The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-24
RELIGION AND
SOCIALISM
IS DISCUSSED
w. 3. ALLEN DE-
LIvERs ABLE DISCOURSE ON
THIS SUBJECT AND SAYS THE
PSYCHOLOGICAL MOMENT HAS
ARRIVED WHEN THE CHURCH
SHOULD AWAKE TO HER RE-
SPoNsIBlLITY.

ter 1, verses 51-53. Rev. William B. AL
len, NJ. A, rector of st. Katharine's,
delivered an able discourse on the
theme Religion and Socialism" The
speaker dwelt at length upon the
considering what is the proper duty
of the church toward socialism and
the vital questions which affect the
world today.
He pointed cut that the psychological
moment had arrived when the church
should awake to her responsibility and
leadership in the onward sweep of
socialism. The laity, he said, n
looked upon to do this work, but that
the clergy should be ready to assist
the lafty in the active effort along the
lines Of true Christian socialism.
One of the special tasks Of our
generation is the work of wedding
Christianity and the social service
movement" he said. "They are d.
vorced now. The majority of church
members are ignorant, and Indifferent
to the social movement, and some are
suspicious of it, and prejudiced. My
friends, there is no need of ignorance
and suspicion along this line.
Let US read the sign of the times;
let us put time, thought and study into
1t, overhauling If necessary all the de-
partments, of our thought, and work
out that social Christianity which
will be UNNECESSARILY more powerful
and more valuable to the world than
either an unsocial Christianity or an
unchristian socialism"
Archdeacon Allen closed his dis
course by pointing out that Christ was
a social reformer and a statesman of
everlasting equity.
His sermon in full was as follows:
He hath showed strength with his
arm; he hath scattered the proud in
the Imagination of their hearts. He
hath put down the mighty from their
seats, and exalted them Of low de-
gree. He hath filled the hungry with
good things; and the rich he hath sent
empty away"
bly, and very opportunity the necessity
Of seriously considering within your
selves what your conception OF the
duty of the church towards socialism
and many questions-vital questions
of the present time which may rightly
be grouped as secular, and almost al
ways recognized as moral; but which
does not appeal as coming into the
more spiritual province which It is the
immensely recognized duty Of the
church to cultivate. The psychological
moment has arrived when the church
must awake to her responsibility and
leadership In the onward sweep OF
socialism and social questions. It Is a
subject demanding our serious and
thoughtful consideration. The duty OF
the church towards the social prob
lens Of our or any other time is a
tremendously big one. 1t is a wonder
fully big field for our activity in fur
therfng the work Of the church and
the kingdom of God. The church looks
to her laity for the practical ordering
OF details, OF finance, of effective de-
velopment of sound principles, and
meeting, and solving in a Christ like
spirit the great social problems of to-
day. We wpuld not throw all the bur-
den and responsibility upon the laity
the clergy must take their part and
be much interested and bring all the
influence they possess to support the
iaity in active effort along the lines
OF true Christian socialism. II the
clergy claim to be leaders and guides
OF thought, It Is for them, in all ways
that are possible, to urge consideration
on the public or social questions and
to be able to hold the balance of pro-
portion between Justice and extrava-
CANT unreasonableness.
What can limit the duty and inter-
est of the church with regard to the
social and economic problems Of the
day, or with anything which concerns
the WELL being of the community al
large, the interests OF all classes, but
more particularly the interest and
well-being Of our poorer brethren?
1t would be supeTf1uous to labor TO
prove her paramount duty in respect
to the elevation of the spiritual we'll
being of men. This is, of course, the
very core of her mission. and the SUI
preme trust committed to her by her
Head and Master. It Is not outside
the church's particular function to be
deeply interested and concerned about
matters which bear upon the material
and physical wsll-being of the
The church must take a foremost
part in the consideration of the tust
principles Of the brotherhood of man.
kind.
L. The recognition, incubation and
application of certain Christian princi-
pies, OF which l beg to offer the fol-
lowing: (a) The principle of broth
erhood-that men are members one OF
another and should act in all relations
OF life as a constant counterpoise To
the instincts of competition.
CD The principle Of labor-the Will
fully idle man or the man who lives
only for himself are out OF place in a
Christian community.
(c) The principles OF justice-God
is no respecter Of persons. The So
cial order cannot ignore the interests
or any Of its parts. and must, more
over, be tested by the degree in which
II secures for each, freedom for happy
useful and untrammelled life. and dis
tributing. as widely and equitabiy as
it may be, social advantages and OPP
portunities.
ODD The principle Of public respon-
sibility-a Christian community as q
whole is morally responsible for the
character Of its own economic and So
cial order.
2. Christian opinion should bt
awake to repudiate and condemn
either open breaches Of social justice
and duty or and principles of I'M
christian character.
The great need OF the church in this
connection is the growth and ex-
tension of serious, intelligent and
sympathetic opinion on these CUES
lions to which an extremely few
Christians have ever given a thought
Of applying Christian principles.
We are bound-compelled to recog-
| nige the duty. privileg and &AEA cab