The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-06
When the Church Tried Socialism.

February s-''Trus and False BrO;hsrhood.' - Acts.
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The big question Of the present hour Is
socialism; perhaps not Socialism spelled
with a big 5. but the spirit OF socialism
which IS one with the spirit of brother
hood. There are OF every hand signif-
cant evidences that the ideal OF human
society dominated By laws OF helpfulness
and aItruism has gained a tremendous
hold upon the leaders OF present-d2y
thought So powerful IS this current With
in the churches that considerable body
Of clergymen have even gone over 70 the
political SOcialistic organization. Dis
corning leaders Of the church perceive
that this living issue must be net and
pioneered by Christianity.
For in its beginning the Christian
church. as we have it set forth in the
present Sunday school lesson, was the
most perfect communists organization
ever recorded Il was veritable Utopia;
IN simpieness, 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 70
have been no legislation on the subject
and no ecclesiastical ruling. but al were
animated By the one spirit. so that there
we're among them no poor. for the rich
voluntarily shared their possessions with
their brethren
TIE REAL GOLDEN AGE.
The picture IS one OF which the reader
quickly becomes enamoured- The sim
plicity and beauty OF this social life. the
absence Of selfish ambitions and all de-
sire TO excel. the lack Of ostentation. and
the manifest aI-pervasive spirit OF
brotherhood. were really a practical full
hllment Of the teachings and example OF
Jesus. This was indeed the golden age
come 10 earth IN reality
At the present moment there are under
wav on this continent and elsewhere eX-
periments IN communism which are en-
beavers to reproduce the practical social
ism OF the early church Fine-spirited
men and women turn with repugnance
from the greed and rivalry and cruel
selfshness and hideOus inJusuces and IN
eGualities OF our modern social OrganiZa-
ton and try 10 live as brethren should
live. Probably experiments OF this sort
will continue for generations 70 come, as
they have continued for generations past
Alas, that most Of them should fail so
ignominseuslyi
THE SERPENT N THE GARDEN.
The reason our modern Utopias go 10
smash is that human nature is so human.
Even the idyllic community at Jerusalem
had It's ananias and SapphiTa. who. Ike
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,
bus who were not willing TO make the
necessary sacrifice. Thus early did they
furnish the church with her first hypO-
critics Human nature is instinctively
selfish. Gre does not have 70 travel 70
the ruthless conditions OF heathendOm
10 find this. The nearest bargain counter,
or street car, OF restaurant. or public Ell
tertainment VIII reveal the same disre-
gard for the rights OF ones fellows in a
mad endeav0r 70 serve self first The
serpent. with his law, Look ont for
number one, was in the Garden OF Eden,
and Ananias and Sapphira, ruled by the
same law. were in the early church
Il would seem as II the hyPOCrite we're
an anomaly Why should a man 20 to
such troublesome lengths 20 pretend 70 a
pietv which he does not pOsSess7 Why
cloak wiekedness by outward religious
ness? Would II not be more comfortable
openly 70 Join the company Of seekers
after pleasure. whatever the sin involved
Why should Ananias and Sapphira have
gone through the pretense OF giving the
price Of their lands 10 the apostles for
the benefit OF the community. all the
while holding back a part for themselves
Why should the Pharisee pray ostenta-
tiously in public places and do deeds OF
darkness in his inner Officer Is not this
an eternal tribute that wrong pays to
right? Is Il not again p case Of Satan
borrowing heavens Iivery2 The instinct
i've sense OF the superiority Of virtue is in
every mans heart. He knows that good
ness Is the supreme thing. and therefore
he goes 10 such extraordinary lengths TO
secure at least its outward seeming.
GREED IN RELIGION.
Two motives seem 20 have UndeTlsid
the conduct OF Ananias and SapphIra-
They loved praise. When big-hearted
Barnabas sold his farm and turned the
proceeds over TO the church. everybody
spoke in admiration OF the act. and a
warm glow Of affectionate esteem bathed
Rarnabas Ananias and Sapphira covet-
ed the same distinction. They wanted q
be first among brothers and 10 be known
as eXcelllng IN virtue. a distorted love
o. praise VIII lead anybody TO extraordi-
nary and even criminal conduct The
apish conduct and garb OF persons whom
one occasionally sees upon the street
surpassing the extremes Of fashion. usu-
ally has its spring in this ancient and IN
eradicable human sentiment, the love o.
distinction.
Unloveiy as the truth Is. II must be sd-
mitted that many persons love money
FOR itself The spirit Of greed dwellS
deeply in their hearts. It is their master
motive. Because OF love Of money they
VIII. as each days newspaper testfies
violate TIE most sacred trusts, prove rec
reant to sIl the claims OF blood and hon
OF. and yield 70 a vulpine selfshness IL
Rheir dealings with their feIlOW-sneR
The spirit Of greed which revealed itself
in the early church. in the conduct Of
Ananias and Sapphira, has not long beer
absent therefrOm A few weeks ago
sweeping accusations were brought
against many Of the leading professional
eVangelists OF the country by Mr.. VIII
lam Moody. the son OF the great evan
gelist, Dwight L. Moody. His charges
were comprehended n the two specifca-
tons Of sensationalisrn and commercial
Ism. He definitely declared that some
men engage Ia the vocation OF soul-win-
ming from love Of money. and that their