Evening journal., 1907-10-05


we sometimes hear the word social
ists spoken as II It were foul with re-
nroach;-much as oxford once pro-
nounced methodist" or Boston "Aho-
iitionist." Yet a goodly class Of men
have been called by that name
CHARLES kingsley, Frederick Denison'
Maurice Stopford Brooke, Washington
GLADDEN.. etc.
The cry Of the oppressed has found
tongues to speak and ears TO near,
and the days to come viii be run OF
dreary tidlngs unless a remedy Is
found.
The editor. the essayist. the reformer'
the poet. have all undertaken to voice
this discomfort, and sound In the cars
of the world the social protest OF the
laborine man. II Is put into the news
the lecture, in art. picture and poetry
Like the ghost Of Banquo II WIN not
down.
But my purpose is not to champion
Socialisn-or become an advocate ol
labor against capital. / shall not even
stop to define Socialism, except TO say
that 1t Is a studied and scientific effort
10 relieve the distress of the under
paid multitude. The Socialists conten-
tion 'is that the present way OF carry
ing on the worlds industry,-not by a
planned and rational system, but by
leaving production and distribu-
ton to the chances OF in
dividual competitlon,-is a discredit
TO man, the intellectual being-to man
q s.T az
IS the heartlessness of the present
method Unworthy Of man as moral ana
spiritual being.-as a disciple Of Christ
From the Christian point of View, the
principle which should rule i'm this field
as in every other IS laid down by
Christ dn his usual form OF a COM
crete instance), namely. that man
welfare Is supreme over outward insti-
tutions-that commerce IS made for
man. not man for commerce. In our
present civilization (of which the fac
tory is the typo), men, women and
children are cogs in the wheels OF IN
dustry. which turn by intention, not for
the sake OF the human beings con-
corned. but for the sake OF the grinding
on Of the machinery itself. and for the
profit It grinds out for those who are
its legal owners. Merciessly the ma-
chine feeds upon the life Of the hdi-
vidual SO long as he has life which
At can absorb. and rcmorselessly il
breaks his heart and filings him away
when It can use him no longer"
For these Ills Socialism proposes a
remedy. which remedy Is 10 receive a
trial, and that In the near future. This
experiment may be made with the co..
operation OF the Christian Churth. and
the sane and thoughtful element OF the
nation. or IT may be resisted. reprcssed
and fought until the pent-up forces of
revolution shall break forth with the
utmost violence and destruction, There
are Christian Socialists who desire tc
proceed In the remedy of the ms they
deplore, by the gradual and benevo-
lent method There iare Socialists OF
the other sort One Tor the other viii
man the wheel of}the ship of state II
the days before THE Christian min.
istry needs 10 getAin touch with this
great movement for the hetterment o.
the common people tand help 70 guild.
Il to wise and fconclusions. Bou
political parties are Nshaping their poll.
cies IN that direction. Many men o
wealth are beginniugsto see the incvi.
table, some seeking ito meet IL viii
wisdom, others with curses. The tw,
institutions of the land that seem as ye
little affected by any Sympathetic ap.
probation OF the situation are IN,
Christian Church andithe colleges. Th,
one largely because, the Soclalistil
movement has seemed such an enemy
and the other because they depend fo
endowment and support upon men o.
the capital class
There is no doubt that the churche.
as such are greatly suffering because
OF the labor movement. Sunday is thei
chief day for meeting. planning an,
advancing their cause. Right or wrong
labor has reached the conclusion tha
the churches are IN the hands Of IN
capital class The ministry is charged
with being subservient TO the rich. ant
hence entitled TO the fun share o
hatred which IS bestowed upon thei
accepted patrons. IL Is not true as /
once was, that "the common peopl
hear them gladly" The passing year
are intensifying the Impression Sc
forth in the memorable lines Of Low
ellis Parable"
"But stn, wherever his steps they led
The Lord In sorrow bent down hi
head