New-York tribune., 1878-12-03
WHATIS OOMMCNLSM2
A SERMON BY THE REV. DIR. RYLANCE

A SERMON BY THE REV. DIR. RYLANCE.
THE ARGUMENTS OF soCfALIsrs-How THEY FAIL
IN PRACTICAL APPLICATION
The Rev. DR.. j. II. Rylance, of ST. Marks
Church Sunday evening preached the first OF series OF
lectures on Social Questions the thee OF his opening dis
being Communism. Dr Rylanee took as his text
Acts chapter w. verse 80 And the multitude Of them
that believed Of heart and Of son neither
said any Of them that augt Of the things which lie pos
sessed was his own bat they had all things in common
DO not Disguise said tue speaker the difficulty Of the
task have myself In the discussion Of these subjects
Of a social character. There is danger that sIa Of
fend and alarm those who look upon the pulpit ~ 100
cred for the introduction OF secular themes This pol
lev OF letting alone has done harm to the Church; this
indifference to subjects whch workingmen discuss
ing has led them look upon priests hreliDgs
What them is Communism Most Of us know OF it
only by newspaper reports aud magazine articles as
robbery incendIarsm wholesale murder We terri
fed by the tale of the French Revolution but We sell
dom 20 back to inquire into the causes which led to
the excesses. The principles and aims OF doctrine
may be good, aud its results be evil. From the
French Revolution Communism has got a bad
name Only the vieiou 1t Is at once decided
OF s1cetg Envy and e9yesoGSaesS are
deemed the matter worthy OF prolonged invssuttlon
and careful study, and some oI tho best OF men nave
that the placing OF all upon common level Is the only
way TO make nation happy. AS regards the claim
foundation Of Communism, one can lay this charge
against Robert owen, who spent fortune IN relieving
the SORROWS Of the poor. These men were 0reaners TO
be sure but their dreams canHo be met by The Vthper
alton of preachers.
Commuuism Is the French or Continental designation
OF what in English call Socialism. There are de-
grerg which t Is important to understand. Extremists
say that the present order OF society Is cruel ana UNJUST
and that there wrongs which can be remeded only
by redistribution of property In the new state OF
society none are 10 be dle none poor, none fleh. All
capable members 10 be producers, and thus the
n0urs OF toll viii be reduced and opportunities Afforded
and Improvement, Wnllc happiness shall
perYade the entire community. That's Communism In
it's extreme 1t is utterly mpraceaOle human nature
remaining as IL Is.
the same objections be brought Some would ask
the State Interfere by foTbdding inheritance or prop
erty descent and restricting the powers OF corpora
10 regulate the pursuit Of each citizen. DeS-
potis governments undertook 10 care Tor all
he people; the people left to their own care
aud for mutudes the change mas been no gain. II am
man makes his bargains, the advantage bong with
Wealth has increased, but only q small
part has come TO the labOrer.
Christian humanitariansm can do htte 10 prevent he
evils of competition; but just here Communism says;
let men band together into brotherhood aud peace
and prosperity Will take the place or strife aud suteI
ing IL expects 100 much Of human nature II requires
material OF which the world has only small supply
humanity affection, large and liberal ldeas. Mhen
Communism undertakes 10 re0rganlze our human
nature on "A broad scale, IL viii md task on Its
hands which ii cannot accomplish. The most ldeallstc
feature Communism Is ts reliance ON the power oi the
state control the individual, aud VI seems strange
that such demands should be made by who all their
lives been crying out against desp0tsm state 80
organized would become hot-Ded Of rebellion Com
munsm would be degrading TO tue higher qualities OF
Industrious ofreward The scheme is amiaoie dream,
but only dream.