The anti-monopolist., 1878-06-06
The eAnti-Monopolist.

question DIS Nl6Weu 1IOm d COmui uAO
standpoint. and alluded at length to
the law in Germany which prohibited
persons from marrying unless pos
sessed of certain amount of proper
ty. The speaker has frequently spOk-
en- to the leaders of the commune,
and he feared there was prevalent
idea among them that the church was
against them. He thought the real
work of the church was to endeavor to
90 to the bottom Of the movement.
| The question thus ably and thor
Oughly opened, a debate fOllOwee.
DR.. Thomas was glad the subject had
been taken up in the meeting. He
admired the calm and thoughtful
spirit of Mr.. Patton's essay, and
thought that the discussion of the
subject by the clergy would quiet an
excited feeling which has arisen all
over the country in regard to the
commune. The great question was
to devise some plan to help these peo-
pie to help themselves. He thought
it very hard that so many people
should be in ahalf starving condition
in the great grain market of the
country. He thought that the min
listers should bring these matters to
the consideration of the wealthy and
thoughtful citizens, and thus teach
them to help themselves. 1t was
strange that this question Of capital
and labor could not be adjusted. He
believed that there was plenty in this
world with which to take care OF its
vast humanity.
The Rev. A. Yonker made an en-
thusiastic speech. in which he dash
ed in right and left. and said the
church was responsible for good
deal Of the commune talk. He said
some ministers rolled in wealth.
Some that he knew saved $4,000 and
s.. 900 a year, while other poor
churches were closed. and converted
into deSolate dens for rats. Churches
that seated l 400 people were sold for
grander edificeS. and heavy debts
were rolled up. The poor were cog
infant of all this, and he thought be-
fore the ministers went to teaching
others they had better face the ques-
ton of communism as it cropped up
in the house of God. Let the sala-
ries of the rich ministers be taxed.
The Rev. W. II. Daniels opened his
remarks by alluding to ID couple OF ar
ticles which recently appeared in the
North American Review, purpOrting
to have been written by a Japanese
traveller. He thought some sugges-
tions, especially the one that the
American people must stop making
money. might be worth consideration
at this time. He thought the minis
ters through their alliance with the
wealthy portion of the communities.
lost their power with the multltudeS.
The Rev. NJ. NJ. Parkhurst made a
stirring speech at the close. in which
he took issue with several of the rev.
erend gentlemen. and gave it rs his
opinion that the large bulk of the
communists were idle. worthless fell
lows. who preferred TO waste their
time in barroomS to working. and
who. ii given opportunities to work,
would seldom or never embrace them
He brought forward facts showing
that the communists were not the In
dustrious. virtuouS, economical pOr-
ton of the community but the shift
less non-Christain men. Following
the history of these men. he showed
they were invariaDle indolent, turbu-
lent. ne er-do-well men. who would
rather waste their time over pot OF
ale in the beer-house than do honest
work. Such were the men who were
bowling about the workingmen. The
gospel was a mission to help good and
needy men on their feet.-Chicdgo
!aterOceGa.