The San Francisco call., 1897-09-07
ID CHURCHES
SPREAD ATHEISM
The Sensational Accusation
Made by Rev. W.. D.
?. Bliss.
Plain Talk to the Members of the
Congregational Monday
Club.
"Plutooratic fashionable Clergymen'
Said to Do More Harm Than
Colonel Ingersoll.

Rev. ". D. P. Bliss, one of the founders
of the new Union Reform League, made
an earnest plea for Christian socialism
Yesterday at the meeting of the Congrega-
tioual Monday Club.
In the course of his remarks, which
were entitled, The Christian Doctrine OF
the individual" " lie said:
"Most religious minds, which fear the
advance of socialism, do so on three
grounds. First, that it is materiallstic; 4;
second, that it weakens the sense OF per
sonal responsibility third, that it puts
the cart before the horse in believing that
society can reform the individual, instead
of the new heart creating new world"
Mr.. Bliss admitted that there was So
cialism which was materialistic, but those
who are to blame for this are often the
ministers themselves. European social
lists have become materiaIists because
they have been to Christian churches and
been given a stone, not bread. 1t was not
Colonel Ingersoll who was making
q heists. but plutocratic fashionable
clergymen. Trinity corporation, with
Rev. DR.. Dix at the head as rector, is do
ing more 10 spread atheism among the
working people rhan Colonel IngersoH.
Secondly" the speaker said. these
same socialists, who called themselves
materialists, were often really the ex-
t1emest idealists. They teach that men
must swim with the tide of environment,
but these very men do not SWIM with the
tide. They have undergone sacrifice,
starvation, mprisonment, scorn, banlsh-
ment, hanging, death itself for the sake OF
the ideal which was in them. They thus
refute their own claim that man is but a
ill., for
surpass the ministers IN sacrltlce. The
Christian martyrs died with the hope Of
heaven in their hearts, these men have
died with no hope OF hereafter. 1t Ill
becomes ministers living in comfortable
parsonages to criticize men who will sacri-
tice all for the love of man.
But their thought is materialistic. Yet
there is socialism which Is not. ltis the
socialism which Christ taught. Christ
conceived of the individu ual not as an atom
by itself, but az a child of the Infinite God.
"Too much Individual religion puts in
sentimental talk about love in place of the
grand old justice Of the Hebrew prophets.
Christ came 10 fulfill the social law.
Christian ministers too often dodge the
social law. Jesus Christ distinctly forbade
self-seeking. Whoever would save his
life would lose it, He bid man take no
thought for the morrow, but live under
the great fatherhood of G. d.
I'VE are told that Christ did not esta b.
lish cooperative schemes and said but
little concerning government, nor did
Christ establish Sunday-schools or socie-
ties of Christian endeavor or parish
churches. Does it follow that we are not
to DO these things? We are to apply
Christ's ideals, and these were profoundly
soc;alistic. Modern religious individual
ism is born not of Christ, but OF the Ell ht-
eenth century. We need to go back to
the primitive social faith of the early
church. God is not an individualist. He
runs the world on cooperative lines.
$50 with the universe. From the earliest
atoms of the star dust which rushed to-
gether 10 the far communion OF the saints
evolution is cooperative.
1--WE are all socialists, too, in practice.
The most individualistic minister seeks
good environment for his own children.
The church to-day should demand fol
every child a healthy home, every m an
honest work, every girl wages on which
she can live in purity.
"Clereymen who refuse to clothe the
naked, feed the hungry and visit the i'm
prIsonsd because these things are ma
teria are hurting the cause of Christ
Such spirituality Is false spirituality, and
like divine philosophy may o'erstep hel
mark and thus become 'procuress to The
lords of hell Socialism is divine. LIE
on material but divine lines, and the in
dtvidual take his place in the great uni
verse of God"
In the discussion nearly all the speak
ers Endorsed Mr.. Bliss statements. Rev
DR.. Pond objected on a doctrinal point
saying that The kingdom of Christ begin
with the individual. Most of the speaker
expressed their intention OF attending tn
next meeting OF the Union Reform League
At the Methodist preachers meeting al
address was made on Hawaii by Rev. H
W. Peck, pastor of the First N. E. Churcl
OF Honolulu. The speaker gave an &C
count of Christianity in the islands from
cary days, and in alluding to the pressn
outlook he spoke very strongly in favor O
annexation.
1t was quiz day at the Presby terial
Ministerial Union, Rev. +. J. Akers lead
ing the questions. One OF the subject
discussed was the application OF some @
the Salvation Army methods to Presby
terian churches.
At the Christian Ministers Associatio
meeting yesterday DR.. Mclean, dean O
tEe Congregational Seminary of tn
Pacific, delivered an informal address O.
the Merits of Congregationaism."
The r V. Mr.. and Mrs. Ford of the Firs
Christian Church on Twelfth street wer
rendered an anniversary reception las