The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-10
COMMUNICATIONS
To the Editor of The Spy

To the Editor of The Spy
1t was with whole lot of curiosity
that I read Archbishop Corrigan'
ideas of Socialism in yesterdays Spy.
! Let us compare the archolshop 5
ideas and statements with the actual
truth and the real facts-
He says Charity is the test OF
Christianity" A scientific speaker or
writer would not have used such an
expression, inasmuch as the WORD
charity" has two meanings, and 1t is
impossible to tell whether the good
man means '1ove," which is the clas-
steal meaning of the word, or "alms-
giving" which is the .colloquial mean
ing.
universal law of charity is found in our
common origin and common destiny,
If this were true we would be under
no obligations to extend love or kind
ness to animals that have not com
mon origin and destiny with us; but
we are, and. therefore, the archbish-
ops philosophy as to the foundation
of moral obligation is false.
Again: Brotherhood implies equal
ity." This is nonsense. Brotherhood
implies fraternity, kindness and JUS
tice, but is perfectly consistent with
natural inequality.
Again: why should we attempt to
keep UP the fiction that all men have
equal rights?" This is just such ques-
ton as the Sultan of Turkey, or a res
directed Nero, might ask. 1t does not
deserve an answer.
Again: Socialists seek to solve the
problem through a common ownership
of property and free love as substl-
tute for marria'S. Free love is not
one of the tenets of Socialists. 1t is
-. {-+e I1yha ho1inUp in that
and there is as much difference be-
tween the beliefs of Socialists and Com
munists as there is between that OF. the
Pope and those of the Archbishop OF
Canterbury.
Again: Christ made distinction in
THE equality of man in establishing the
church." Christ established no church,
and neither gave nor left any direc-
lions for establishing one. 1t was his
followers who did that, after his death.
Again: "The principles of the Social
lists are in direct opposition to Christ
ianity." 1t was the Immediate follow
ers of Christ who made the first crude
attempt at Socialism, and the best
known professor of applied Christianity
in the United States says that Social
ism is nothing more nor less than
Christianity applied to social cond1-
tions.
Again: at seems as if the rich are
becoming richer and the poor poorer. >"
1t may seem so to Archbishop Corri-
gan. but if he had any acquaintance
with social statistics he would know
that this is not so. The poor are not
becoming poorer.
The archbishop has distinguished
himself by crowding more errors of
fact and philosophy into few words
than any man who has ventured to
speak since the Buffalo calamity. A
theologian is untitled by his educa-
ton to speak upon a subject which re-
uuires the inductive and deductive
reasoning of the philosopher and scien-
fist. A theologian is not taught to
reason but to listen and believe and
obey. Dependence on reason is to him
a sin, and to bow unquestionably to
authority in the matter of religious be-
lief is a cardinal virtue. All his con-
illusions on social questions are @. is
torted by his ecclesiastical trail( -
which perverts his reasoning powers.
B. UNKUM.