The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-09

made by Capt. MAHAN Of the navy before
an association OF Episcopalians. Tho
primary Christian principle Capt. MAHAN
defined to be the seeking to save ones
own SOUL President BAER to Use again
the words OF the ChurchD,an, justifes,
without the slightest hesitation, the right
OF his corporation to acquire and main
tain the domination Of trafic, even when
it involves driving competitors to the
wall"
Tho Churchman takes sharp issue with
both OF these declarations on the ground
that they set up standard OF SELF
centred philosophy which does violence
to the true spirit Of Christianity, though,
OF course, the right and the obligation
resting on the individual to save his own
SOUL advocated by Capt. MAHAN. Ia the
very highest and most refined form Of
sef-seeking.'
To look out for yourself, first Of all,
substantially the doctrine OF both the
railroad president and the navy officer,
the Churchmon denounces as evil in prin-
ciple and utterly opposed to the spirit Of
Christianity. No matter "how many
men Of noble intentions defend it, such a
philosophy will defeat the work Of the
family Of CHRIST wherever it obtains as a
principle governing the lives OF men. :"
Instead OF independence and selfshness,
says the Charchmdn, very justly, the
governing principles Of CHRIsT's family
are dependence, union, cooperation,
concord, love-; and it regards the con-
temporary recognition Of this mutual
obligation a. one Of the most striking
evidences that the Christian Church
is impressing itself upon political and
social life; but q it is the duty Of the
Church, through her leaders and in her
corporate capacity, to give to society
and the State tho principles on which all
problems shall be solved-not in the alb.
stract, but principles applicable to all
problems and as specific as great learning
and scientific research can make them
1t cannot be denied that the teaching
Of Christianity was opposed Numerically
to tho principle Of competition and to all
and that the practice of the
early Christians was consistent with it.
Under it's strict application the develop
ment of q great railroad like the Reading,
Of which Mr.. BAER is president, would
have been impossible. An that be- |
lieved,' We are told in the Acts Of the
A postles. were together and had all |
things in common and sold their possess
sions and goods and parted them to all
men, as every man had need
But actually. in the conduct OF his life,
s not Capt. MAHAN as far away from this
christian example as is President BAER,
md is not the clerical writer in the
their companion in that dis
obedience? Some Of our noblest and
rest men, Gays this writer, give tho
'ull influence of their names and OF their
oulpts to maintain conditions and to
upport people that violate this funda-
mental law OF the Gospel" or whoso-
ver shall seek to save his life shall lose
t." but is not practically the whole OF
CAristian society included among them.
q the civilization Of Christendom actu.
lily exists?
After all, whom it comes to the practical
md specific application Of the original
principles Of Christianity to our civiliza-
ion Of strife, competition and self.seek-
ng, has President PATTON, Capt MAHAN
n the Churchmun any more to offer us
OF reasonable consideration
g method OF solution OF tremendous
problem than We get from President
,AER?