New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-29
DEMOCRACY

UCWUCnRC
The Moral Aspects Of Some OF
It's Problems.
The recurrent problems involved In the
application Of. Christian principle to con-
ditions Of the present day are considered
by the Rev. Percy S. Grant in Socialism
and Christianity" Brentanos), by DR..
Lyman Abbott in THE Spirit Of Democ-
racy" (The Houghton Mifflin Company
and by the Rev. Frank Ilsley Paradise
in "The Church and the Individual
NIoffatt. Yard & Coz. Looking upon
socialism from the outside, Mr. Grant
sees in the zeal of its advocates an ethi-
cal purpose that outstrips in worth the
economic programme espoused, and he
feels strongly the responsibility devolv-
ing on the churches to meet and coop
crate with this moral enthusiasm. The
position Of the clergyman as mediator
among classes is favored one. He has
lived among the poor and known their
difficulties; he has lived among the rich
and understands their way Of looking al
things. HE knows the poor better than
the rich do, and the rich better than the
moor do. He has. moreover. dedi-
Gated himself to a profession that pre-
cludes the prizes Of wealth or Of political
influence. His knowledge Of classes,
then, is broad and deep. while his atti-
tude is unprecedented
DR.. Lyman Abbott finds in democracy
not only a political opinion but relig-
ious faith. 1t Is a spirit which, so far as
a spirit can be embodied in a creed may
be expressed by the statement that not
only government, but wealth, education,
art, literature. religion-in a single word,
life-is, in the divine order, intended for
the people, and in the ultimate state Of
society will be controlled and admin
istered by the people"
Offering an Interpretation Of the
Church as q social organization set into
new order Of things, Mr. Paradise asks
for definitions so catholic that the
Church may not be thought OF az con-
sisting simply of those who see and
think alike at particular moment, but
rather as consisting Of the innumerable
band OF those who in countless ways
have in their generations borne witness
to the always expanding revelation Of
God. Originally adjusted TO another
form of society and government, the
Church is not fixed by conditions to any
moment OF history, either IN its formu-
laries or polity Ideally it is the organ
ism in which all human interests are
synthesized and by which they are
spiritually interpreted. Mr.. Paradise re-
ours TO Mr. L. p. Jacks's description of
the Church as destined to embrace "the
whole Of human society organized for
the spiritual ends Of man." phrase that
happily sets off the point Of view Of our
three authors.
Not long ago Mr. Harold Begbe was
giving us in Twice Born Men" a divert
ing account of transformations OF char
acter effected among denlzens Of the
East End Of London. There was the
youth, Danny, who turned from his voca-
ton Of general thief and copper basher"
and became an engaging figure at the
Salvation Army meetings, cured Of his
weakness for taking things, and cleansed
Of his old ambition TO bruise the face Of
whatever bobby might come within his
field Of vision. Impressive as il was to
learn how Danny and many another
tight handful" was led into newness Of
life the narrative with its vivid setting
tended to encourage the notion that con-
version is an experience open only 10 the
inferior portion Of humanity. This Is an
impression fully corrected in Mr. Beg
bios second study Of the phenomena of
regeneration, Souls in Action" Q9oddcr
& StouChton Here we are told Of per-
sons in ordinary life yielding to some
peccadillo that opens the way for dcs-
potic and baleful habit and Of their be-
ing brought back from degradation TO
self-rcspcct through reliance on power
beyond their own. The sketches arc all
from the life, and the people described
have at some time been associated with
the West London Mission. OF these
workers, who meet every Sunday in the
I.vceum Theatre. Mr.. Begbie speaks with
deep admiration. lie finds them like an
army forcible with the hardhood of act
ual service, their battle song such as
that Of William Blake's:
/ will not cease from mental fight,
.L.,fl ~ clio in u "a md
Till We have built Jerusalem
in England's green and pleasant land.