The daily tribune., 1904-02-15
Socialism and the Gospel.

Another large congregation gathered
last night in the Methodist church
for the second sermon in the series
"Timely Topics for Thinking Pee
pie. . Mr. Krueger took for his text
Luke 1915, "a mans life consis-
| teth not in the abundance OF things
which ho possesseth. f"
The speaker called attention first
of all to the constantly growing study
of sociological problems and condi-
tions, and declared that 10 this study
the minister of the Gospel was easily
in the lead There had been great
revival along sociological lines in che
churches, for they are beginning to
realize that they cannot reach the
masses until they know and are ready
to help them.
Three schools of thought. outside Of
4 the church mad attempted solution
of the social problem. First the
anarchist, whose problem is the over
throw of all government; second the
communist whose motto is not, ITO
each according to his ability" nor
yet "To each according to his need, -
but ''To all alike" The soc ialist
asks that the state do all. His is the
problem of production, The state
shall say to the farmer how much he
shall sow. to the butcher how much
be shall kill to the manufacturer how
much he shall weave. to the miner
how much he shall dig. But the
speaker was not concerned with these
economic schemes his was moral
problem.
II ask you to note first of all, y
said he, ''that socialism, like all
similar reforms, ignores the fuDda-
mental principles of the. Gospel by
placing position above disposition,
and ignoring the factor of sin.
| Christianity works from within out
and seeks the redemption of the race
by saving the individual Socialism
seeks the salvation of the individual
| by redee ming the race.
| The speaker enforced and illustrated
this point from all sides showing that
sin was the basis of all suffering.
~ ask you to note in the next place
Gospel and the teachings of Jesus. in
that it ignores the fundamental basis
of society-viz. the family" Only
the other day distinguished geutle-
man of this city had said to the speak
er that socialism now stood for a
juster division of wealth and that it
had thrown away all of the material
istic and immoral vagaries with which
it had started. Ten years of study OF
social questions and three years OF
acquaintance with some of the most
advanced and educated socialists OF
the Rocky Mountain region had not
lead the speaker to such optimistic
views.
To make good his point the speaker
quoted from socialist leaders from all
lands. He showed conclusively that
socialism stands against the sacrednes:
of the home.
again" said he, Socialism
reverses the order of Christianity by
, attempting level:ng down instead ot
, leveling up process.
, "Fiually the fundamental philoso
J ply of socialism is materialistIc.
This point also was enforced by quota
tions from writers ON socialism from
all lands.
/ "But you ask. said he, "are ther,
not some strong features in socialism
Some points of contact with tie Cos
pei? Yes. many. Socialism has don,
, valuable service by calling attention
TO the brotherhood of man. But j
has forgotten the fatherhood OF God
Traced to its ultimate source tn,
brotherhood idea had its origin in tht
upper room in Jerusalem on the eve
of the crucifixion of Jesus.
Its ideas of state control were il
part carried out III our public
Schools. hospitals, asylums, the basis
of all which was socialistic, But the
!, program of Jesus included doing these
very things.
Tha care of ''Defectious depend.