The Labor enquirer., 1886-05-15
The Church and Socialism.

For the ENQUIRER.
DENVER, May LIN my last letter l en-
deavored to show that the teachings of the
Bible and the teachings Of Socialism were
largely In accord with each other; although
the teachers of Socialism mostly stand outside
the church of to-day; and further, they de-
clare that the church of to-day is arrayed on
the side of oppression.
Let us try and find a reason for this un-
holy alliance The church. in looking back
over its past history, can find nothing more
grand and glorious than the reign of King
Solomon, who was said to reign from sea to
sea and from the river to the ends of the
EARTH Many of the prophecies given during
the reign of David and Solomon refer to
the glories of the Messan;c kingdom, and
the church has made the great mistake Of
taking the typical kingdom of Solomon for
the Messianic kingdom. Wemust not forget
that the typical kingdom is not necessarily
perfect one in all its parts. There was great
oppression during SolomOns reign and this
oppression had the result of dividing the
kingdom at SolomOn's death.
If he did not make actual slaves of his
own people. he did of the stranger within
his gates. Then Solomon possessed all the
meanneSs of rich church members of this
day, as witnrss his treatment of Hiram, king
of Tyre, who furnished him with men,
mechanics capable of building that magnii-
cent church, called temple; also the mate
rial and gold as we'll. Then Solomon, who
possessed all the characteristics Of typical
rich church member, gave to Hiram as apr S.
ent twenty petty cities in some worthless
place, in Upper Galilee, as a reward for his
bOundless generosity; and when this noble
non-churchman went out to see the worth
less present, the manly Hiram said to this
mean churchman: "W hat cities are there
which thou hast given me, my brother? and
he call them 'cabul,'" or dirty. What a
noble Christian was this Hiram of Tyre, out
side the church, and there are many such
to-day.
The church has made the great mistake of
! separating the temporal fIOm the eternal
welfare of its members; the Bible unlteS
them both. The earthly kingdom is to be
land flowing with milk and honey. All the
| promises Vi Ilo Otu ltSGdllltllG WClC VI
earthly good; and the new is only cOntinu
ance Of the old with further light, and
greater blessings are in store than were ever
revealed in the old Christ brought life and
immortality to man, and he said be good, do
good, and all these earthly blessings before
promised shall be yours.
But capitalistic church has divorced the
new from the DID, and its ministers have
taught the people to be content in the posi-
ton unto which it has pleased God to call
them" Don't covet or desire earthly good;
God has provided something better for you.
Suffer wrong at the capitalists hands. Let
him fleece you; don't murmur. Suffer hun
ger patiently, therei plenty in heaven; never
mind clothing there Is a white rObe'' wait
ing for you after death, if you bear the ills
of life patiently.
In other words, let the capitalists exploit
you, they have their good things here, poor
souls Let him rob you of all your rights.
Don't resist the powers that be, for they
are ordained of God for this purpose"
Away with such teaching! Did God bribe
the legislature or congress? or did He stuff
the ballot box? The workers don't come to
church now; is there any wonder? Now,
"A UniOnist" will drop his mask oppres-
sion has done its worst. THOMAS YOUNG.