Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-06-05

menu problem, child and woman labor,
and the education of the masses, are
receiving merited attention. In all
these reforms the moral element is the
prominent feature and in order that
they be carried out most effectively all
the great moral forces must be utilized.
OF these the Christian church is the
most important. The real purpose of
Christianity has always been the moral
elevation of man. 1t cannot be denied
that in the history of civilization Chris
tianity has been far above all else as q
moral force and today nothing can be
compared with it in ethical influence.
Then since the moral element predomi-
mates in social and political reforms,
this great moral agency should have
chief place in all these reform move-
ments. Certain so-called "practical
politicians" strenuously object to bring
ing the church into politics but surely
if the influence of the church is needed
anywhere it is in practical politics. It
may indeed be doubted whether it
would be wise that the church should
bind itself to any political party and
ask or command it's communicates to
vote and work for that party. but aside
from such extreme views, there is GER
tainly wide field for Christian work
in social reform.
People outside the church expect
much of Christians. They are ssthe
light of the world'' but too often the
light is invisible. The lack of practical
piety among professed Christians has
caused an estrangement from the
church of many, especially among the
poorer classes. They say that the
church asks them to endure their
wrongs here and hope for a heaven
hereafter. This rests either in per-
version of Christ's teaching or an igno-
rance of those teachings; but it is the
duty of Christians to remove that igno-
rance. Practical social work on their
part is what is needed to take away
these social barriers and bring the
poorer classes nearer to the church.
They can do little toward the elevation
of these people without sympathy for
them and knowledge of their life at
home, at work and in their social rela-
tions. Again it is charged against
reforms is almost always negative
one. When reform is proposed, the
church papers at once begin to discuss
the ''errors" of it's promoters. while too
often they fail to call attention to the
worthiness of the object sought. This
attitude of representative Christians
toward reforms naturally alienates
workmen from the church. They be-
gin to think that Christianity is the
essence of conservatism and that for
practical aid they must look toward a
more liberal class of citizens.
Christianity as it is commonly inter
preted today, is far too selfish. Christ
in his life and speeches emphasized
the social rather than the individual
phase of ethics. He made mans duty
toward his fellows second only to
his duty toward his maker. The greater
part of his teaching deals with mans
social duties. Mans salvation is made
to depend largely on his feelings and
actions toward others. But in these
later days the individual side has been
brought into prominence at the ex-
pense Of the social. Apparently the
tendency is toward narrowing con-
ception of Christianity. From an ex-
animation of the current religious lit
erature and methods of work, one
would be led to suppose that mans
sole end in life was to selfishly seek his
own salvation, perhaps incidentally do
ing little good toward his fellows.
This is perversion of Christ's teach
ings. In his description of the last
judgment our future happiness or mis-
cry is made to depend on the discharge
of these social duties. If the church,
man of today wishes to work out the
teaching of Jesus Christ he will attend
more to his social and political duties
and by practical work among the poor
their confidence. The church has a
rvrook of <o l,or -, A..
present widespread interest in social
questions. Will she improve it? At
such a time inaction is almost worse
for her than false step. And then IL
the members of the churches would
take more active part in these various
reform movements, how much more
rapid would be their advance. The
great reforms which now move so
slowly and often do not seem to ad-
vance at all, would take on new life.
With an organized system of philan.
thropy, professional beggars would dis
appear and there would be no suffer-
ing among the poor for lack of the
material necessities of life. The wealthy
would recognize the great responsible
ity imposed by wealth and would to q
great extent remove the cause for the
conflict between capital and labor BY
regarding their employees as brethren.
Soon we should have more just and
equal distribution of wealth. Sunday
labor would not be required and every
one might have rest one day in seven.
Children of every class would receive
the best of training not only through
an Improvement in the schools but
also through improvement in the sur
roundings and ethical influence of the
home. True social progress is at once
the evidence and result of a real Chris.
tianity.
THE NATION AND LITERATURE.
- A comparison
M< of the political
~ history of the
civilized world
- with that of its
" literature shows
<EM that between the
N @ two there existsa
"A Axs.Z$ connection more
M WESSs> than mere coin
laTAM K% - cidence. From
| ' / - .