The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-10
LESSONS FROM THE RIOTS.
A Sermon by DR.. Gilbert Reviewing the
Growth of Socialism and Anarchism.
The Questions Brought to Public Attention
by the Chicago Outbreak-The Need of
the Time Is Evangelical Religion.

The discourse of Rev. J. E. Gilbert. D. D., at
Meridian-street NJ. E. Church, yesterday morn
ing, on the subject Lessons from the Riots OF
the Chicago Anarchists" attracted large num-
Der of hearers and was. during its delivery,
given close attention The text Of the sermon
was, Neither is there salvation in any other,
for there is none other name under Heaven.
given among men, whereby We must be saved
Acts iv, II.
These words are generally interpreted, DR..
Gilbert said as covering the religious hopes OF
individual man. Jesus Christ is the only Saviour
of sinners. In Him alone we have redemption,
justification, regeneration, sanctiiicauon, ana
eternal life. He adjusted the claims of a broken
law; He now administers grace to human hearts;
He will conduct to the mansions OF the
Fathers house. which he himself is preparing.
This broad and positive assertion is made good
in the history Of thousands who have been de-
livered from the bondage of sin into the liberty
of the gospel made new creatures. enabled to
live here as good husbands, neighbors and citi-
zens, and have died in holy triumph. Christ
alone has saved men thus. There is no other
name given as savior. Sinful man must turn
to Him.
The text may properly be employed in another
way Christ is the only savior of man in his
social and political relations. In so far as His
teachings are accepted in so far as His spirit
is diffused among the masses, in so far as His
institutions are maintained-in so far, only will
the earthly welfare of collective man be secured.
Christ is the only saving force of communities
and nations. This truth which is naturally
involved in the first, is much less regarded IN our
day, but is of equal value. 1t needs at tals
time to be set FORTH as helpful to the solution of
great social problems
If we were to institute comparison between
the heather and the Christian nations, between
those communities where the gospel has much
power and those other communities where it has
little power, or between those homes which are
consecrated to Christ and those other homes
which are without Christ, We should have
abundant proof that evangelical religion is essen
tial to mans social welfare. That form OF argu-
ment has been presented many times, and al
ways with convincing force. | propose another
line of thought to the same end. There are
events now TRANSPORTING which, studied rightly,
will lead to the same conclusion.
In the city of Chicago large numbers Of for
eigners, mostly Poles and Bohemians, have
been for some time banded together under I'M
scrupulous leaders with criminal designs. They
have held secret meetings for the development
of plans; they have collected deadly
weapons for revolutionary purposes; they
have published a paper, announcing their princi-
pies and purposes; they have held open air meet
ings, at which indammatory speeches have been
delivered melting to riot During the past week
they ruthlessly murdered in the streets the Off
GERS of the law sent to preserve the peace And
there are rumors Of similar organizations IN 9th
er cities. The air is full of alarming sounds
laboring men, our neignbors and brothers, for
whom we have great sympathy, until they at
tempt to force a compliance with their de-
mands by intimidation.
The Christian citizen, justly proud OF the in
situations under which we live, willing, if need
be- to give his life for their defense, aye and de-
string, in the largeness Of his heart that the OPP
pressed of all lands may come and enjoy the
blessings vouchsafed unto us-the Chris
tian citizen must contemplate such &C.
currences with profound anxiety. They
reveal the presence of foes, who have taken shell
ter beneath our hospitabie roof to destroy all
that we hold dear. Who are these foes2 What
would they have? While the statesman and the
philanthropist may attend to those questions
which properly belong to them, hope to show
that these agitations are illustrations of the
truth of my text, that in Christ only there is
cial peace and safety In order to do this
are wholly religious
very hasty glance at society will reveal great
inequality in the temporal condition of the peo
ple Some are immensely rich, holding property
to the amount of hundreds of millions, living
not only in ease but il luxury. These constitute
only very small portion of the human family.
Below them are ranged in various grades the
masses of the people. until the lowest class is
found in abject poverty, the objects of charity.
But slightly removed from these are the labor
ing thousands, who live from hand to mouth,
who obtain the necessaries of life only by daily
and exhausting toll, who accumulate little or
nothing for their children, who bear heavy bur-
dens through all their lives and sink at last be-
meath them into the grave. have words to
describe to you what any may witness who
cares to visit the homes Of workingmen in our
own city-scenes that would move the stoutest
heart
A desire for their removal commendable in it
SELF gave rise to socialism, which has
been defined thus: "A theory of society
which advocates more orderly and
l.- e 1o1~ -
mankind than that which now prevails"
How shall the condition of the lower classes be
improved?" was the question addressed to the
millions of Europe. 1t originated in that love
for man which is the glory of our time. The
answer came, through the teachings of such men
as Marx and Lasale, 1.-THE existing social order
is unjust and oppressive to the toiler, and must
be changed" AS slavery gave way for serfdom,
and that for feudalism so the wage system must
be abandoned for another. But what shall
that new system be, and how shall the old be
set aside and the new be introduced9
Here socialism divided under several heads,
according the religious and philosophical views
of the various advocates. Some urged that gentle
and gradual means only should be employed,
that the public mind might be prepared, and
that there might be no mistake and no reaction.
Others held that the existing order only be
removed by violent measures, which ought to be
applied ct once-that humanity was suffering in
the delay. Between these extremes there were
many shades of opinion, and consequently many
plans were proposed. For the last forty years
Europe has been in constant agitation, caused
by the efforts of these various socialstic parties
France, Germany and Belgium have suffered
most, and the end is not yet very hasty
glance at these different classes of agitators may
assist in the purpose of the hour.
Catholic socialism an attempt at social re-
form under the auspices of the Roman Catholic
Church. That great body of Christians is
simply the medieval type of Christianity.
Holding to the primacy of the Bishop of Rome
as the vicegerent of Christ, that church was
sterotyped in its forms during the centuries
called the dark ages. mean disrespect or
criticism upon these people, but state what will
be recognized as an historic fact. Accordingly,
the Catholic Church claimed that during the
Reformation certain elements were lost out of
society which are essential it, and certain
other elements thrust in which are prejudical to