The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-18

The object of social unity is to effect
an harmonious union between God and
man. salvation is completed manhood,
ana mat means sound character. The
chnrch's contribution to social unity is
spiritual manhood. Justice Is the first
element of.soc!al unity and when we
have well developed sense Of Justice,
we will have unity.
A church. however, has nothing to do
with methods of science. If she is fur
nishinE men of Character she IL doing
her part toward the realization of social
unity. Ignorance In Its potent effect is
badness. We must have an educated
citizenship.
Let us force monstrosities of condition
out or our civilization. But let us know
that II VIII must not wait upon II
cam" and that upon 81 know"
Even though we do not see social uni
~ an our own day, we may leave the
world a little nearer it. Social evolu-
ton Is the remedy and will accomplish
what we desire
The speaker closed amid great APP
plluse and Rev. Professor Ezra
Gould. d. D., LII. D., of Philadelphia
! was then introduced.
PROFESSOR GOULD'S ADDRESS.
Mr. Gould said: 1.-The failure of all
civilization Is Its inability to deal with
poverty"
The introducer of poverty and its null
| tipller Is the organization of business
the perfection of machinery. We must
eliminate Selfishness. This is the
churchs work. 1t is useless to change
| ithe outward form OF society unless you
change the natures Of the men who have
| made the old form dis,asteful.
Love and social unity are SYNONYMOUS
| terms. We have been working for 1900
Yeas and suddenly we realize that we
| do not love our fellow men.
DENOUNCED TRUSTS.
When he denounced trusts and mo-
nopolies as public plunderers, and
| touched the Western Union Telegraph
Company by name in the same strain, he
| was applauded by his audience.
Sefishness is ahe material form of our
| civilization. Competition is THE desire OF
! men to get the best of each other, and so
Is the disintegrauing factor In our civil
| l!Zation.
| This is the claim of the defenders OF
| present conditions, and not OF revolu-
| tionists. We are facing to-day n poll
| tical revolution. The oppressed MAORI
| actions of business. Will assert them
selves. They hold the power of the gov
eminent. and will not fail to assert
them elves. Let Christian men act as
| Christians.
The speaker closed amid tumultuous
applause.
MIR. GoDKIN's ADDRESS.
| Hon. Edwin L. Godkin. editor OF the
! New York Post. was then introduced
He said that social unity fails to exist
because of certain economic con l.tiors
operating against cooperation.
| He held that there are three laws of
distribution. One is Eravitation. An
other is n law which would certainly be
obcyed. The third is tne present law,
which is that of agreement.
He dismissed his first premise at once.
There is no plan of state socialism
which would not make part of mankind
slaves"
| He emphasized the possibilities OF CO.
operation without upsetting present con-
ditions.
/ MY remedy" he said lis based on
faith in human nature and belief i'll hu-
man experiences. Every Increase in
goodness and perfection has been pre-
coded by an increase iii intclliGence.
| "One OF the worst OF our decisions IS
that the capitalist is n peculiarly ia
vored person. The capitalist is only n
man of shrewd insight. who knows what
the public wants.
There are two great facts at the bot
| tom of the labor problem-the law of
population and the law of production.
| The opportunities of the working
class were never better than they ore
to-day, but the problems before the
preacher and the philosopher are the
same in existence as 5000 years ago"
! Mr.. Godkin's address was brilliant ana
witty. He resumed his seat amid APP
plause.
DIR. RAINSFORD's ADDRESS.
! Rev. William S. Rainsford. of New
York. was the next speaker. He said:
| THE clergy feels specially called to
consider this subject There are certain
wrongs and certain rights all Christian
people want 10 consider.
we have been bind rs n nation
We have boosted of our greatness while
we had legal evils. There needs to be
reform about this line. Appeal laws,
factory laws, injunctions, all these prac-
tices need reform. Great lawyers be
lieve these things (npplause)
THE organization of our wealth, too.
In its very perfection reminds us that
while wealth Is organized the working
man has not perfected his organization.
! Fnnita' Is blind IN the way ii regards
the organization Of labor (applausc).
"Then there Is an equality OF taxation
nothing more ill-advised. not to say un-
patriotic, then the opposition to the III
come tax law.
I'VE need organization. by ii our
citizens will become conservative. They
will become property holders.
"a nation cannot become great on n
mere material basis. We must rccog-
niZe God, and His spirit must actuate
us"
DIR. Rainsford closed amid n tumult-
Gus outburst of applause.
| MR.. G. w. PEPPERS ADDRESS.
Mr.. George Wharton Pepper. of Phil
adelphia then smoke