The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-02
SOCIETYS FABRIC
is ARTIFICIAL
Rev. Fl. V. Giyler Discusses
Social Conditions From
Christian Standpoint.

Social Conditions From the Chris
tan Standpoint" was the subject of
Rev. H. V. Givler's discourse at the
First Methodist church yesterday fore
noon. The pastor said in part
THE theory of human equality il
without warrant of Scripture or de-
mOcracy, and those who hold to that
idea have suffered keen disappoint-
ment, as neither legislation, politics,
nor religion, can make men equal who
are different in capacity by nature;
but, accepting the fact of diversity, both
religion and governments are set for
the defense of those who would other
wise fall victims to injustice and
fraud
Men are not equal, but the purpose
IN the divine economy is to do all that
can be done to give every man a
mans chance in life, and the best proof
OF progress in human affairs lies in
the fact that gradually, if too slowly,
the opportunities Of life for the mass
are increasing.
The problem of the social order is
sometimes called the question of labor
and capital, and sometimes the masses
and the classes, but these are rather
accidents, as the laborer frequently be-
comes a capitalist and vice versa; but
the chief feature lies in the fact of the
other-self-inter suspicion, violated
confidence, doubtful business integrity
and wealth, so called, which consists Of
borrowed capital and Watered stock
and on this artificial basis men and
women build a fabric of society as
false and unjust as it is artificial
"The prophets and Jesus seems to
have been called to defend the de-
pressed poor, ignorant, diseased and
incompetent against their oppressors,
the rich. To degree the conditions
are changed, as poverty is less gen
eral, and ignorance, thanks to our ed
ucational systems, is on the decline,
while the contending forces, owing to
organizations of men and brains, seem
more nearly matched now than in the
age of the prophets; but it remains
true that the extremes of society are
moving farther apart, and no man who
studies the situation can fail to- note
that the events like the Haymarket
riots and kindred occurrences, which
punctuate our times, can continue in
definitely without serious results.
christianity has solution, which
is more than any other theory can as
sert, for some freely admit that they
do not know, some think it must work
itself out, some hope for legislation,
and some rely as a last resort on TIE
police and militia, but we have no
great reason at this time to believe
that, so long as human, character res
mains selfish and aVariciouS, there
can be any permanent remedy.
- Forty years ago the churches were
actively engaged in the special work
of making converts, the result of
which was most gratifying, and many
have thought it unfortunate that such
campaign should not be continued
Indefinitely; but the result of that
campaign was enormously to increase
the material wealth of the country,
and then began an epoch Of building
and endowing churches, schools and
hospitals. Now we seem to be con-
fronted with a distinct responsibility,
viz, that the Christian church shall
prove her divine origin and commits
sion by breaking down the barriers of
false distinction, and build a fabric
in which Christian fellowship shah
mean more than nominal identity with
a cause, and those who by nature or
misfortune are made dependent, than
a charitable provision, for physical
subsistence
christianity is brotherhood, and the
worlds open sores cannot be healed
unless the relationship prescribed by
Christ shall be realized in loving our
fellow men as ourselves"