The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-25
DR. CRAFT TAKES ISSUE WITH THE
 SOCIALISTS HERE
In Answer to Questions
 Anent the Coming of Min-
 ister Who Resigned Pas r. torate.

Declaring that the Socia. .jsts vio- "brotherhood'' in their bitter antag- onism to all who disagree with them, the Rev. F.. J. Craft, rector of Christ Episcopal church of this city, has re- pied to a communication of the Sec ialists, asking him to state his views concerning the actions of the Meri- den minister, the Rev. Dubois H. Loux who resigned his pastorate on the ground that the church is cater ing to the rich. f.-,
 Dr. Loux will speak here at the Empire theatre. Sunday night and a large number of local -clergymen will attend: The Socialists, letter and pr. Crafts answer to it is as follows:
 My Dear Sir:-s
 Permit us to inquire of you as a Christian minister possessed of cer- tain opportunities denied the avera ge man for observing social conditions and religious tendencies, owing to your standing in the community, and your influence thereon, if you would be kind enough to give your opinion as to the following:
 F1rst-If you scame-lto the conclu- sion that certain acts for the better ment Of mankind could only be rea- lized through political action to what extent would you deem it proper for a pastor to enlighten his congrega- tion upon such matters?
 Second-To what degree do you think Dr. Loux, pastor of the Gen. tral Congregational church of Meri- den was Justified in saying that the true principles of Christianity were more firmly bound up in the teach ings cf modern Socialism than in the present day church?
 hi ir1- hot <3o T. tieve the ethics of modern Socialism parallel CT diverge from those of modern Christianity? As these ques- tions are now uppern,ost in the minds of the masses We would esteem it q great favor. if you would offer us some enlightenment thereon.
 Respectfully submitted,
 ORRIN WINTON,
 Bridgeport March 22nd, 1911. Mir Orrin Winton:
 Dear Sir: s:. a;@ ':.
 Tine questions you ask need careful
 To the first I would say:
 That all men are socialists. All desire the upliftment of the masses as against the abnormal prosperity Of class. That is the gospel which is being preached in every church. On that basic principle, all the ethical ecdC1tkikSS tI tue CHoiCA Is IO0AuCu All Christian people are agreed on that. For that principle the church exists. But when we come to the method by which that principle is to be further, perfected ilr society, there is room for wide difference of opin- ion. One man may be an anarchist and believe that the end to be reach eH can be secured oniy by the princi- ples of anarchy.
 We have a Bishop in our church who believes that Single Tax" vii! assure the millennium. There are plenty Of socialists who believe that the end can be accomplished through Christian Socialists' who believe that when human nature is regenerat- ed, etc. Still others who. believe Tn the evolutionary. theory. We have all these shades of opinion in the churches. Suppose that the church What movement? How would the socialists like to have a single tax ad Yocate preach to them? How fwoult they like to have a: man with suct political opinions declare that T single tax was concentrated all the gospel of Christ? The church wa: organized to perpetuate principles, Ec was the SociaEstic party. They would not like. to give their platform to the anarchist, though he may have the same end in view. They would be justified in refusing.
 It is the duty of pastor not tC present "his view" but the principles of religions and morals. As to meth eds of enforcing those principles, il is as likely that the man in the pew will know as much as he. The brains of the world are not all contained un. der a clerical hat.
 It is a serious mistake to regard tha. ,.h a y,ytor,1e, a.. S n. thought. It never has been ant never will be. The church is made up of people, and the intellect of the church will be the intellect of the people, slow to grasp new ideas a11c slow to change. - .A.zs.F ' may have new thoughts, but as . bcdy the church cannot be looked te for leadership. It will accept as II has scientific truth. that which has been demonstrated. I :. would no, deem it my business to enlighten my congregation on p2y opinions. There are newspapers. magazines and lee. ture platforms for that purpose.
 Second: I do not think that Dr Loux is right at all, either in his treatment of his. church. or in the sta tement he makes. Without thu church l doubt # there would have been any socialism. From the teach. ings of. Jesus political socialism drew it's spirit. The church makes an: ever will make that spirit possible. E. Strictly speaking, the spirit of thu .socialist q meaning political social. sist13 in it's injustice and harshness to. ward those who differ from him, dee: not reflect with equality the brother. hood of man as .ihe church declare. it. I read one of the party's organs The bitterness and tired of the cap. itals as a man could not be more un. christian or unwise. There is no fair. ness. The capitalist is man. just like other men. He can do no more thar other men to change conditions His motives are no better and Just as good as the man who works foi him. He is as helpless under the economic system as the worker He neither made nor maintains the pres. ent economic system. Wages are just as much a part of the system as profits. The wage worker may as we'll be expected to give up wages fs thes capitalist profits. The motive o1 the worker is just the same and he is just as much responsible for the perpetuarion of the system. In his