The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-04-07
SOCIALISM AND CHURCH,

By the Rev. Charles Sickle.
When the average socialist speaks
of the church he becomes hystericaL
TO his mind, no other man has a right
to an opinion which differs from his
own. If that opinion does differ from
the one which he holds for the time be-
ing, the holder of it is, according to
that socialist a "grafter," a tool of
the capitalistic class" a "weakling,"
a 'hypocrite." When discussing such
an unfortunate the average socialistic
writer will dip his pen in vitciol and
hguratively burn him at the stake.
Granting for the moment that the man
he is abusing is intolerant. he himself
is too intolerant to tolerate intoler-
ance, although he expects to find that
virtue in the man whom he is roast
ing" If the reply is made that The
socialist who does these things is not
representative of true socialism, then 1
answer that neither is the church man
who practices similar methods, repre-
sentative Of the church, although there
are occasions when both the socialist
and the church man may be justified in
vigorously protesting against the
words and actions of a particular in
dividua1 who may be on the other side.
Just as the socialists insist that their
movement today must not be judged by
the mistakes of their predecessors. so
the church Of today has a right to de-
mand that it shall be judged by it's
present attitude towards particular
problems, and not by it's past errors.
The church has made mistakes. To
deny this, would be absurd. But some
social reformers are asking the church
to stand for a specific social system
which may some day be accepted by the
majority, as slavery once was, thus
again subjecting herself to the ridicule
Of future generation, which shall have
outgrown that system.
But, it is insisted, the world is on the
verge of a crisis, and the church must
declare herself with regard to socialism,
The world has always been on the
verge of crisis. 1t always will be-
because the world Is moving To say
that even the introduction Of socialism
will at once settle every social question
is a sign to egotism. If socialism
should ever be accepted, 1t would simp-
ly be a step in that process of evolu-
ton which will never end. for the labor
question will never be settled until the
last days work is done:
1t has been said that the church
should recognize and endorse socialism
because there are SO many socialists
There is no particular point to his
argument, for there are probably as
A.
directly and indirectly interested in the
saloon business as there are socialists.
Must the church therefore endorse the
saloon, even though some saloon men
are just as sincere as some socialists?
It is true that certain churches Of to-
day have taken action with reference
to socialism. Let these churches be
held responsible for their own DEGREES.
Socialists are careful to accept as auth.
oritative only such statements as are
issued by their particular branch of
socialism. 1t should be remembered,
also, that in practically every instance
where a. church assembly denounced So
cialism, it had in mind the grossly ma
terialistic and morally antagonistfc
features which have sometimes found
place in the system, just as it has fire.
quently denounced the same tendencies
in prevailing political parties.
AS a matter of fact, however, what
is the real attitude Of the church an a
whole with reference to the questions
involved?
First, it recognizes the right OF every
man to be a socialist, If he is convinced
that socialism is morally and economic
ally sound.
Second, it recognizes the fact that
there are some good things in social
ism, for which socialism should be
given credit.
Third, the church does not stand for
the present social system. 1t stands
for no particular social system. It &C.
cepts only so much of the present sys-
tenn as is in accordance with the primo
iples laid down by Jesus Christ 1t in
sists that these privileges shall I've ap-
piled to society in all of it's ramifica-
lions, but it believes that others be-
sides socialists have both the brain and
the heart to interpret these privileges
Fourth, it is not offering the gospel
to wof7ingmen as mere sop, nor be-
cause it Is afraid that some day theJ
will bring on a revolution. 1t is Offer
ing the same gospel, with all of it's
tions, to their employers.
STILL ONE.