The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-08-01
PowDERLY TO THE PREACHER.
"Great is Truth and Mighty Above All
Things"

and Died for the Poor.
Knights of Labor Journal.
In August, 1891. a clergyman, resid-
ing in a western city, wrote to T. V.
Powderly requesting him to write an
opinion of Christ. The reverend gen
tleman stated that he intended publish
ing a book to be made up of opinions
on Christ, from the leading men of the
country, and las Mr.. Powderly holds
a large space in the public eye" it
would be interesting to know what he
thought of Christ. Mr.. Powderly not
only gave his opinion of Christ, but he
incidentally threw in a few opinions
concerning His disciples, and, in con-
Guiding a personal letter to the clergy
man, stated frankly that he believed
his opinion would not be acceptable.
He also inclosed stamps for a return Of
the manuscript in case it would not be
required. Since then neither manu-
script, stamps nor the book have
reached Mr.. Powderly, and, inasmuch
as the opinion was intended for the
public, we give it just as it was writ,
ten:
In answer oyour request to express
an opinion on Jesus Christ, let me say
that l am not presumptuous enough to
suppose that any one cares what that
opinion may be. I give my views in
answer to your inquiry, and in doing
so will have nothing to say concerning
the divinity of Christ, for I Judge that
you desire an expression as to His
work as a man on earth and among
the people.
Christ was right. He spoke for the
poor, worked for the poor and died for
the poor. He went to the bottom Of the
question of land, money and labor; was
a lover of equality and fraternity; be-
leved that no one man was better than
his brother man. He combated evils
as He found them. His efforts were
directed against the mOney-changers or
bankers of His day, against the crafty
few who stole the land from the many,
and, if there were railroads at that
time, would have been demanding
that the rights of the people be re-
spected by their presidents and direc
tors. Christ scourged the money
changer because He saw that the prac,
tees of that character was calculated
to enslave the poor and gather the
wealth in the hands of a few. He de,
nounced the grabbing Of land because
He saw in that practice, next to the
currency question, the most important
problem of that day. He inaugurated
a crusade against the twin robbers Of
land and finance, and SO aroused the
people that the overthrow Of these
usurpers was threatened. They united,
and, though they did not have the aid
of a s~ervile, monopoly-enslaved press
at that time, they succeeded in making
many Of those whom He labored to
serve believe that He was a monster,
and they did the work of the monopo
lists in crucifying their best friend.
Many condemn them for it, but I do
not. They were poor, ignorant, easily
deceived, and, as a consequence, did
not discover their error until it was
too late. the deed was done, their en-
slavement a certainty, and monopoly
triumphed just as it does to day. Christ
founded Christianity, and, if Chris
tianity means anything it means that
that for which Christ died should be
practiced on earth by man and woman.
Churches were founded in His name,
but in name only. If Christ
to visit this earth nov and on a Sun
day morning enter n Of the fash
ionabIe churches dedicated to Hishonor
and glory, He would be given q seat
near the door or up in the gallery
where He could hear His disciple apollo
giving for the mortal sins Of the rich
and denouncjng the trivial omissions
of the poor. He would hear His own
minister preach exactly the reverse of
what He taught when on earth, would
leave that edifce, that house of God(O
to denounce it and its teachings, to de.
nounce the systems Upheld by that
church and it's minister. He would
attack our, political system because Of
it's rottenness, Il railway system be
cause Of it's menace to the liberties of
the poor, our system of finance as the
most adroit swindle of the centuries,
our land system as being just as bad as
when He died, and He would be cruel
fed in the public press, that moulder
of public opinion, with more diabolical
hate and fury than when He was nailed
to the cross. He would find the tribe