The advocate., 1894-10-03
Gathered Thoughts: The Province Of the
ChuFch.

arv merit and it's publication may awaken
Attenuation along certain lines that might
perhaps be proftably pursued.-ED.l
Make INTO You, friends Of the mammon OF
iniouisy, that when you shall fail they may
receive you into everlasting dwellings.
Come unto Me all that labour and are bur-
dened, and will refresh you.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs Is
the kingdom OF heaven.
EDITOR ADvooATE:-In various issues
It has been stated that it is the province
OF the church to take part in political
strife FOR the purpose Of reform; that
Romanism and Episcopacy are the only
churches which exercise ecclesiastical
or clerical control in politics; that the
church did not aid in the abolition Of
slavery and that Our Lord was polit-
icsl reRormer whose kingdom we may
look for in this world. Permit me,
please, to add merely thought on gen.
eral principles to each Of these state
ments, for these are subjects too vast to
be treated Of briefly.
While the widespread distress existing
over our land, and the intermittent
struggles OF employers and employees,
are matters which appeal to the consid
Grafton and sympathy OF all, as they are
concerns Of common humanity, and the
relief and peaceful settlement OF these
should be tts first thought and the first
work Of all who have the power. Yet
this and the means and measures which
will prevent q recurrence OF such de-
plorsbls conditions are essentially the
province Of the state, not Of the church.
In other times and countries the church
not inRrequently acted as mediator, ar
bitrator and even as Judge, speaking for
the people who had little or no voice in
che government, but in this country
there is not and should not, be
any union Of church and state,
and In theory at least the government is
by the people, it is the duty Of the state
to do this; and by the state is meant
the representatives Of the people and
the people themselves. There can be no
question of lts right and duty to act as
compulsory arbitrator between the cor
porate greed entrsnChed behind its Rc-
Oumulated millions and its workmen de-
pendent upon it for bare subsistence,
whom these struggles interfere with pub
lic traffic and the peace Of the country.
Nor sh ould this be considered ques.
tion Of partisan politics, as it would be
simply humane measures to prevent the
starvation Of whole families and TO &c.
cure peace. Furthermore, riots which
have occurred here and in Europe which
have for cause actual starvation are g
Bad and strange commentary on our hu,
mSnity, and work and food be the
means used to prevent them. The
statement Of q writer that Romanism
and Episcopacy exercise ecclesiastical
control In politics is an assertion with
ont foundation in fact, as they do not
By the way, Romanism is the name Of q
scare-crow lately excavated from the
ruins Of the dark ages. The same
writer says "the church is q vast reser-
voir Of REFORM" it is more than that; re-
form 10 it's mission, commission and itl
very liHe.brssth, but 1t is that of Che
heart and soul of an individual; not ol
the political abuses, nor social condi'
tions apart from their spiritual aspect
The province Of the state and polit