Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1912-12-26

| IN our modern civilization to-
ward neighborliness. Individ-
ualism is losing out. A gen
uine socialism Is emerging. Men
are getting to be a little more
considerable OF one another There Is
more of disposition to think In terms
of unity and fraternity. The, old or
der is changing. The progress may be
slow, but 1t is real.
/ True. our friend, the pessimist, rises
to remark that the progress toward
q real brotherliness is practically Inn
perceptible He rnises questions that
seem to Indicate that the movement
is backward, not forward. Is not the
most marked feature of our day rs or
| ganized selfishness?
But for all the questions of our pes
simist friend and despite the prima
| facie case he may seem to have es-
tablished. taking a comprehensive
| view and comparing decade with dec
ade, 1t is altogether certain that we
have made a big advance toward
more social and fraternal organization
of society. AS indicating the advance
| made:
Witness the splendid and far-reach-
| ing organizations for social service, for
relieving oppressive conditions, for
| helping the least fortunate to make
the most for his right to life and lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness.
Witness the consideration that Is
given to the demands of the great in
~ <.Jo In.
| fiuence that class is welding In poll
tics and on legislation, the distinct
gain that class has shown in independ-
ence, confidence, and self-respect. the
growing disposition to give hand-work-
ers equal respect and recognition with
brain-workers and the aristocracy OF
| wealth.
Many Things Show Trend.
Witness the great body of legisla-
ton in recent years looking to the pro-
lection and welfare Of the toilers, look
ing to public health looking to the
rights of women and children. looking
to social justice and "the square deaI'
for every man,
And not to speak of other things,
witness the new social emphasis in the
work and message of the church. That
emphasis is very marked these days in
the utterances OF the pulpit. The old
individualistic gospel. that was con-
cerned only about the relations of the
soul to God and Indifferent to the re-
lations of men In society, Is giving
away. The message Is becoming broad
er. While not putting any less en-
phasis on the Importance Of each soul
getting right with God. preachers are
putting more emphasis on the duty OF
men to live too ether in society as
brothers. in the spirit of the Golden
rule. The pulpit is coming more to
concern itself with the external con-
ditfons which do SO much either to
help or hinder spiritual growth.
The social emphasis in religion
means that the church is getting back
closer to the spirit and method of
Jesus. Christ was always working
toward kingdom wherein righteous
ness and fairness and brotherliness
and mutual goodwill should bind men
together in an ideal social order. And
with this end In view the Master was
always relieving distress, healing dis
eases, Tightening burdens, sympathiz-
ing with misfortune, breaking shack
les and delivering captives. driving
away malignant and tormenting de-
mons. and ministering to the physical
welfare In order to promote the spir-
ituaI. 4
Position of the Church.
But this is the question we wish to
raise: Has the church lent herself suf-
ficiently to this new social emphasis?
A recent writer has asserted that the
church always suffers in times of So
ciai upheaval because she is SO slow
to adjust herself to the changing needs
OF the people, because she is constitu-
tiona1ly conservative. and because she
is in such large measure dependent son
| certain rather comfortable and we'll
favored classes OF society. For reasons
like these, 1t is asserted. there has
come to be a distinct breach between
the church and the working people.
How much of truth is there in these
assertions we leave our readers to
Judge for themselves. We want to as
sert our belief that the church can
not afford to neglect the social mes
sage, that she must concern herself
with the social and economic and in
iustrial conditions The gospel of
brotherliness must be persistently
i preached. And all the mighty, infiu-
ence Of the church must be directed
| toward breaking down organized sell
fishness and vested privilege and every
unsocial form of business and political
and Industrial organization The
United Presbyterian.
treAl. llQ s;s
Joy In Serving.