The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1891-11-25
Socialism from a Clerical Standpoint.

The extent to which accepted the
ories on social and political ques-
tiOns have been undermined by new
teachings is probably not suspected
by most people. Whether these
late- doctrines be good or bad, they
are making rapid progress-a fact
conspicuously shown at tho Episco-
pal church congress in Washington
city last week. As a general thing,
ministers are less responsive To new
ideas than other mon Of equal culti-
vation, their training and whole
mode of life tending to make them
conservative to the last degree. Yet
here we find DcGy Of Episcopal
clergymen discussing socialism, and
giving utterance Ia sentiments that
ten years ago would have brought
upon them the reproach of being
cranks or worse. For example:
Rev. P. w. Sprague. of Charles
ton, Mass, said that the great num-
Der Of objections against socialism
were based upon an absolute mis-
conception Of its PRINCIPLES. Ho
was himself avowedly and openly n
socialist. He said that the princi-
piles Of socialism were the ideals Of
Christianity.
Rev. VIM. Pratt, Of Detroit Mich,
spoke Of the prevailing discomfort
among the labOring classes, based
on their belief that they failed to
receive their share of the worlds
wealth. The principles Of Chris
tianity and socialism were alike, ex-
cept that Christianity went further
than socialism went further than
justice and even to mercy.
Rev. III. M. Bartlett, OF Delaware,
declared that, given Christianity,
democracy was sure TO como, and
after democracy, socialism, r y y
Socialism must win IFS way against
the most powerful influences that
ever bcsct a reform. = we were
already we'll along towards social
ism. The movement could not bo
stopped and should not be feared.
X = II had come 10 that pass that
Sir William Hareourt, the great
English parliamcntarian, had said
"We arc all socialists now"
Rev. j. o. S Huntington, of New
York, said lac was not socialist.
but there was discomfort among tho
people, with n DRIFT toward social
ism. The capitalist was a hard
working man. The land owner
was not, nor was the man who sat
idle and drew his.rcn .-.-s,Mcn'never
did or could live without land. Was
II not absurd to class land-the gift
of GOd-as private property, with
things.mado by mon2 He did not
favor the division of land into little
bits, anymore than he favored tho
division of the atmosphere. But
he hated the landlord. Ills title
was blasphemous, for there was but
one Landlord, and the human race
we're His tenants.
Some of the preachers, of course.
spoke OH the.other side but il Is
worthy of note that they were fewer
in number than the advocates Of n
in social organization. Hen.
ry George, Of New York, had been
asked to speak at the congress, but
was kept away by illness in his
family.
A man may deplore the fact, or,
like those ministers, he may wei
como II as the dawn Of better era,
but unless blinded by preconceived
opinions, no can hardly resist tho
convection that all civilized lands
ire on the eve of portentous social
lndpolitical changes. "Even now"
to quote the words ofa prophet of
he new dispensation-"even now,
N old bottles the new wine begins
o ferment, and elemental forces
gather for the strife The pillars
If state are trembling, and [: Q very
oundations Of society begin to Quiv.
IT with pent-up fires that glow un-
lerneath. The struggle that must
iither revivily or convulse in rum
s near at hand"