St. Tammany farmer., 1909-03-27
INTERESTING TALK.
The Church and Its Mis-
sion With q Word
for Socialism.
From the Times-Democrat.

Church at the first meeting OF the
forum of the business Mems Bible
Glass, when debate was precipitatec
between DR.. Beverley E. Warner anc
several members of the class on one
side and Jupge E. Saunders on the
other as to whether Christianity was
in itself responsible for the advance
ment, progress and humanitarian OF
the present day. This very interest
| ing surprise included another, which
was qualified Endorsement of social
ism by Judge Saunders, who said ''if
there was any movement in keeping
with the teachings of Christianity it
was Socialism. Judge Saunders said
that while he did not indorse all the
principles of Socialism. the doctrines
contained many excellent principles,
and while its progress would be slow
society would adopt many of them
eventually. 'sTo me, " the judge said,
''the essence of Socialism is sound to
the core. 1t is the spirit of brother
hood. DR.. Warner also SAID some-
thing about Socialism; that it's de-
velopment was both alarming and en-
couraging and while it should not be
talked about it should be thought
about. Later in the evening, in his
reply to Judge Saunders, he said: az
thought | was saying good word for
Socialism,,
The debate was not upon the pro-
gramme exactly, but the interesting
talk of DR.. Warner was, and at it's
close, after the applause had subsid
ed, the presiding officer announced that
five-minute talks would be heard from
any one present. Several responded.
The chairman asked Judge Saunders
to say something.
1t was general surprise, and possi-
bly, shock to any illiberal persons
present, when the judge announced he
disagreed with what DIR. Warner said,
and announced he did not think Girls
tianity was responsible for all the
good in the world. While the i'm
promptu debate was an unlooked-for
surprise, it was by no means objec-
tionable, as many left the hall declar-
ing the meeting most interesting
one, and the chairman extended a
warm invitation to Judge Saunders to
come again.
DIR. WARMERS REMARKS
The remarks of DIR. Warner were
substantially as follows:
Christian civilization is an exact
term, but it does not imply perfection.
We are not in a perfect state; we
have not reached our ideals; but there
has been improvement from age to
age in the worlds history. Not only
have Christianity and her works been
pre-eminent since the time of Christ
in building up the world, but it has
reached point now when, due to this
past work, she is standing on higher
plane than ever before. Formerly we
endeavered to heal the results of evil,
to-day we endeaver to prevent evil.
The age of prevention is long way
in advance of the cure. The power of
Christianity works slowly through in
dividuals more than in masses. At the
time Rome was Christianized whole
tribes were driven into the church. A
change of life was forced upon them
that was gradually felt in their chill
dren. The difference between that
kind of conversion and the way that
Christianity ordinarily works by tax
ing hold of the Individual and making
him an instrument for good in the
community is the way Christ worked" ="
'ln the twentieth century Christian
ity has accomplised so much that if it
We're taken away you would find very
little left but rags and patches. The
mission of Christ was no more than
mere knowledge. Christianity has
been so useful that we do not recog-
nize its influence. The greatest work
Of civilization is that we care for the
sick and manned of life. The hospital
had its germ back in Judaism and in
Rome. The original idea of hospital
was simply to care for a guest. 1t
came into being about the end of the
fourth century and about the same
time that Christianity began to
flourish. There are many hospitals,
such as maintained by the State, that
might not be designated Christian in
the present sense of the word, but
every hospital is Christian institu-
ton. If Mohammedans set up hospi-
tai it would be Christian institution.
A Jewish hospital is Christian insti-
tuition, because Christianity taught us
to care for our felloW-man.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
''The core of all education is the
public school. This, also, is the gift
OF Christianity. | do not apologize
for the Dark Ages, so called. / would
rather call them the Middle Ages, but
in the Dark Ages books and learning
were preserved in the heart of Chris
tian churches and in the thirteenth CEN
tury began that idea of teaching
knowledge. Christian education dates
from the monastaries. Modern Chris
tianity is the child of the church.
There have, always been bodies of
Christians, particularly churches, that
misread Christianity. 1t was church
men who found the way to the spirit of
Christianity, who found fault at the
church when the church was at fault. "
RESULTS OF CHRISTIANITY:
DR.. Warner then referred to the
great uprising of public opinion a
short while since when the great in
surance scandals were exhibited to
kthe world. This great public protest
ne said was an evidence of the spirit
of Christianity.
Referring to lynchings, he said the
difference between lynchings in the
South and in the North was that in
many parts of the South lynching
were commended by large portion
of the population, while in the North
| lNnchinpa had occurred hut .r..Ll.a-