Evening journal., 1907-03-28


The Social Problem.
Editor The Evening Journal.
] ask for space In The Evening Jour
nal for a few words commendatory OF
The timely utterances OF Bishop Berry.
at the recent conference Of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, held at Smyrna.
Bishop Berry in his opening address
10 the assembled ministers, said:
Take hold and graprle with an
the great social problems that pre-
sent themselves. John Wesley was
a Christian Socialist. Dark clouds
are on the sky. Storms are COM
ing; organized capital is some
times organized greed. Organized
labor Is sometimes organized tyr
amy. Hence the underpaid and
the underfed. What is the remedy?
Some say education. others say
march and agitate-agitation-
others say legislation. But the
remedy Is IN none Of these. It is
in regeneration.
Socialism in this country is
doomed because it does not recog-
nize human depravity. We will not
become better by better laws, but
by better people.
1T seems 20 me that there is no
church. aside from the Roman
Catholic Church. to-day. as well
fitted to take up these problems
confronting the country
MANY preachers continue to
grow Godward. but fail to grow
manward Learn to love the people
not only the wealthy or the people
with fine clothes, but the plain, or
dinary people, the man with sweaty
brow. with greasy clothes, with
horny hands-God's aristocracy OF
the earth.
THE rank and fe Of our people
must be educated 10 a belief that
In these 81, e problems God eX-
poets us 70 solve our own affairs.
some say: Shall the Methodist
Church go into politics? / say yes,
not as an organization, but as in
dividuais. You could stop graft,
you could stop gambling, you could
nut into every Council, every Leg
islature. men OF God who would
vote according to their convictions
and for the best sentiment of the
community We have not done
these things because we have not
given due attention TO our job.
Don't be senseless agitators.'
Mr.. Editor as an American, as
member Of organized labor, and as
Christian. a member Of the primitiv
ehurch-the Roman Catholic Church
I heartily commend Bishop Berry's NJ
terances. In my Judgment he place
his finger on the weak spot in the ar
NOR OF churchmen, laymen and cleric
alike. The social problem is here. Tn
storm clouds are gathering fast. II
who is not wilfully blind can see tn
signs of the coming storm to-day
They are even more evident than wer
the storm signals that presaged on
Civil War. with Bishop Berry l ho'
1t is the duty Of churchmen whethe
IN pulpit or pew, 10 do their part To
wards solving the social problems tha
threaten the very existence of moder
civilization. A man does not cease
be an artisan because he is a church
man. on the contrary I hold that II
churchman, i'm pulpit or pew. who mes
lects the duties OF citizenship commit
q crime against the moral law. III
Church. and by the term church in thi
article I speak broadly and mean OF
ganized religion; Protestant Cathol
and Hebrew. makes a fearful mistah
I'm not throwing the weight OF It's II
telueonce. authority and influence VII
those who are endeavoring TO peace
fully solve the social problem. The &c
cial problem will be solved without tf
church. and solved in the same horrib
manner as was chattel slavery ende
II churchmen neglect their duty 1t
not necessary. in fact. Il would be
blunder. for the church 30 so into pol
tics as an organization. In my jude
ment. should clergymen wheth'
ministers priests or rabbis. go int
politics in their official character, the
should go into politics; that is, eNercis
their rights as citizens. study the socii
problem. and IN the words of BisiN
Berry. grow towards the peop'e; Il
plain. ordinary people; the men VII
sweaty brow. with greasy clothes, WI
horny hands" But even from the vie
of the conservative churchman. II
marvellous TO ponder over the non-a'
tion OF churchmen. All the church'
are solicitors fer the heather. Tho
are sending missionaries 70 IimhuctC
and to Madagascar, and yet there a
80. .OOO. 600 Pagans who do not afflia
with any form of religion In this r.
public OF ours Socialism Is CROWN
There are dark hints Of anarchy. III
two armies OF organized labor and Of
ganized capital are approaching q
cross roads whore they must clash. "
have 100000 pariahs. outcasts, tramp
lhouseless. home 'css, hopeless men an
/ pale faced children are slowly -murde
ed IN our factories. There is a cry
many churches that "men don't 60
| church" and even in churches whe
that cry Is not heard. we hear the con
plaint that young men are sullen an
mot very enthusiastic" What Is q
treason? Who is az faulte Why do Il
multitudes often follow bad 'eader'
Listen, Churchman, in pulpit ana PEI