The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-06
By WILLIAM T. ELLIS

I
BY WILLIAM T ELLIS
The big question of the present
hour is Socialism; perhaps not 80, 80
1aIism spelled with a Dig - put t@ne @
spirit of Socialism which Is one VIZ VIZ
the spirit of brotherhood There are
on every hand significant evidences -
that the ideal of a human soclety
dominated by laws Of helpfulneSs ana
aItrufsm has gained a treIneno . . @ tl9
hold upon the leaders OF present uas
thought So powerful Is this cuETH4l :
within the churches that a consider
able body OF clergymen have even
gone over TO the political Socla4lsllCS :
organizations. Discerning leaders OF
the church perceive that this IlF4nS
issue must be met and ploneefeu "
Christianity
For in its beginning. the Christian
church as we have il set forth IN tae
present Sunday school lesson was IAe
most perfect communlst1c orse-1l -. -.
ton ever recorded Il was verltaoLe
Utopia: in simpIeness, gladnesS- ana
singleness OF heart, the members OF
the apostolic church held all things IN
common. and each reioiced IN MS
possessions. only that he might share
There seems to have been no legisla-
ton on the subject. and no eccIe-
sfastfcaI ruling. but all were animated
by the one spirit, so that there were
among them no poor. for 1ne rlcn
voluntarily shared their POSSESSIONS
with their brethren
The Real Golden Age
The picture is one of which the
reader quickly becomes enamoured-
The simplicity and beauty of this So
ciai life: the absence OF selnSh am
bitions and all desire TO excel; the
lack Of osteutatiou, and the manifest
alI-pervasive spirit Of brotherhood.
were really a practical fUlflment OF
the teachings and example OF Jesus
This was indeed the golden age come
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. Ffne-spirited men and
women turn with reDugnance from
the greed and rivalry and cruel
se1fshness and hideous injustices and
inequalities of our modern social
organization, and try TO live as
brethren should live Probably ex-
periments OF this sort viii continue
for generations 10 come. as they have
continued for generations past Alas,
that most OF them should fail so
fgnominiousIy,
The Serpent in the Garden
The reason our modern UtoDias go
TO smash is that human nature is so
human Even the idyIIic COM
and Sapphiras who, like the members |
Of the Sanhedrin Of whom John wrote |
love the praise of men more than
the praise Of God" and who wanted |
a reputation for singular virtue. but
who were not willing 10 make the
necessary sacrifice Thus early did ;
they furnish the church with her first |
hypocrites- Human nature is in |
stinctiveIy selfish. One does not have
TO travel TO the ruthless conditions of |
heathendom TO find this. The near
est bargain counter. or street car. or
restaurant, or public entertainment.
Will reveal the same disregard for the
rights OF ones fellows in a mad en-
deavor TO serve self first The ser
pent, with his law. Look out for
Number One" was in the Garden of
Eden; and Ananiss and Sapphira.
ruled by the same law, were in the
early church
were an anomaly Why should a man
go to such troublesome lengths to pre-
tend to a piety which he does not pos
seSs2 Why cloak WickedneSs by out
ward righteousness? Would II not be
more comfortable openly to join the
company Of seekers after pleasure.
whatever the sin inyolved2 Why
should AnaniaS and Sapphira nave
gone through the pretence Of giving
the price of their lands to the apostles
for the benefit OF the community. all
the While holding back a part for
themselves Why should the Pharfsee
pray oStentatiOusly in public places.
and do deeds OF darkness in his inner
Office? Is not this an eternal tribute
that wrong pays to right2 Is it not
again case OF satan borrowing
heavens hvery2 The instructive sense
of the superiority OF virtue IS in every
mans heart He knows that goodness |
Is the supreme thing, and therefore he |