The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-05-12
DR., PARkHURST FINDS
PANACEA FOR our ILLS
Gotham Preacher Says Chris
tian Socialism viii Save
United States.
Believes It a Crime for Indi-
vidual to Hoard Proceeds
of Industry.

II have become-have always been
Socialist in believing it to be a
crime for an individual to hoard the
proceeds derived from his or her para
mount ability or talent.
II hon nestly believe that the salvation
Of our country, as a great and perma-
nent nation, depends upon our early ac-
ceptance and practice Of Christian
Socialism as a political creed. If every
Individual shall be permitted to make
purely selfish use Of his wealth and
ignore his responsibilities to society.
the end must be national disaster.
I'm the existing agitation over gov
ernment and municipal ownership. one
may see that we are swiftly drifting
toward a larger form Of Socialism
Christian Socialism.
Christ himself was Socialist"
New York, May 1O.-Th1s was the i'm
portant declaration made by the the
Rev. DR.. Charles H. Parkhurst, follow
ing a strong letter from him, read be-
fore three thousand persons at meet
ing in Cooper Union.
In his letter the head and founder Of
the Parkhurst society merely intimat-
ed his Christian Socialistic tendencies.
Il had no idea when wrote that let
ter" said DR.. Parkhurst, that 1t would
attract such general attention, or in
vite criticism. For, call it Socialistic
or by any other name. 1t Is the doctrine
have been preaching in the Madison
Square Presbyterian church for some
time.
Deprecntes Rich Men.
"As I read the signs of the times
1t seems to me that the existing sg1-
tation over government and municipal
ownership, one may see that we are
"By deplorabfe exceptions I mean
men of vast wealth and power. who
look upon their wealth as belo nging
to themselves to do with as they
choose. A man who amasses a great
fortune has no right to regard it as
his own. He has responsibilities to-
ward the community which he must
recognize or else be a criminal. For
it is a. crime for an individual to hoard
the proceeds derived from para
mount ability or talent to the detriment
of the general welfare.
''The fact that a person has a. gen.
ius for making money does not lessen
his responsibility toward tho great
family of which he is q member. And
the same may be said Of any great
talent, be it for painting a masterpiece,
writing a great book or carving a
great statue All such talents divine
ly bestowed are given in trust
ANY selfish use made Of the revenue
derived therefrom is the criminal vio-
lation of a sacred trust"
DO you mean that you subscribe to
Socialism as it Is understood in this
country" the doctor was asked.
Il really mean what may be called
Christian Socialism," he replied,
Thought so far as one may Judge the
commonly understood form Of Social
ism is a branch of the larger doctrine.
II believe 1 am not wrong in saying
that a great many men Of wealth are
beginning to realize more than ever be-
fore. that they are only the Stewards
trustees-of their wealth-that it be-
longs to the community as we'll as
themselves as trustees Of the COM
munity.
Does Not Endorse Communism.
'At the same tine,'' specified DR..
Parkhurst, II do not wholly endorse
what Is known as Communism. It
would be ruinous to compel every per-
son to pour his possessions. the re-
ward Of his energy and genius into q
common fund for reckless distribution.
That would paralyze individual alb
bition and energy and we must steer
clear of that by all means.
"At the same time we must recog-
nize our nation as a vast brotherhood,
which involves reciprocity of rights
and reciprocity of duties. It means
that we all need one another, are all
debtors to one anothers and are all
intended to be trustees of the common
assets, and that any man who cuts an
underground conduit between the COM
mon treasury and his own pocket is
modern reincarnation Of the origin al
Judas. who bore the bag but drew on
1t to meet his personal expenses
What do you mean by an UNDER
ground conduit?' was asked.
Why" laughed DR.. Parkhurst, "the
meaning Is evident on the surface,
isn't 1t? An underground conduit, in
the sense used. is a secret, selfish way
Of taking advantage Of a. position to
prey on the community for the benefit
of ones self.
Convicted BY Publicity.
UNFORTUNATELY a large number of
high financiers are doing this very
thing. But they are learning throush
insurance exposures and public con-
demnation that their methods are
criminal and that such practices will
not long be tolerated.
Men Of that stripe" he emphasized.
''are on par with the head Of the
family, or its chief breadwinner who
treats his particular holdings, large
or small. as though they were not. in
the trust sense. q part of the common
heritage of the household. Such q
person is a renegade and q traitor tn
his family.
And the same may be said of a man
VINO accumulates q million or ftvc mill
lions, or hundred millions OF dollar.
and considers himself absolved from
and responsibility toward the masses