The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-31
MRS. LEASE ON SOCIALISM.
Socialism and Christianity Insepara-
BILE Saws Mrs. Lease.

| pSKa.
Socialism of today is twofold, or rath-
er there are two manifestations of the
socialistic spirit which is making itself
| felt in the affairs of men. The first
| manifestation is an abiding and over
growing d1Scontent on the partt of many
| with social conditions; disaster that
| seeks not the bettern1ent of others so
| much as the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of self;
| that loves not justice, but bitterly de-
nounces injustice: that expends its eff
| forts not in assisting the oppressed. but
| in denouncing the oppressor. This spur
| 1ouS socialism, which may be but the
| quickening process preparatory to the
| true socialism, numbers among its fol-
| lowers the pseudo refOrnarS who ac-
| cept the theory of the brotherhood of
| man, but, reeking with self1shness,
| breathing blasphemy and infidelity, re-
| ject the concomitant and corresponding
theory Of the fatherhood of God
| For this phase of socialism, the
| church, no less the conditions which are
| forcing themselves upon us, is largely
| responsible. The church is also respon-
| sible for the growing infidelity, the mark
| ed decrease in church membership and
| falling off in church attendance, which
is one of the striking characteristics of
our day.
| Too long it has endeavored to make
| others believe what it could not and
| did not believe itself. Too long it held
out the hope of heavens joys for suffer-
ing and enforced priva ton here. Too
| long it searched the Scriptures for theo-
logical props. while blind to the study
of justice which its pages taught. Too
long it sought to honor God by making
Him ubiquitous policeman to consign
men to endless hell.
The inf1del socialist seeks to defy man
by ignoring God.
The infidel church seeks to defy God
by ignoring man.
Both are in need of conversion. For
any socialism, or any scheme of saliva
ton, which contains blasphemy, avar-s
ice, falsehood or evasion is counterfeit.
The reform must begin with the church
for they pose as teachers and have
taught but half a truth. When we are
a BILE to realize that God and man are
Identical; that the command Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with thy
whole heart and with all thy mind, and
with all thy strength" is but a prepara-
tory and Introductory command to that
other and most important one. And
thy neighbor as myself, a universal
salvation and universal acceptance
will be a hand.
1t might be argued that between these
two classes a hopeless antagonisn1 has
been enSendered, and this conclusion
were at least justifia BILE were it not
for the appearance of another phase of
socialism, which recognizes that which
the church has taught-the fatherhood
of God-and combines it with that
which the church has ignored-the
brotherhood of man. This phase of So
cialistic thought is, strictly speaking,
a re-awakening of the religious enthusi-
assn, revival and consequent applica-
ton of the priceless tenetS of Christian
ity.
1t has been argued that Christianity
and socialism are at variance, because
Christ made no effort to change condi-
lions, but sought to make the world
better primarily through a change of
heart in the individual He taught that
the reform must flow from the within,
outward; that The. way to have clean
society was to have clean men. But the
golden thread which ran through and
through the wondrous warp and wool
Of al ct a
was love.
The law of His life was ministration
through love. He taught no creed. He
built no church. He was never con-
verted. He annulled all social imperial
ism,all class and caste, all rank in mill
tarism, all council in church, and taught
in theory and practice common broth
erhoOd.
1t is dawning upon the hearts of men
that Christianity is the living of a life;
that the practice of the law of minis
tratiOn in our common every day affairs
will prove without creed or dogma, suf-
ficient unto salvation. Socialism, while
many sided and used with a great va
riety of meaning according to the ca
pacity of the individual to behold the
truth, is in its last and best analysis
Christianity applied, whether to the
condition that involves the individual,
or the individual that cell in the
social organism makes up the sum of
human condition.
And this socialism is not merely NOR
al were 1t not only moral, lne nope
for ultimate success would be lessened
materially, for the number of those who
do right because it is right, who love
their fellow men as they love them
selves, is comparatively small. Love of
neighbor has too weak sentiment to
move any but the choicest spirits. So
cialism, therefore, is not only moral but
strictly scientific. 1t constitutes the
broad highway of racial progress. HUI
mainly is SO interviewer and interbound
that to enslave or degrade one member
of society is to ensIave and degrade all
We cannot advance individuality, for
the race is unit. The innocent must
suffer with the guilty. Injury to one is
the concern of all. The fundamental
law of the universe is diversity in uni
ty." Underneath is the law of God,
Unity in diversity Thus forever:
Through the ages one unceasing pur-
pose runs,
And the thoughts of men are widened |
by the progress of the suns.
Thus socialism numbers in its ranks |
the brain, the wealth and culture of the |
day who are uniting human impulse, |
generous philanthropy, toward the |
ever widening stream of aspiration and |
endeavor, that shall sweep away the |
last vestige of unjust social condi- |
ton that makes travesty of the gospel |
of Christ, and renders life for so many |
a brute struggle fer existence, thus ma |
nacing the progress of the race.
With the advent Of socialism will r Itg
the death knell of theological bicker ngs !
and UNCONVENTIONAL barriers. Ord n n |
ces rituals and sacraments shall disap-
pear before the recognition of the in !
trinsic indwelling Christ in humanity
Thus shall be brought about the final
unity of God and man; the welding of |
divinity and humanity, ultimating in |
the universal soul.
Halls Hair Remover contains the |