The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-06-19
"APPLIED CHRISTIANITY"
What the Term Menns-A Practical
Question Raised.

tuesthon hatbeu.
These words assume the existence
of Christianity, together with an OBJ
ject or objects TO which IL is to be APP
piled. Within the limits of this article
the word Christianity is intended TO
mean the Divine law of love TO God and
man, which was perfectly taught and
exemplified only in the person of Jesus
Christ, the incarnate Son of God, who
became "son of man in order that sons
OF men might become sons of God" The
object TO which Christianity was intend
ed TO be applied is society" This
word, derived from the Latin ''socius."
means, in its largest sense, the whole
human race, whose members are of
necessity companions not only to their
own immediate relatives and neigh
bors, but also TO the whole world by
literature, trade and commerce. There
are but very few remote tribes of imper-
fectly civilized people who have not
been brought within touch of the in
fiuence of others formerly foreign TO
them.
This vast society rests upon three
great pillars-the family, the church
and the state. These things being so,
the standard OF manners and customs
and religious faith and practice will be
high or low, within any given section OF
society, according TO the public senti-
ment of those composing IL. The pub
lie sentiment is the general sentiment
of the aggregate of individuals compos-
ing the great body of the people. 1t is
self-evident, therefore, that in order TO
produce desired public sentiment it is
necessary 10 begin with the individual,
and by convincing one individual after
another gradually convince the aggre-
gate of individuals composing the ma
ton, and when that result has been
accomplished il viii find expression In
the making and enforcing of laws
which will express this sentiment. From
the standpoint OF the writer, Christian
ity applied to the family, the church
and the state In any section of society
is the only way in which injustice,
oppression and social unrest can be rec
titled, and true and lasting peace es-
tablished.
III these premises are admitted, the
question may well be asked; Why is IL
that, in these United States of Amer
lea, whose citizens for the most part
profess TO believe in Christianity, there
IL so much complaining about injustice
and oppression and so much social un-
rest? IL seems to me that the answer
is: Because we profess the theory of
Christianity, but do not really apply II
in the family, the church and the state
for fear of the results which would fol-
low it's fair and honest application.
Jesus Christ taught that God is the
Father of all men, and that consequent
ly all men are brothers. He command
ed men TO love God with ell their being,
and their neighbors as themselves.
How does a man manifest his love for
himself? He manifests his love for
himself by obtaining the best shelter,
food and clothing within his power TO
procure, and giving tho same advan-
tages 10 his family; then, having pro-
vided for his material needs, he tries,
IL he has any high aspirations at all, To
surround himself with an environment
winch Will DE MOsI neipiul IN ueNclOp-
ing his mental and spiritual nature.
Having done this, he will not be salts
fed IL he honestly believes in applied
Christianity until he has done all he can
10 give his fellow-men equal opportuni-
ties, at least, TO reach the same height
20 which he has attained, and is ready
and willing 10 extend aid to all who are
struggling upward.
AS society is constituted this seems
TO be impossible, because public senti-
ment apparently believes that vested
property rights are more sacred than
"human rights" and that the wealth
Of a nation consists in the amount Of
money IL possesses, although this money
be controlled by a few. IL Is the in
tention OF the writer of this brief ar
ticle 20 try to make those who read Il
carefully and prayerfully ponder over
the question: How can Christianity
best be applied TO the family, the church
and the state?-Joseph Reynolds, In N.
Y. Journal