The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-03-06
OF CHURCH '' =.
TO MODERN SOCIALISM
Church Cannot Afford to B.
Sponsor for Socialism or
Glass Consciousness.
Seventh of a Series of Contribu.
tions by, the Rev. Charles
StelZle.

Suppose, for the sake of argument,
that socialism would bring about all
that is claimed for it by it's most ard
ent advocates. Does anyone who has
studied history imagine for a moment
that our solution of the social prob
lem will esatisfac Glory to the next
generation? It does not matter how
high our ideals may be nor how per-
feet our systematic ideals and So
lutions for our day will be laughed
at fifty years hence, just as we smile
i--aye and are, ashamed-of the social
and economic system of fifty years
iago, when the system Of slavery was
quite generally accepted even among
the very best and most sincere peo-
pie Of the times. So thoroughly did
they believe in it that it was one Of
the. occasions Of the greatest civil
wars in history. But who is there to-
day that believes that any man, no
matter who he may be, has. a right
to enslave his fellowmen. It is true
that even some of the churches be-
lieved 1t fifty years ago, and no one
enjoys reminding us of this more to-
day than does the socialist, even
Though he would have us repeat the
mistake Of advocating a social system
which future generations will declare
obsolete, if not worse.
Socialism Not tho Ultimate. ="
It is quite generally admitted even
by the socialists that socialism is not
the ultimate ideal toward which we
should strive. Many of the best in
formed among them say that social
ism is simply step toward philoso-
phical anarchy, a system which would
completely annihilate the law, and
which today frankly declares that the
law is the source of all evil-stand-
ing at the opposite extreme of social
ism, which would apply the law to
society in all of it's ramifications. If
socialism is to be discarded and some
thing better is to take it's place some =
time in the future, why SHOULD the
church stop short Of anything that
lis not the highest and best? Why
should it not stand for certain funda-
mental principles which are applica-
BILE to society in every generation and
which were taught by Jesus Christ
himself? THESE principles are eternal
and it is for these, that the church
must ever contend.
Ideals Constantly Advancing.
When the socialists have been &C
cused Of preaching "c1ass conscious
ness for instance. they tell us that
they: preach this doctrine in order to
wipe out ait class consciousness among
men, - so that they: ma yassure the
reign Of the spirit Of brotherhood. But
why: should the church =preacn class
consciousness in order to bring about
the high ideal for which tits contend1
ing? $. is. it, not. ;bettenx toss:astrike at
once for: the ultimate -ideal,> toward
which we all .profes~ to be aiming?
Every man knows that his. ideals are
constantly adyancingt* When, he each-
ess the ideal Of former days, all eady
his conception of what: he. ought to
be has gone. far beyond. Indeed, we
will never, reach our best aspirations
in this life. No matter how advanced
our progress in this generation we
cannot .legislate for the next. The
labor question will not afford to be
sponsor for any system which may
embarrass future generations, both
inside and outside Of the church.