The Labor enquirer., 1885-03-21

The idea of the true incentive to moral
elevation and conscientious action, pre-
sented in another column as an out
growth of a new school of religious and
social thought, is an old one. 1t is just
as old as true Christianity. The asser-
tion that the Christian religion bases its
appeal to mankind solely on the hope,
of reward or punishment IS miscon-
struction, perhaps justified by the bur
den of creeds or dogmas. Other reli-
gions have enforced their commands by
the threat of penalties or the hope of
reward. But true Christianity was the
first and only religion that made clear
statement of the foundation of moral
action in seeking the welfare and eleva-
ton of suffering humanity.
The doctrines taught by the great
Efounder-of~ Christianity nearly nineteen
hundred years ago, are the truest and
most thorough Socialism ever conceived.
In that perfection for the good of all SEN
tlent beings lies the most convincing
proof of the divinity of Christ. The So
cialst propaganda of the present era
which breaches weak copy of His
divine teachings while denying the
origin of the divine thought, simply
shows its inability to distinguish be-
tween the pure religion as it was given
to mankind and the theories which have
been incorporated in the creeds from
human sources.
All that is said in the letter or another
page concerning the pure and powerful
effect of doing right for rights sake is
true doctrine. 1t is also pure Christian
ity. The progress that has been made
under that principle has been made
under Christianity. 1t may set aside
sectarian schools; but 1t is only repe
tition of the teachings which the Divine
Nazarene gave to the world both by
practice and preCept at the birth of the
Christian era.-Edltorial in Pittsburg
Despatch.
Did Christ preach thorough Social
ism ?" The first converts fresh from his
teaching, ought to be taken as true sup
porters of his principles. Of them we
we read: Neither said any of them that
aught of the things which he possessed
was his own but they had all things
common.-Acts 4-32. Socialists believe
in Justice, and cannot admit that a man
should receive a cloak, with thrown
in, for the mere asking. Justice says:he
must render an equivalent. But Justice
also says he must have an opportunity
to produce that equivalent, and the
Christian church has persistently denied
him such opportunity, therefore, the
church. opposes both justice and Chris,
tianity.
As for "the progress, that has been
made under that principle" it cannot be
found, for no church or nation has ever
made any use of the principle. Progress
has been the result of desire to under
otoAN Ant III al low, oAu IAd1 SduoC uOCS
not seem to be closely connected with
principle of common property in all
wealth. 1t is hard to believe that love
without science can be the cause of
progress.
Some editors have a smooth way of
saying that Socialism is very fine thing;
that 1t is true Christianity, and high
ideal, then toss it aside meyer thinking
that their Christianity is an empty farce
unless its beautiful principles are made
practical. Others condemn Communism
as being the climax of injustice, cruelty
and insanity, not knowing that it is pre-
cisely thesr own creed. Sometime peo-
pie will begin to examine the Christian
churches which promise so much but