New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-19
6 SOCIALISM INEv1TABLE'
OPINIONS OF THE EPISCOPAL CONGRESS.
..,,opr,NoE OF THE DEMANDS OF LABOR
soY.purM AND CHRISTIANITY.

socyALnrM AND CHRISTIANITY.
..,.o.o, Nov Is-The Rev. DIR. Reese +. Alison.
.,,rr \ Y. opened the second days proceed
:, ,he Protestant Episcopal Church Congress this
ine,,g with an address on " socialism, He rapidly
p0, IN outlne the theories of Henry George and
W s.,ishtfnl dream Of Belamy and pointed out the
btween the most noted advocates Of social
on ae s,.,r,es Quoting the fable OF the man who
h r. ans goose that laid the COLLEEN eggs, he urged
,s.,on 10 the present system Of social economies,
~ IA that II labor forced change IL might kill the
-. and lose the golden eggs. He did not believe
~. .hs present conditions were so bad they were
~ one 10 be- Thrift had its reward enterprise
-,.Iv failed to reap its profit Labor thrift capital
"a enterprise had wrought wonders, seconded by in
-. renus somebody must be thrifty il capital
" 80 he saved. We're savings made valueless, was
- ,r,.r,stbearing power OF money DESTROYED, why
go a.v one save? There bitter complaints
= -. p-esert system OF wealth distribution, and it
= asserted that its tendency was to enrich the few
-, ,mpoverish the many. Was that true Adam
s,,s a hundred years ago. had shown that it not
"a tse facts Of to-day bore him out. II not true
-, An. rich were getting richer and the poor getting
s.o,.r. The tendency Of capital to push down
80 and so help the consumer, who the laborer
n-osessor Gould Of the Philadelphia Divinity school,
"A TIA. business was deception and fraud under the
,r,stitive system, and labor suffered, for the weak
- under such a system be pushed 10 the wall.
p.on,e had got in the habit Of reading the New
testament and closing their eyes at convenient places.
-s.,. was one line they failed TO see How hardly
hall those that have riches enter into the Kingdom Of
us.vsas The great evil was, not that a part OF the
,n,. were made 10 be poor but that those who come
esther in the churches made poor in spirit.
~. ssyols evil in the sociSlistic system was the
ssxruction Of individuality. the taproot from which
IN nro-ress springs 1t was question whether it
-on.r 10 substitute evil for another.
The Rev. II. VI. Bartlett, of Montchann. Del, de-
s.r.d that if Christianity given democracy was
s,,s 70 come After democracy, Socialism would
0ome The writing plain that all could read.
n WAS only within the present century that the worlds
.uth estate-labor-had come to be appreciated.
,rone the members OF this estate Christianity had
srs taken root Now it demanded fair distribution
:, The worlds wealth. Its demand the great
ssus Of the hour it had been delayed until there
vsath enough for ALL Its justice spoke for itself
socialism must win its against the most powerful
rsnences that ever beset a reform. Ii had hope
a. sna success unless it could prove itself reasonable
I'd marketable Socialism in perfect accord with
ma, line Of progress that through the history Of
lnaosaxton development.
DR. Bartlett rapidly sketched the growth of social
,~.e practices. particularly in municipal government,
rhere their good results manifest that
vrun return TO the old system. He referred sue
oDdy to the legislative history OF the National Gov
srucIt o. laIe years rs lHS
,s did laws for the protection of certain classes OF
people laws against aduteratiOD laws 10 regulate com
nrre II had come 10 that pass that Sir William Yer
non Harcourt the Great English Parliamentarlan, had
san: We are AL Socialists now
The Rev p W. Sprague, of Charlestown, Mass.
said that the great number of objections against Social
ism were based upon absolute mscOnceptiOn of it's
principles He was himself avowedy and openly
socialist. His belief founded. not political
lie Faitb in f~hrIet
lie felt that the fundamental principles Of Socialism
were the ideals Of Christianity. Socialism said we
were not to carry on business for Individual preft
but il demanded the best service from all Herbert
Spencers objection Socialism that it substituted
the family for the individual in the struggle for life
Which was the ideal Of Christianity! Was 1t not
family, biOthery love and mutual endeavoE, rather
than individual strife and warfare
The Rev. William Prall, Of Detroit, Mich. spoke Of
the prevailing discomfort among the laboring classes
based their belief that they failed to receive their
share Of the worlds wealth. The aim Of socialism
justice and equality OF opportunity and possession
Chief Justice Coeridge had delivered most significant
opinion which showed the trend of the judicial mind
The principles Of Christianity and Socialism tine
same. except that Christianity went further than
socialism; went further than justice and even 10
mercy The earliest believers in Christianity-the
Apostles themselves-recognized that Christianity
vas akin 10 Socialism and acted upon that
belief. The difference between Christianity and
Socialism TO be found in the socialistc belief that
by changing the condition of their characters
would he changed, Christ taught that by changing
she character Of man lbs condition changed
Look at Newport and Lenox where the wealthy lived
apart from the common throng: from the workers
whose substance they drained. The workers resented
this they cried out for contact with the men who
stood apart. They would have and should have jus
tee and then shOuld it be brought to pass that social
sm and Christianity should 90 hand in hand
The Rev. DR.. Kirkus. Of Baltimore. delivered The
next address. Competition did not mean selfShness ;
everybody knew that the seller filed as useful part
as the buyer. most radical and stupid lnterPreta
don had been given TO the Scriptures. Religion
never less than commonSense. When people did not
understand the sermon the Mount they could not be
expected 10 understand john stuart MlIIs political
.cOnOmy. lie did not believe that anybody knew what
he wanted as well he did himself, that any con
siderable number of people knew better than himself
what was good for him. Was brotherhood such
potent word to cOnjure with. All preachers called
zach other brother and of course. they no longer had
al the fine arts under socialism You could not but
ter bread with fine picture. you would not be per
What would become OF the freedom OF The press Under
sur excellent President. would PUCK be perinlttee
% appear say every Tuesday Would not religion
taken charge OF. and marriage. and every individuals
Henry George. OF New York. had been set down as
he next speaker. but a. he was prevented from at
ending the Congress from domestic reasons the Rev
. O.. ). Huntington. of NewYOrk took the platform
ie aid he agreed with what Dr. Kirkus had said. but
ION exactly opposite lie was not socialist
hut be recognized the fact that there was discomfort
among the peope. II was dangerous condition, for
ae discomfort was no longer confined 10 the abOrer
but shared bv the Young doctor the Young lawyer
and even the young clergyman. IL was now an In
eIectual discomfort and moving toward socialism
Az the evening session the topic for discussion Was
Relations OF the Clergy 10 Politics. Papers were
read by the Rev. DR.. james Muchahey, OF New-l ok
and the Rev. II. L. Myrick of Sing Sing, \. Y. The
speakers were General Morris Schaf, Of Pittsheld
Mass. the Rev. John ". Kramer. Of New York. and
ne Rev. Charles r. Baker. of Brooklyn. y. y.