The Labor enquirer., 1886-06-12
SOCIALISM AND THE CHURCH.

it intends to wipe out the church and
take away the comforting influences OF
religion, thereby causing man t become
a gross materialist who will believe in
nothing be cannot feel, see or eat
Most industriousl7 do the enemies o.
Socialism seek to impress this idea on
the public. or that Tortion of it that
takes its opinions rs the poor man must
his cost-ready-made.
Those who resort to this fabrication
as means 10 bring discredit upon so
cialism know they can make strong
point if they can address themselves to
the people who form no opinions or
ideas of their own on economic or other
subjects.
Taken as whole, human beings, civil
lied or barbarous, have within :heir own
hearts a belief in supreme and all-rul'
ing something, that shall have to do
with the spirit part of man after the
life of this world has been lived.
The Indian savage points to tie skies
and locates the abode of his Great
Spirit, to whom be in his rude way pays
homage and offers up sacrifice. Civil,
lzed man believes, much the same as
the savage, that there is an All Seeing
Providence, the Almighty One, who ere
ated all under whose care and guiding
hand revolve in space the countless
worlds of which, wise men tell US, ours
is very unimportant one.
1t is to most men a comfort to think
that there is master hand which regu-
lates, guides and controls the grand
machinery of the spheres. We cannot
see this master nand. We gaze into the
vacuous in6nity where course the worlds
but we see it not
Man, although unable to see the source
Of all power, is conscious of its exist.
snCe.
1t is very natural that man should pay
homage to the Creator who has guidance
over the realms of nature.
The alteration, love and homage paid
to the Creator are generalized under the
one comprehensive term of religion.
True, pure and unadulterated religion
or love of the Creator, is, in my opinion
the foundation u! on which alone can
rest that which will benefit mankind
Theoretically, this proposition is agreed
to by all even by those crafty rascals
who make of religion a cloak under
cover of which they practice usury and
oppression of the poor.
The power of religion to influence
mankind is great There is large per
cent of men and women who have but
to be told that such doctrine or this
idea or that practice, is going to injure
or prove antagonistic to religion, and
they will at once Join in the general cry
Of warning against it. The religious en-
thusiast who might speak before think
ing would perhaps say, such is the
power Of r1ligion" but lie would mis-
take.
Such Is the power of the seemingly
natural intolerance of man for new ideas
This dislike Of innovation coupled with
mans natural religious feelings afford a
very rich soil in which the money power
is not slow to SOW the seeds of antipathy
and hatred for Socialism.
ShYlock is sharp and cunning to note
where best to attack Socialism. and we
must give him credit for ability in find
Ing every loophole through which to
attack those who seek to take from him
the power to demand his pound of flesh.
That there is slight foundation for
the charge Shylock makes in regard to
the doctrine of Socialism being antago-
nistc to religion, l admit.
Our Christian churches are full of men
who are possessed Of wealth gained by
usury, extortion, jobbery and rascality.
Christ drove such as they out of the
temple. Christian pulpits are in too
many instances filled by men who.
while protesting to be followers of the
lowlY Saviour, own houses, lands, mines
and mills, travel on special free railroad
trains, and telegraph their sermons over
the world with a flourish of trumpets
which would discount Barnums adyer-
tlsement Of Jumbo. They preach bread
and water contentment to the working.
man-at least thev do so to tie working
mans masters. who fill the pews of the
Christian church.
The Workingman sees and hears all
this hypocritical parody on religion and
he naturally enough Condemns it and
possibly uses language more expressive
than elegant to denote his detestation
of men who will under the cloak of re-
igion, make it appear that they are hon
est and their example worthy of emula.
ton. This Is the only foundation there
is to the charge that Socialism will tear
down the church. The Socialist takes
note of this prostitute IN of the church
in the interest of Shylock and speaks
his mind, and condsmns it; Shylock
then, through his mouthpiece, the c&pi,
talistic press, appeals, with virtuous in,
dignation, to the world to avoid the So.
clslist as he wishes to destroy religion,
church and every other moral agent
which advances civilization.
Il