The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-04
TIE CHURCH AND COMMUNISM.
COMMUNISM as FACT AND FORCE IN soCI-

ErY-uow TO DEAL WITH 1T.
About nfty Reformed ministers gathered yesterday
in the synod's rooms 10 listen and discuss paper
read by the Rev. H. oarter, pastor OF the German
church In West Fortieh street, on the Church's rea
lion socialism or communism His essay consisted
oil extracts from unpublished lectures OF his on this
question, ana IRON published works Of European and
American authors on It. Its points may be CLASSIFIED
under three heads First, socialism IS here as iorco
in society ana should DO acknowledged; second, 70!
form Is n necessity both to employers and employees,
nnd thrc mo reauoa VI the church 10 0otn sides aud
Under tue nrst head Mr. oerter took the ground
K that Church has 10 acknowledge that SOCIAL aud
economic evils exist These are Tel IN The Chufch ms
well As ia s0.Ial political nic. In nckavxud giBg
those ovls tho Churcn must be careful 10 trace them
10 tneir proper and legitimate source, and avoid all
onc.siued accusations Aud mere hr. Ocrtor thought
could be found very common source OF alienation
IRON God aud the decline Oh religion when lies al The
bo.lom OF these socaisc disturbances aud oil poliIi
cal action In olscussing tns question indva-
ual OF Church has to examine himself 10 nrd out
now he has Jceu instr uInentai Ia bringing aoout
tho evils complained vi IN socesy.
TWO KINDS
That reform Is nceced m many directions VIII not
be acnied. But how shall II DO accompishsaf ID
the question that puzzcs Capitalists employers,
wealth, are Interested IN tho solution OF thus
problem quite as much as the workinsman Tho
Tor ncr must consider their business granted 10
them by God ~ possesson Tor tho acquisition, COZ.
Sumption investment Of which they viii be called
TO AN account at great day. IDsy must LOOK
upon the aborcr M fellow man, tho object OF Que
aud the same DIVINE love auu phrthkef VI the Same
havation. Aud IN dong this tue laborer viii soon
cease 10 be article vi merchandise as lie IS now
Capitalists anu enpioyers, moreover, must not un-
Reasonably ana cessary oppose any reason abic
demand OF The workngmen but rather help 10 potter
anu improve the condition Of tnat most par
society La TINS way reform can rcaca pracsica 70.
suits tor weather. classes. But thls will hos sui
hcc 10 be thoroughly nenehcai tue aborcr ust also
unite In this de must co-orcra,e with his ON
ploycr lie DO directed look INTO hts own heart
10 ind the source scat OF ali human wretchedncss
anu In the hcsrt and not altogether In outside
cir cfule
sought and found.
rng Duty THE cnuRon.
The duty oil Tue Jnurcn reference 10 socialism as
an an,i-Uhrsuan power 10 twcioid-nrsi, to know and
nold fast 10 the tact that socialism ~ Us tenets ana
tendencies Is absolutely inc reverse Of Christianiy
second Ia consequence Qf this fact there Is not nor
can there be any cooperation possible between the
Church and Communists any sociastic efforts that
tho latter may put iortn. But while as Christians NO
are compelled TO oppose socialism asa scheme LOT
improving the condition OF the working classes We
are nevertheless In duty pound 10 exercise love that
gives service and scif-sacrince TO the followers aud
believers in that scheme Tho Church must Try TO
extend the loving ana HOPPING hand 10 tho WORKING
classes assure them OF It's heartcst sympathy by
word ana deed.
Mr. ocrters paper was discussed by ministers pres
ent was REQUESTED Tor publication.