Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1890-11-10
the kingdom of the crucified to his ad-
versary?"


Bishop Huntington says: why does
not the church make itself their leader?
If peer in the house of lords could say
the other day that Christianity is the
most perfect system Of democracy, why
should not organized Christianity prove
itself to be- that? If the archbishop of
Canterbury could say in d speech,
Trust the people, give them their rights
as citizens and they will not abuse
them. why should not the popular min
listers say it to the mill owners and cor
poration lawyers, and employers OF
shirt makers and cigar makers in
their congregations. emphasizing and
illustrating the second clause? Now and
then fearless voice is lifted up by
John Baptist. John Chrysostom, Savona-
rola, Anselm. Latimer. LacOrdaire or
Ugo Bassi. but how often the pulpit Of
Christendom has missed it's opportunity
by it's timidity. Amiably. and after their
manner usefully no doubt well mean-
ing. peace loving shepherds have led and
comforted their focks but not till
long after the peal OF the trumpet which
the sons of thunder put to their lips has
died away. and their cause has been
gained. have messengers OF the modern
Israel ventured to take up the cry.
Time and events have shown what har-
vests they might have reaped. what
names they might have transmitted,
what inspiring memorials they might
have left behind
1t is neglect of these opportunities re-
ferred to by the bishop which is almost
wholly to blame that Thaldeus B.
Wakeman is enabled to state in AIN arti-
Gle OH the subject in October Arena: ut
is not generally recognized. as it should
be. that the large majority Of our peo-
ple are unchurched Not third of the
population of the United States attend
public worship, or could be accommo-
dated if they desired SO to do But they
do not desire to attend: they have un-
churched themselves.
Pertinent to this subject is tn" state
ment of Professor Richard T. Ely that
some time ago the journeymen bakers OF
New Yorl, city sent letters to all the re-
ligious teachers of the metropolis asking
for sympathy, advice and moral support
in contest which the journeymen were
about to begin, in which the object
sought for by the journeymen was the
abolition or reduction of Sunday labor.
Only six out of 500 replied to the letter.
which was courteous and reasonable.
Rev. Thomas Dixon, of New York. said
in recent sermon: There are some
preachers know who have their clothes
cut just 80. and their collars are so high
that they cannot get over them to get to
the peoplesand preach the word Of God
They are 'digniied..
''s \ N'a'T2S: -
No matter how, Edward Ballarny came
into the Tddicifl reform movement, no
matter whether his eyes were opened be-
fore, during ior after the writing. of
Looking Backward there is no gain
saying the fact that he is in it now and
in it strong. He is busy day and night
striking sledge hammer blows against
the present unscientifc and unchristian
system, and he is being noticed. too. 1t
makes no difference whether he is talk
ing nationalisrn, socialism. communism
or any other ism. what he is saying is
sound sense, and everybody who reads
and understands knows it. Those who
ridiculed Looking Backward" and the
state it painted as obtaining 100 years
hence discover that the novelist of
three years ago is the very practical
economist today. Mr.. Bellamy has not