Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-04
WHEN THE CHURCH TRIED so
ClALlSM.
The International Sunday School Les
son for February is, "True and
False Brotherhoods." Acts q: S2-5.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.


the ideal Of human society dominat'
ed by laws of ,helpfulness and altrI-
ism has. gained a tremendous ho.d
upon the leaders of present-day
thought. So powerful is this current
within the churches that considei-
able body of clergymen have even
gone over to the political Socialistic
organization. Discerning leaders of
the church perceive that this living
issue must be met and pioneered by
Christianity.
For in it's beginning. the Christian
church, as we have it set forth in the
present Sunday school lesson was the
most perfect communistic organiza-
ton ever recorded. 1t was a veritabie
Utopia: in simpleness, gladness and
singleness of heart, the members Of
the apostolic church held all things
in common, and each rejoiced in his
possessions, only that he might share.
There seems to have been no legisla-
ton on the subject, and no ecclesias-
teal ruling, but all were animated by
the one spirit so that there were
among them no poor, for the rich vol
UNFAIRLY shared their possessions with
their brethren.
The Real Golden Age.
The picture is one of which the
reader quickly becomes enamourcd,
The simplicity and beauty of this So
cial life; the absence of selfish am
billions and all desire to excel; the
lack of ostentation, and the manifest
all-pervasive spirit of brotherhood,
were really a practical fultillment OF
the teachings and example of Jesus.
This was indeed the golden age conc
to earth in reality.
At the present moment there are
under way on this continent and else.
where experiments in communism
which are endeavors to reproduce the
practical socialism of the early
church. Fine-spirited men and women
turn with repugnance from the greed
and rivalry and cruel selfishness and
hideous injustices and inequalities OF
our modern social organization and
try to live as brethren should live.
Probably experiments of this sort
will continue for generations to conc
as they have continued for genera
tons past. Alas, that most. of then
should fail SO ANONYMOUSLY!
The Serpent in che Garden.
The reason our modern Utopias &C
to smash is that human nature is sc
/ human. Even the idyllic community
at Jerusalem had it's Ananias aut
Sapphire, who. like the members o.
the Sanhedrin of whom John wrote
"love the praise of men more thar
the praise of God" and who wanted {
reputation for singular virtue, but wlic
were not willing to make the neces
sary sacrifice. Thus early did they
furnish the church with her first hypo
critics. Human nature is instinctivell
selfish. One does not have to travel tt
the ruthless conditions of heathendon
to find this. The nearest bargain
counter, or street car, or restaurant
or public entertainment, will revea
the same disregard for the rights o
ones fellows in mad endeavor tt
serve self first The serpent, with hi
law, Look Out for Number One,
; was in the Garden of Eden; and Ana
Mas and Sapphire, ruled by the san,'
law, were in the early church.
1t would seem as if the hypocrit
were anomaly. Why should a MAJ
go to such troublesome lengths f
pretend to a piety which he does no
possess Why cloak wickedness b
, outward righteousness? Would it no
be more comfortable openly to joil
the company of seekers after pleasure
whatever the sin involved? VIII
should Ananias and Sapphira hav
gone through the pretence OF givin
the price of their lands to the apps
ties for the benefit Of the community
!, all the while holding back part 10
l themselves? Why should the Pharise
pray ostentatiously in public place.
, and do deeds of darkness in his inne
Office? Is not this an eternal tribut
that wrong pays to right? Is 1t nc
again a case of Satan borrowing heaN
, ems livery? The instructive sense {
the superiority Of virtue Is in ever
mans heart He knows that goodness
: is the supreme thing, and therefor
! he goes to such extraordinary length
4 to secure at least its outward seen
ing.
Greed in Religion.
9 Two motives seem to have unde
v laid the conduct Of Ananias and Sal
d phira. They loved praise. When BIZ
hearted Barnabas sold his farm dn
turned the proceeds over to tn
church., everybody spoke in admir-
|. ton Of the act, ana warm glow {
e affectionate esteem bathed Barnabd
It Ananias and Sapphire coveted tn
|, same distinction. They wanted to /
It first among brothers, and TO be know
s as excelling in virtue. A distorls
J. love of praise will lead anybody to e
l. traordinary and even criminal co
S duct. The apish conduct and garb
h persons whom one occasionally SCI
g upon the street, surprising the O
# tremes of fashion, usually has i
e spring in this ancient and inerat
a cable human sentiment, the love
n distinction.
r Unlovely as the truth is, it must
If admitted that many persons lo'
money for itself. The spirit of gree
s. dwells deeply in their hearts. 1t
al their master motive. Because of To-
Le of money they will, as each day
,e newspaper testifies, violate the mo
,e sacred trusts, prove recreant to {
st the claims Of blood and honor, al
it yield to vulpine selfshness in tho
h dealings with their fellowmen. tt
lie spirit of greed which revealed itse
A.. ~. h,