The Washington times., 1894-03-18

posed had been in this country. Fourth. 4
would make 1t possible for the police auth6ri
ties to keep full and complete records OF al
foreign law breakers, as each time any onens'
was committed 1t would cause nm tndorse-
ment to be made on the deposited cerfiiicaft
OF admission. The certificate OF admission
simply being conditional admission,an al
mission on probation-if the criminal recorC
became bad enough the immigrant could bt
forced to return to his native country.
In the discussion OF any question relating
to the life or welfare Of any one class Of mer
the pulpit is. ut the. same time, to keep itsei
in touch with other classes and conditions ol
life, says Rev. DR.. Newman Smyth in the
Homilitic Review for March. In pleading FOL
one it is to be carefully just to all. In dis
covering abuses the clergy need to be par
ticularly careful to recognize the uses OF any
economic factor, else they will alienate where
they should mediate among men. The pulpit
is to be known as the friend OF labor, the
representative. in the name OF the Son ol
Man. OF the poor, the oppressed and the lost.
1t has its own missionary task in rcscuing the
when it must speak fearlessly for those who
cannot speak for themselves. But in all the
responsiveness of its sympathies and quick
ness of its sense of social justice 1t is also to
understand the forces which make the world
what it is; and it is called to represent with
Just Judgment the rich as well as the poor,
and to hold fas. its influence with the edu-
Gated. 1t is not so to espouse any one class
interest rs to do injustice to any other. There
may be little danger OF erring IN the insist
ence of the pulpit upon the social obhgations
OF the rich-the public Christian conscience
is becoming in this respect clear and search
ing light-but the clergy are more exposed to
the peril OF making their preaching an unnec-
essary foolislness by il-considered utterances
which will not command respect from close
students Of economic subjects.
1t is the proper Office of the pulpit to keep
before men those social truths which, in their
class antagonisms, they are apt to forget.
The pulpit has an important social function
to fulfill in putting into the foreground those
human relations and obligations which indus
trial competitions are constantly pushing into
the background. The pulpit should keep
prominent in the midst Of the discussion of
labor problems the common elements OF the
life Of men. In this respect the pulpit has 1t
in its power to make for the solution of social
questions a positive contribution which is of
no slight consequence. 1t can use with ad-
vantage the common multiples of human life,
those common interests, sentiments, obliga-
tions endeavors and hopes in which the lives
of individuals are bound together. and multi
piled by being bound together. far beyond the
possible amount of any individual effort or in
fiuence. Still specifically, the pulpit should
be on the alert to seize and TO make the most
of anything that may promote the welfare of
any particular class in the community.
Further, the pulpit should not always be
closed. AT times ii must be boldly opened to
the advocacy OF definite social reforms or the
rehuke of specific industrial wrongs. De-
structiye work IS not the main work, indig
nation not the constant motive power Of the
Christian ministry. God blesses the world
by shining every day all over it. and only
occasionally sen ling the thunder cloud from
the hidings of His strength. But OCCASION
ally some wrong which one class inficts on
another. or some evil thing which finds room
to flourish amid prevalent industrial meth
DDS. some suffering which the greed for
gain produces. will challenge the righteous
ness OF the Church and demand OF the pulpit
a vigorous wisdom of utterance. The minis
ter of Christ cannot hide behind his higher
religious obligations when his message is
thus challenged by direct violations of the
fundamental Christian laws of society. II
recklessness OF statement will destroy the
power among men of any pulpit so also will
cowardice in the presence of known wrong
rob it of influence among the people. 1t is
not necessary TO strike at the whole social
fabric in order to hit hard a particular in
dustrial abuse. A crusade for socialistic
dream need not be preached III order TO re-
form known evil The uses of things must
be recognized in order to remove their
abuses. Men of economic education need
not be alienated in the sympathetic effort to
champion some neglected or suffering class.