Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-11-10
A CLERGYMAN'S LETTER.

The following is portion of an Eng
lish clergyman's letter to an American
socialist, will help to give al idea of the
progress of the principles Of Socialism
in England and the clergy there;
1t is indeed pleasing and encourag-
ing to be hailed from over the seas with
such kindly words of sympathy and
cheer As yours.
II am glad to learn that the Christian
Herald commends itself to you. You
say you are one of those whom some
call 'infdels.' My friend it matters not
what people call us, it only matters what
we are. If we hunger and thirst after
righteousness, if we seek to do Justly
and to obtain justice for all, if we love
mercy and would have it shown to all
who are in need of it, then whatsoever
we are labelled by the world | take it
we are Christians. For my part care
not whit for the christianity of creeds
| care only for the Christianity of deeds.
Why should men waste their precious
time in vain disputations over some
knotty point Of theology which has no
real and abiding interest to the vast
majority of men, and which moreover
bears no relation whatever to morality
and right living? I'VE are the children
of one Father: let us act towards one
another as brethren therefore, If men
are agreed on this why should they con-
Germ themselves with any more theology
than herein is contained? Now you,
doubtless, do not nominally accept even
this amount of theology. You cannot
accept the premise that we are the chill
dren of one Father, but you can and do
accept the deduction that we should live
as brethren. That to me is infinitely to
be preferred to accepting the premise,
and. in practice, rejecting the deduction,
as is the case with the average Chris
tian' to-day.
"With you | am not astonished that
the materialistic Socialist feels so Bit
terly and sometimes speaks SO bitterly
against the Christian churches. The
churches have betrayed their trust
They have been false to their own ideals
1t is they who deserve the name of IN
tidels,' for they have been unfaithfM,
which we should remember is the real
meaning of the word 'Intidel.'
"Still we Christian Socialists feel that
the great movement for the emancipa-
ton and the uplifting of the masses can
never be brought to a triumphant issue
unless it is based upon the great modify
ing principles of Christianity. Greed
will never destroy greed. Nor can men
cast out devils through the prince of
the devils. Physical force may affect
the social revolution, but moral force
can alone maintain it. For this reason
| think our propaganda is distinctly the
most useful, and the most urgently called
for, of the different eocislistic agitations.
1t is source of great pleasure to me to
find you have found SO much sympathy
with us and that you are 50 much at
home with us on main points.
Thank you further for your pamphlet,
which | have read with deep interest.
am quite with you. | am Socialist
because | believe in indiridHdi liberty
liberty not merely of a mans will but
his whole nature, that it may expand
and develop to the full. This liberty is
only possible in a just and orderly so
ciety as you rightly insist
With best wishes and kind regards.
Yours heartily,
w. Fl. PAUL CAMPBELL.