The Portland daily press., 1890-03-19
"TAE AIMS OF CHRISTIAN So
CIALISTS."
A Lecture bY Rev. Henry Blanch-
ard.

The Rev. Henry Blanchard delivered
lecture last evening in the vestry OF Con-
gress Square church on the above topic. In
beginning his lecture, Mr.. Blanchard re-
ferred to his series OF four monthly SER
mons delivered in the church on Sunday
mornings whose subjects were Christian
Socialism" "Christ in the Market Place."
Edward Bellamy's Fantasy" and "Chrlst's
Emphasis on the Inward Life instead Of the
Outward Circumstance" The lecture OF
the evening was supplementary to these
sermons.
Mr.. Blanchard referred to the Boston So
ciety of Christian Socialists, a membership
in which he thought would for the present,
do in place Of a club in this city.
Meanwhile every Christian church should
be a society Of Christian Socialists. He be-
lieyed that Congress Square church might
justly call Itself suca. The sermons Of its
pastor were constant appeals for the princi-
Piles Of Christian Socialism.
He would use the special opportunity Of
the evening for special emphasis on the
phrase. The services Of the church would
teach these principles without frequent use
of name. He would gladly show the aims OF
Christian Socialists. Their first one Is to
show how noble Is their name and tO win
for it, therefore, the esteem OF all good men
and women.
Christian Socialists are those who believe
the first article OF the declaration of pfinci-
pies adopted by the society of Christian So
cialists in Boston. April 18th, 1889. 1--WE
hold that God Is the source and guide of all
human progress, and we believe that all So
cial, political and industrial relations should
be based on the FatherhoOd Of God and the
Brotherhood OF Man, In the spirit and ac-
cording to the teachings Of Jesus Christ"
The second aim Of Christian Socialists Is
to arouse the church so that it may see that
1t Is to work for the establishment Of Gods
kingdom on earth. Other-wOIldlines5 has
been the beselting sin OF the church. But
Christ said but little about future life. He
wished TO ennoble this. Christian Socialists
say to the rich man and the intellectual man
and the man OF great executive powers,
"You are to work for the poor, for the ign0-
rant for the weak. You are not to tell men to
be content with hard conditions here because
they will have glorious heaven by and by.
You are to make present heaven for others
as we'll as for yourselves. Churches at pres
ent, are too much only luxurious places for
the well-to-do and the rich. They must be-
come places where activities for coed are
considered and organized.
The next aim Is to ChristianiZe the busi-
ness world. In this, seldshness reigns too
powerfully. Selfshness must be overcome
by sympathy. He is a Christian who loves
his brother In the market place as yS.ii as
W
petition must be layg6iy displaced by Coop
Grafton. PrSaisnaring, Industrial partner
ships, cooperative workshops must all an
tagonize the present fierce competition.
Combinations may conduee to stability OF
business, and fairness In prices aud in pro-
|, fits. The movements OF the times, under
the new conditions made by railroads, and
telegr 4phs, and banks, are towards great
corporations. These may be guided by the
spirit Of Christ or by the spirit OF Mammon.
The Christian socialist will work for the en-
thronement Of the spirit of Christ.
The next aim is to Christianize the world
Of politics.
At present that world is dominated by am.
bitiOn and greed. The word politician,
which should be a noble one, has become
word of ill-repute. The Christian socialist
would change all these things, Politics
should be the science Of nobly living togeth-
er in society. Its leaders should be the SER
wants Of Christ He Is greatest who IS ser
want Of all. In world TS Of politics. domi-
a government of the people, for the people,
and by the people. We shall have govern
ment really serving the masses. Christian
socialists would, therefore, have gov
enp sInmsDt' So more nssO9a sssS state tate mupe
paternal, but fraternal, government ought
to be. We should have ali natural mon
opolies owned by government that the peo-
pie, and not the few, shall reap the benefit.
IalrOaus, telesraphS, mines, may we'll De-
long TO the government. Especially In
municipal gOyernmen mt must there be change
Gas works, water works, electric light
works, street railroads should be owned by
the municipality, and not by private owners
10 all this, there are serious ObJeelOn-. MT
Blanchard considered some Of these. Christ,
ian Socialism is principle. IL Will stu an
methods so as To see which shall best help
| the pTinciple-all for each and each Tor an
| But before government may take 10 ltseh
new duties, certain reforms must be esta9
| lished. We must have ballot reform, clVii
service reform, International Freedom Vi
| trade, woman suffrage.
With these established, we need have no
| fear Of corrupt n In government
The above is a bare outline OF lecture
which occupied more than an hours Time
There was a large attendance ana AZ tua
conclusion Of the lecture an earnest confer
ence was held concerning some Of the points
J advanced by the speaker