The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-05-13
REAC CT Out FOR MA SSE
Says Silas McBee TO Save
and Strengthen the
Churches.
IS IN DANGER
Because Religion AS it Nov
Exists is for Only the
Classes, He Declares.

~ ~ S>Ss
BOSTON, Mass, May la.-silas
Mcisee. Of New York, editor of The
churchman,s read long paper be-
fore the Episcopal Congress on the
topic Socialism IN Relation TO Chris
tianity."
Mr.. hc7ee said In part:
Socialism and Christianity are not
so essentially distinct that they can
be compared or contrasted. Socialism
is theory. Christianity Is fact.
The theories and forms of Socialism,
like those OF ecclesiasticlsm, are as
varied and multitulInous as are the
types OF Socialists and eccleslastics.
Socialism, ecciesiasticism or any other
ism. represents theory or scheme
or form of life. or means to some
great end Christianity claims to be
the first and final cause OF existence.
It is an end in Itself There are good
aud bad forms of Socialism and there
are good and bad forms of ecclesiasti-
cism. AS there are forms of Socialism
that are dangerous and have worked
evil SO there are forms of ecclesiasti-
cistn that have menaced civilization
land left great blots upon human his
tory. But no kind of Socialism or
ecclesiasticism, or all kinds put to-
gether, would ever make up the
Christian religion. Christianity is I'M
changed and unchanging in Its claim
that it possesses the only ideal and
final form of social order; and that It
supplies the only power capable OF
fulfilling an the relations of eternal
order. The social principle that lies
behind and gives effectiveness and
vitality to Socialism in all or any of
its forms is Christian.
"rhe social teachings OF Christians
ethical and spiritual principle OF
includes In its scope the
whole OF life and all tho relations OF
life. Nothing can escape accountable
lily to this universal principle Chris
tiarlty is life In all Its ASPECTS and
II is life full and whole. IN
the light OF the Incarnation. hard and
fast dualistic theories Of life are for
ever done away. God and man. the
things of God and the things of m3n,
are in the Incarnation as one To
deny this is to deny Christianity at Its
core. TO believe 1t: and to live 1t IS
life eternal. The Christian because he
is Christian must think in terms of
the Incarnation. The church be-
cause 1t is Christ's body is constrained
to liveeend move and have Its being
In the Incarnate Christ 1t is this that
gives the Incarnation its supreme
place in Christian economy. 1T was
this act of God in Christ and through
Christ that established forever the un-
lversal social obligations OF the Chris
tian church. and that has been stead-
lly changing the ideals and the hopes
Of human society.
Throughout the history OF humans
~. there has been a struggle TO escape
individual responsibility. To this
struggle against Individual response
bility is now added the struggle to
escape social responsibility. -.
Look hack a few years. II was then
accounted reasonable and even con-
ductive to godliness, that churclir'ien
as such should not take part in polit-
lcal social or industrial reform.
Today there is less and lAss of this
painful effort to isolate tho Christian
church from the life of humanity.
The Incarnation Is less and less re-
garded as partial. It is more and
more accepted and believed in and
acted upon as complete in humanity.
It embraces extensively all that man
Feels and does. all that he hopes and
loves. And there Is one phase in
all the schemes of Socialism that cons
tains deep and abiding truth, an un-
mlstakable lesson for the churches.
Speaking generally and broadly,
organized Christianity. especially in Its
endless visions. has distinct tendency
to become the religion OF the classes.
as they are called. of the moro or less
prosperous and well to do, while the
principle of social aolidarity in Social
ism is ever dealing with and contends
ing for the masses of humanity. So
long as this is true. so long as this,
great object lesson of concern on the
part of the Socialists for the masses.
Us against the neglect of the masses
10y the organized hcurches.. is allowedt
70 stand, just SO long will the
churches not only fail 10 reach the
masses and fail 10 he assimilatcd by
the masses hut the churches will be
ignored where they are not despised.
49, christendom presents to the
world today not nm organized nut u
ldisorganized and therefore an lndivid-l
ual church. Even in It's various d.
vided forms II is incapable OF pre-
senting tho social life OF Christianity
as 1t exists in the corporate life OF
Christ The Family Of God as So
cial force must givesa clear witness.
or It Will come under the condemna-
IL