Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1909-10-23
PEOPLES PULPIT.
Christian Versus
ti-Christian
Socialism.
Text, Goodness With Content
ment Is Great Gain" q Timothy Vi, 9.


ooOr.-s-.-s-s-.-s-.-.-...- -...-s-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.O
are not perturbed that Socialism, in its
eagerness to rid Labor of material
bonds, has not yet realized the weight
of bonds spiritual. That realization
will come in good time, and Christiani-
ty must be ready to show the workers
of the world how to be rid of all those
fetters of the soul which material
emancipation will but render more ap-
parent. But for Christianity, as too
often notc, to profess desire TO free men
of spiritual bondage, while repudiating
any call or need to strike fearless
blows at their material prison bars, is
to lay itself open to justifdbie charges
of hypocrtsy. This must yield to braver
counsels, though the striving be even
unto blood against the sin of slavery
which still defiles modern industrialism.
with widest meaning, then-inclu
sive of all that the most ardent and
uncompromising Socialist lover of lib
erty has demanded, and embracing be-
sides all that the Christian means
when he proclaims the glory of spir
itual freedom, Christianity must now
stake up the challenge and cry with
worldwide voice like the sound of
many waters and mighty thunder
Amen. even so, unite, ye workers;
you have but your chains to lose. and
you have a world to gainr"
Brother White and the other dear
souls who propose to get Labor out
of the slavery of modern industrial
ism" should be willing to concede that
is as much interested in that release
as they or we or others could possibly
be-yea, much more so. If. then,
Brother White and others have re-
ceived some special commission au
thorizing them to preach a new Cos
pei or a new edition to the old Gospel
they should produce the proofs Of this
authorization. Until we see the proofs
we must doubt their existence.
On the contrary, the Scriptures de-
clare that there is but the one hope
set before US in the Gospel, even as
Faith and the one Baptism. Brother
White and his coadjutors have not
succeeded and will not succeed in
making the world more happy by
preaching to them the Gospel of dis
content Labor today is a hundred
fold better fed better clothed and bet
ter housed than in the days of Broth
er Whites grandfather, and it is safe
to say that it is a hundred-fold more
discoDtented. And Brother White,
with doubtless the very best and no.
blest Of intentions, neglecting the
Word of God, the wisdom that
cometh from above" Oames iii, ~,
is really doing injury by his gospel
of socialism. Our Lord was surround
ed by conditions of sickness, sorrow,
poverty. ETC., so that he could prop
erly declare, "The poor We have al
ways with you" (Matthew XVI, III.
The apostles were similarly situated.
Yet have we any evidence whatever
that any of these attempted to break
the chains Of the slavery of Labor?
Most assuredly not.
The Redeemer's Example.
While our Lord went about doing
good. and healed many of the sick, he
by no means healed all of the sick nor
comforted al the mourning ones. His
favors were specialized, as in the case
of the impotent man at Bethesda.
''There were multitudes of impotent
folks there" Oohn V, 81. But only the
one was miraculously healed by our
Lords Word. Many widows were be-
reft of their sons, but only the widow
of Main had her son restored to her
by the all-powerful Word of our Saw
ior He came not into the world to
heal the sick, but to die for the world
as its Redeemer He left the great
work. the important work of healing
all the sick-the mentally. morally and
physically sick. and of awakening all
the dead. until the establishment of his
Millennial Kingdom.
We likewise may do good unto all
men as we have opportunity and espe
cially to the 'household of faith But
we likewise must wait for Gods time
and manner for the general healing Of
the worlds sorrows and troubles.
When in fulfillment of the prayer our
Lord taught us, Gods Kingdom shall
come and his will be done on earth as
it is done in heaven, then all the bless
ing, all the helpfulnesG necessary to
the full recovery of our race will be
hroIlrht info oneration And If is not
possible for any man or set of men,
Christians or otherwise, either to i'm
prove upon Gods great Plan of the
Ages nor to hasten his Plan.
Is it urged that the early Church at
its beginning established communist
ic society? We answer that this was
not worldly establishment, nor with
those who recognized worldly princi-
pies. 1t was merely social arrange
ment whereby the Church at Jerusa-
lem onIy sought TO deal with each 9th
er rs one family 1t was not success
ful. 1t did not persist. 1t did not
have apostolic commendation TO other
Churches. We may suppose, there
fore. that the arrangement was Divine
II permitted so as to show the Lord,
people throughout the age the imprac-
ticability of such an arrangement at
the present time.
Heavenly Hopes Not Desired.
Brother White and others would
probably tell us that socialists are cry
ing out that heavenly hopes are not