The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-05
CHURCHMEN'S CLUB.
CHRIsTIlN SOCIALISM, DIS
CUSSED LAST NIGHT.
Address by Robert A. Woods, the Rev.
w. ID. r. Bliss OF Boston and tho Rev.
III. q. swentzel of Brooklyn.

At the business meeting Of the Church
mems club last night the following ofii.
GERS were elected for the ensuing year:
President, Rathbone Gardner; vice presi-
dents, d l.. ID. Granger, j. ii. Stiness;
secretary, Eli w. Blake, Jr.; treasurer.
Albert babcock: councillors. John Mich
olas Brown, Edwin ID. Basset. Gardner
&. Anthony.
Supper was served at z o'clock In the
assembly rooms of the Troc ldero. The
subject Of discussion was Christian
Socialism," President Gardner intro
duced Robert A. Woods as the first
speaker.
Mr.. Woods spoke of the special oppor
tunities which those en- ragged In Chris
tian work have. for I'm this work all dis
tinctions are 80 aside The word social
In its truest sense, ne said, is almost c ,.
Christian socialism is an attempt through
the agency of the gospel TO supply every
possible bumal need by every
possible human means. From this
point OF view the first thing TO be
considered Is the present condition OF
society. This suggests the work which
Christian socialism has before IT, but
how is the task TO be accomplished
The word socialism suggests at the hrst
a gospel OF contrivances. II is the gospel
that Christian socialism Is trying TO take
up. III the church will but take up this
higher idea of it's work, IL 10 will turn
its congrega ions into forces facing the
needs OF the world, it seems rs IL II
would enter into new field OF hope aud
activity. Ought we not to be willing To
have enough OF heroism In Us TO pass the
mountains of custom, to ford the streams
of prejudice and pHss over the barren
fields Of indifference TO the help OF our
fellow men
For Good OF All.
The Rev. w. ID. p. Bliss of Boston de-
fined socialism as the realz ,tion of
socialism In obedience to the commands
OF Christ worked cut under His spirit I;
the t,nie cy OF c.ety 10 own collect
lively iand and capital aud operate IL col
lective,y Tor the good of all
In substance the Rev. Mr. Bliss slid !:
Socialism is not paternalsm, as IS often
supposed. Socialism is Democratic. The
problem OF socialism Is not an economi-
Cal one of distribution. IL is problem OF
production. But Is this Christian So
calismi i think so. Christ was more
definitely a socialist than "a Democrat.
We are apt to think socialism a remots
possibility, aud are not aware how mucn
there Is of IL in the world today. You
speak of corrupl ion I'm the st lte.
But why is ths state corrupt |?
b cause we have despised IL. We never
can have pure government until we exalt
government. The way to improve gov
ernment is to raise up its functions.
We as Episcopalians have a great oppor-
tunity. The Catholic church stands for
organ zation without democracy, the
Protestant churches stand for democracy
without organization, but we stand for
a democratic organization.
What Socialism IL,
The last speaker was the Rev. II. G.
Swentzel of ST. Luke's church, Brook
lyn. who said;
There is a Widespread ignorance in re
gard TO socialism. When socialism is
discussed the people too often hear lurid
addresses The situation does not call
for fanatics. Yet there are Ills in so
ciety which this world should have long
since outgrown. The inequality OF the
people is apparent on ali sides. There
is an urgent call today for loyal souls
TO note he needs and stir themselves for
God and humanity's sake, To alleviate
the miseries OF the asses. The pastors
have work here. do not think tha,
our sermons should assume the form OF
practical problems. Christ was a
working man. Christ's empire. seeks
the whole expanse Of human
life. 1t is this view of Jesus
and His gospel that should be
emphasized. Christ. 1t is true, gave nc
elaborate theories. but He insists thai
honesty Is Gods law. lie does not es
tablish scale or wags The world ha
both the state and society aud the forme
should not be disre9 9arded. The state il
divine ordinance. and socialist speaker,
even if they teach Christ's name, will dc
wrong to ignore this fact. The socialism
in which we believe is he brotherhood OF
man under the fatherhood of God. Will
Christ alone rests the cure.