The San Francisco call., 1897-02-02
PASTORS ARGUE !.
ON SOCIAL ISM
--
DR.. scott's Remarks Are
Greeted With Cries
of Shame.
DR.. MiotOn Offsets to Spending.
a Quarter of Million -.
on. a Ball. -
German Pastors Meet to Organize.
Rev. Haskell Smith Talks
to the Glorious. -. "

a warm discussion took place at the
Presbyterian Ministerial Association yes
terday on the subject OF economic and
social conditions. Rev. DR.. Scott, who
was the quizmaster OF the day, took a
strongly socialistic stand, and delivered
ltimselfin; such scathing terms toward the
climax OF the discussion, that there were
cries of Shame" from several parts Of
the room. -..-
The subject was first started by. Rev. E.
H.. Clark, who read paper on, ''W hat
Are the Economic and Social Conditions
Causing the Growing Want and Poverty
OF the Masses ~ number of causes
were given for the want and poverty,
among them being the oppression of the
farmers and the treatment they nave re-
ceIved from the railroads. Monopolies
and trusts, particularly the Standard Oil
Company, were also assigned as reasons
Tor poverty among the masses. Mr..
clark condemned "the tayoritism of
wealth by legis alton, most une xpectedly.
seenin the decision OF the Supreme Court
on the constitutionality OF the income Tax
law" : -.
After the paper Rev. DR.. Scott, as Quiz .
master the day, asked questions bear
Ing on the same subject. Rev. Mr.. Perry
spoke in favor of the Standard Oil. Com
pany. Rev. Edward jerks said that la
'bor-savlng machines had had much to do
with placing the many at the:mercy OF
the few, and added that for his part he
could propose no universal panacea. -.
Rev. DR.. Minton said: There are GER
tain economic and industrial questions
that imperatively call for a change in
many ways. / believe that the rip st
sd nf the chi1rcl, JaT .Hxy.t
spirit OF God, is needed, but our system
should, be rather regulated than reyolu-
tionized. l am in sympathy with that
New York clergyman who is protesting
against that $250,0U ball. 1t is like
Haunting red flag in the face of those.
VINO are starving. There ought TO be a
moral sentiment created Ia these mat.
terS.' -.
Rev. DIR. Scottin concluding the discus
sion spoke in the most severe terms. of
the present use OF labor saving machines.'
Alter describing how numbers of men had
been recently thrown out of employment
by them he said: ''What wisdom is the
church showing in this question? The
power which machinery has introduced;is
q power OF oppression, and that oppres-
sion is q power Of righteousness. There
are radical questions which lie below the:
machine, but 1t would not do for youto
recognize .themj you would not dare to
recognize them in your pul lpits.'' =:
AT this point the speaker was inter-:
rupted by cries of ''Shame," and DR.. Scott
concluded by saying emphaticaiIy Yes,
it is shame'': .
AT the Methodist preachers meeting:
Rev. L. W. .MunhalI, DID, the evangelist
from Philadelphia, read printed PAM
phlet on THE Views of Critics of the PEN
tateuch Compared" -
Rev. Haskell Smith spoke in an in
formal way at the Glorious on:"The Inter-
nal Workings Of the Established Church
in England" -
At the Congregationalist ministers
meeting paper pre- spared by Rev. NJ ah- :
Ethicat Theory of the Atonement'" was:
read by Rev. DR.. ]. RoweIl of this City.
Mr.. Wlllett in summing up the paper.
said: =: -.
1--WE have now given four reasons for;
our preference for the expiatory concep-
ton of the atonement asa moral power
over the ethical; so called. -
First, that there is more of truth in
the one than the other, and that error is
ethicaHy powerless: -...-
Second, that the righteousness of God
is so revealed IN its answering demands
that the exceeding sinfuIness of sin is
made more vividly powerful, and so the
moral life is Quickened and intensified.
Third, that the provision for our
trust in Christ has made sin for us: SO en-
tirely unsatisfactory, as evidenced in the
experiences OF the ages, and a guilty con-
science, that we cannot find heaven with
out the very first requisite ofethical power.
And finally, that the love is not the
only fulfilling of'law, but the chief sorrow
OF ethical power, and that the xpiatory
view OF the cross gives a rational ground.
and play to love when the ethical view
does not" 80! 49,. = =:
There was some discussion about printed
programmes for the coming six months,
but the committee in charge reported that
1T could not get them up, and so the mat
ter was allowed to drop -.
a motion was then passed to levy tax
on the mem bers Of % cents apiece each
month,
An informal meeting of the German
Protestant ministers of this City and Oak
land was held yesterday morning IN the
German. branch at the Y: NJ. c. A. build
ing. They wall meet the first Monday in
every month; and it is just possible that
near future. - - go:
Rev. j, NJ. Buehler of st. PauPs Luth:
eran Church here lectured on the subject
of christian Unity"
The following pastors were present: OF
the Lutheran chIrch-Rev. Gehrke, Rev.
Mr.. Dietriehson, Rev Mr. Schroeder, Rev.
Mr.. Buehlcr. Rev. Mr.. Thesis, Rev. Mr.
Hazeroth, Rev. Mr.. Bfanke; Baptist, Rev.
Mr. Dietz Methodlst--Rey. Mr.. .Guth,:
Rev. Mr.. Shultz Rev. Mr.. Steinback, Rev.
Mr.. Rornn,. Rev. Mr.. Vogel, Rev. Mr.. :
Bruck; EvaneeliStS-Rev H. Cordes, Rev.
Mr.. GIunz, Rev. Mr.. Klooz, Rev. M.
Fischer and Secre AIRY Hhrner
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