Iron County register., 1892-07-07
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT
The Christianity of the Single Tax.
EDWARD C. RHoADs.

Whenever a truth, new or old, takes
fresh root in the minds of people, and
grows into movement of social reform,
it encounters certain institutions al
ready existing which help or hinder its
growth and development One of these
institutions in cur part of the world is
the organized Christian church.
1t seems strange that upward and on
ward movements should be opposed by
an institution whose proper function is
to foster the upward and onward tend
encies of the human mind and soul, yet
it is an historical fact that there has
scarcely ever been a reform movement
in middle ages or modern times which
has not met with opposition or even
persecution from churches or church
men. The fact is too generally known
to need illustration. Its to be found in
the fixity of creeds and in the vested
interests which cling like branches to
almost every old and powerful institu-
ton. Wisely did Gen. Booth resolve not
to add another to the already large
number of ecclesiastical corpses," but
to found an organization which would
fall to pieces of its own weight when
ever it ceased to work.
There are some of us who have deep
and strong attachments to the religious
societies to which we belong. and who
have an abiding faith in Christianity,
who look with shame and humiliation
at the hostility of the church to the
single tax, feeling that our belief in the
doctrine of Henry George is a fruit of
Christianity as we know it. There are
others whose faith in Christianity has
gone out with their faith in the churches
of to-day. Well said Prof. Drummond
that the greatest need of the world is
a perfected life. The mental attitude
of great many thinking men was well
stated by VIM. T. Stead, of the Pail
Mall Gazette, when he said that the
world is tired of Christians but wants
Christs.
There are, however, hopeful signs
that Christians within the churches are
acquiring more liberal and enlarged
views of the purpose and scope of
Christianity, In illustration, l would
again quote Prof Drummond, who says
in his little phamphlet on ''The Pro-
gramma of Christianity" Il shall mis-
lead no one, hope, if say-for I wish
to put the social side of Christianity in
it's strongest light-that Christ did not
come into the world to give men relig
ion. He never mentioned the word re-
ligion. Religion was in the world be-
fore Christ came and lives to-day in n
million souls, who have never heard his
name. Wha: God does all day is not to
sit waiting in churches for the people
to come and worship Him. 1t is true
that God is in churches, and in all kinds
If churches. ard is found by many in
churches more Immediately than any
where else. 1t is also true that, while
Christ did not give men religion, He
gave now direction to the religious
aspiration bursting forth, then and
now, and always from the whole worlds
heart. But it was his purpose to enlist
these aspirations on behalf of some
definite. practical good. That tendency
of the religions of all times has been to
care more for religion than for humani-
tv. Christ cared more for humanity
than for cligion-rather, his care for
humanity was the chief expression of
his religion"
Such expressions as these, and the
lives of such churchmen as Cardinal
Manning and Father Huntington, are,
it seems to me, indications of most
hopeful import to the church and to
humanity. They are rec"Snitions of
earth.
What was it in Christianity which
made it spread so rapidly among the
people in its early days? The pro-
i-ramme of Christianity in Scripture
language was in part as follows:
7" preach good tidings unto the
mcek: to bind up the broken-hcarted;
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and
the opening of the prison TO them that
arc bound.
Paul. the Apostle, calls C!irist's law
''rhc perfect law of libcrty." Christ's
teaching was most exalted Individual
ism, an in91v1duaiisla far beyond what
can be obtained by means of human
law. The economic or legislative
basis of Christianity was the JEWS law,
III which the idea Of justice and retri-
button was prominent. Christ added to
this moral code the quality ~ mercy
and the virtue OF unset lGshncss. and the
result was the golden rule. But it was
no part of Christ-s plan TO nuliify the
Mosaic !a:v Of n:orais, except as it was
surp'anlcl by more perfect rule of
corAu,t written in the Individual
lr,nan Lear,
We may take I; for a Certainty that
netting winch Christ co,n;naildcd His
dis"pic. contravened TIC command
nesii, Thou shalt not steal" This
eighth commandment of the Dccalogue
is IS bi:,ding now as it ever was. and
Christians recognize it as such thcoret-
ica :ly: yet it seems to NE that more
confusion Of economic thought arises
frc,E failure to understand this sim
pl" law than from any ether source
whatever.
Thou salt not steal. 1t does nst re-
qu;r- a Moses or Herbert Spencer 20
oon' ince n.en of the truth of this law
of ln~ralS. It is written H. the hui
man heatt t. Yet there is Il great deal
mora involved in it than is generally
realized.
Nl.a: IS stealing? Any one will say
'1t IS taking possession of the property
of another ty force or fraud" Thus
far, at least, all Christians go, but they
10 not gst TO the bottom of the matter,
tccausc they do not ask and 4 answer for
Themselves another question-what is
property? Or. if they do define prop
erty, they make its meaning dependent
upon human law, whereas It IS clear
that the commandment, thou shalt
not stcal," depends for its significance
not upon human law at all, but upon
the fundamental law of God. who is no