River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-12-22

u,
XIII, a.
This was a new idea that Jesus pro-
claimed to men. 1t was fruit that
ripened in the genial atmosphere which
he himself brought into the world.
This social consciousness or love for
others was a plant of slow growth.
The world had already arrived at
good age when it began to recognize
| this great principle.
Think for moment of the genesis
or evolution Of love. When we note
the difference between the ancient
time, when the tribe or clan was the
only bond between men, all outside
being considered enemies, and these
modern times when a peace confer
ence at The Hague unites the leading
nations of the earth, we can see that
great change has taken place in the
thoughts Of men and nations toward
each other. This is a creation far
greater than the physical worlds.
Something of the biologists sense
of time must be appreciated. Ages
and cons rather than years or even
centuries must be considered. The
impassioned reformer needs to be
trained to patience in his anticipation
of these best things.
It took nearly 100 years for this
country to insert the anti-slavery
clause, which Thomas Jefferson re-
jected, into the Declaration of Inde-
pendence. This star, not yet risen in
Washington's time, came to the hori-
zon on Lincoln's day.
The encroachment of the sea upon
the continent is not more steady and
resistless than the climbing Of the
masses of humanity into the prero-
gatives and favorable conditions once
monopolized by the few. Well fur
nished homes, with musical instru-
ments, higher education, amusements,
luxuries that once we're limited to the
rich and noble, are today becoming
the widespread heritage Of the COM
mon people.
One characteristic of President Nc
Kinleys administration was making
nearly hundred appointments from
the ranks of the laboring man.
The classes of intelligence, wealth
and leisure are no longer looking with
stoical Indifference upon the multi
tude in their pitiful ignorance, but
with sympathetic attention to the
causes which produce and the forces
which may change these unhappy con-
ditions. When all grades Of society
will begin to cooperate in raising
mankind to the highest possible level,
then 1t will be recognized that the
life is more than meat and the body
than raiment, and man will have gone
far in entering upon his universal
kingdom.
Christian socialism teaches that the
Individual cannot live unto himself,
and that the social individual is the
necessary unit of feeling A maximum
of relationship with every kind OF
peoples is the substance Of the true
individual.
What, then, do we mean by the
awakening of social consciousness
this love for our fellows? It means
that we are clearly awakening to the
tug of common life-the beat of it's
heart, the thunder of it's tread. Does
the mother recognize the tug of her
child, perhaps at the skirts Of her
dress, or as the little hand Wiggles
into hers by her side. The tug of
100000 coal miners, in their oppres-
sion and wronged conditionsi When
this common life of humanity, with it's
toll and sweat, became organized, the
tug could no longer be resisted. Self
Iish and materialistic capital, with its
greed, had to give way. SO must the
social consciousness in the right of
Iothers be compelled to come to stand
ards of justice and mutual rights.
There is the tug of 10000 children
from dusty, grimy, poorly ventilated
factories. Their cry is for freedom.
The cry is for better prenatal con-
lditions. Formation is more import
ant than reformation. Marriage laws
need reconstruction to prevent IRE
sponsible births of children. Children
entering life with such low vitality,
because of the vice or overworked
Ic Lnnot compete in the struggle of
life, and hence are thrown upon So
iciety as paupers or criminals.
| The tug of patriotism, how 1t pene-
trates and burrows into tNe soul.
Great life purposes are lafu aside.
Glad delights are exchanged for en-
,durance of pain. This is the tug OF
the nation for It's safety. So also
should the soul awaken to the univer-
sal cry of the race for freedom and
safety.
1t is to the interests of all sides
| that the readjustment Of the social
classes should come as a steady evo-
1utionary process rather than as a So
cial catastrophe. 1t is unchristian to
regard human life as a mere instru-
ment or chattel for the production of
i wealth.
Fraternal redemption can only come
when the brotherly idea is fully rec
| ognized. We have passed the age Of
heroes and institutions and have
come to the era of the people.
Well has Jesus said, "a new COM
mandment give I unto you, that ye
love one another" Jesus Christ, a
new circle, new center, a new at
mosphere is necessary. Now for a
| leavening. Let this new life sift into
every nook and crevice and corner of
| human life and human society. HE
that saith love God and loveth not