founder Of cur tal' me sktptiii So
in regard Ia early history has ~ %itn ~ ~ - -
defeat, and Christianity Is onttd 10 tIe uc i W ~
defeat. Christianity proposes 10 suppress al tjn
social evil, aud 90 elevate al the mass VI i, &
The great muial evils which have Ccs0lted tallhlhu dG
sure hc aho he'd ana he rcscncraon Oh inn WoIIn
Will De accomplished il The Pr"stesS o we
see tue tine position 81 woman roc0EhZ'd s'c5 oNc9
where abolished better laws enacted B' inc nsSco %
men elevated. ,,,-.-.-.u.. .
T7t us then consider, frat, p1ureriSn his prrS'hH
probla m unsurpassed importance to every thiNtu
statesman and every lover of nus country hIc II VI"
probably increase In ormi able proportions Our great
cities are becoming flooded with idle bcSgaf rs wen n
the worthy aud honest poor. Then new pheGoh'hon
has appcaTcd-the traml'-Wnlch may 30 OMNIBUS vi
great OWLS the future. The extent 10 WHlch NdGt sc
,Dc only result of labor powerful cause ~ papei9
J. tho system of wages based upon the Law OF supply ana
demand calculated To increase paupcrismi Coihleilon
I'm labor naturally reduces WAGES 10 tho minimum ny
which ifc can maintained and II tie labOIcr becomes
unable 20 work hc drops INFO the pauper class. Inc
effect nf this plainly in England, and the prospect
here 6s with lito appTrhcn,ion TIC recent al
pca Of the unemployed O TIE CITY AUTHORITIES hlu Foni
lining touching In il. Then argument tHat Iey "oui" pe
cxpece, Ia give mp lives for the country Ia case o
need seer cd 10 nae uIIansweiabc. The system based on
snpply and demand will be superseded b' the coopei'-
tive sy.!c There no less Than ~ cOhhuleS III sue,
cesslll ooc III the United states,
of proucrty. lew OF which are based on 1Oh"ihdl ,u
inval relations between the sexes. 1hry are ino>th
hold together by u religious Idea. Their I"undeis are
man of no ordinary powers Of mind These cOlnuluts
are uruuhc lie Of TIA. future. IL IL our mission to maze
Christian socialism reforming power ~ society folll
cal economy reform the world; IL has neeu Oh
higher power which can cause pauperlsn Ia disappear
There need Of voluntary cnoIt-thc warm htaft anu
gentle hand OF Christan charity NOtlOns since woman
was found IN the street with dead baby IN her arms
who asks and others say, give oDy where you know
II will do good" Both positions are rue ana pom
arc false. We must do the work ourselves or others
must do il Cases OF charity should DO lnNes-
ticatcd ia order determine whether or not they are
worthy.