The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-19

rather than Of conflict, even II o. confict
be narrowed down 10 two great comb
nations, the combination OF capital and
the combination Of labor.
when Mr.. Taft in the Chicago speech told
labor that II should combine just a. capital
should combine, | can see a very dangerous
situation suggested 10 US, which 10 nothing
less than the consolidation Of the people
Of this country into two great camps an
~tRgonistio TO each other. II 10 certainly a
more peaceful solution Of the situation TO
suggest that these camps themselves CON-
bine in one large, cooperative and brotherly
group. This may be considered an e1-
IRENE form OF idealism. So II is, but the
Kingdom Of Heaven ls an extreme form OF
idealism, and perhaps the faith in human
nature which can look with confidence
to each Of these remote possibilities eI-
plains the sympathy with which the Church
can Offer its hospitality 10 those Missionaries
who call themselves Socialists.
Two or three other results Of the most
vital Importance have shown themselves
In these meetings. Men Of the greatest
difference in religious belief and economic
convictions meet each other and hear n
other speak. They soon are conscious OF
the sincerity and good intention back OF
what has been uttered, ! am confident
that it is only in such an atmosphere OF
acquaintance, Of sympathy and confidence
that any serious political and economic
problems can be solved peacefully.
e .ofa 49,. ,vNwaarNtnaW ualna that il
evident 10 the most casual observer OF these
w~orkingmen's meetings lies In the oppor-
tunity Afforded for perfect freedom OF
thought and its expression. One or two
OF the after meetings have become democrat
lied and ended in mere wordy wrangles.
tiresome and banal but those we're the result
Of accident and came about really by the
mistaken impression held by a few fanatics
and cyclists that they could come to these
meetings and shower personal abuse on
each other for the delectation Of a chosen
audience and 10 further ends OF personal
ambition or Of revenge. We shall see that
they are not duplicated, Mr., Irvine and
those assisting him do not propose to be
bottle holders for political partiSanS while
they indulge in Sunday night scraps.
These w~rangles, which have occurred on
only two occasions during the winter, have
had an unfortunate publicity. while 1t has
been overlooked that the ordinary Sunday
night meeting really resembles a Methodist
experience meeting, the fundamental diner
ence being that the speakers instead Of
combining themselves TO talking about their
conversion to Christianity have taken a
broader range, telling the audiences their
experiences Of life and the conclusions they
have drawn thereform, In my opinion
nothing can be more important than the
sincere narration Of such experiences
brought by persons Of different races, differ
ent religions and different classes. In fact
see in this variety Of what may be truly
called spiritual experiences the material
for the synthesis Of a new religious move
ment or conception Of religion
what them Mr.. Grant, is asked by tie
interviewer for THE Sun, do you expect to
accomplish by these meetings?'
Mr.. Grant replies:
Il. To show the workingmen Of America
that there is a warm place in the heart Of
the Church for them and that the Church
Is big enough to hold them and all their
vital, intellectual honesty and breadth Of
mind about religious and social questions.
20. That the Church is not a rich mans
club. where only those things can be said
from the pulpit that are agreeable 10 the
rich.
3. To make il clear that some Of the
most serious present day problems which
Seem to involve class bitterness and con-
fict can be solved by bringing together men
who differ. and letting them discover the
sincerity and good will Of their supposed
antagonists.
=. TO bring the new enthusiasm Of a
real sense Of human brotherhood, with its
many acts Of self-sacrifce aud its almost
ascetic ideal, 10 revitalze some Of the self
satisfied, worldly, somnolent Christianity
of to-day. To bring to the social aspira-
tons Of the poor a deeper Interpretation
than that Of m~atenalistic advantage, and a
more enduring benefit than M increased
amount Of the good things Of life they now
possess.
IS. hope TO give fresh reality to religion
by showing that il is not the creation OF a
pnestly caste, or our inheritance from any
gwen race or q system OF commandments,
ceremonies and dogmas based upon any
kind Of authority, but that II ia fundamen-
tally the need OF every life, and can be read
in the experiences Of human nature, and
perhaps, after all, can best he formulated
out Of the sincere and outSpoken oonclu-
sions about life from all sorts and oondi-
tons Of men,
KENTUCKY,S NEW SENATOR.