The Springfield herald., 1912-09-20

claim is often made that socialism is in
no way antagonistic to the Christian
religion: that, in fact, it'csnstitutes q
broader tand truer Interpretation of
Christianity than the one the Church
now holds. No doubt there are many
who believe this. But it may be quss-
toned whether they are sufficiently in
formed to speak with authority either
for socialism or for the Church.
While socialism may have some good
things in it, mainly borrowed from the
ethical teachings of Christianity, as a
system we fear it, and would lift up q
warning voice against it. The writer
of this article has long been of opinion
that socialism may prove to be the great
anti Christ system of the last days of
which,the Bible speaks so plainly. Anti
Christ means not only without Christ,
but against Christ. That socialism as
a system is both without Christ and a
sainst Christ we will show directly.
AS christian and \ lover lof the
Christian religion, we fear socialism,
First, because, in its complete and fin
ished form, it is a religion, and not
merely reform in politics .and exist
ing social conditions. Second, because
it is religion without God,-a god
less religion. Third, because it is a re-
ligion without .Christ,-a christless
religion.
In proof of these assertions, and to
show the utter opposition of socialism
to Christianity, we select some quota
tions from socialist authorities, (which
appear in brief article on socialism in
the Central Christian Advocate. If we
wish to know what socialism is, then
we must recur to the writings of social
ist authorities, They speak for them
selves. We may ask the socialists
themselves what their attitude is to-
wards Christianity and Christian the
ism.
Mr.. John Spare, perhaps the leading
American socialist, wrote in the COM
rade, May, 1903; "How often do we see
qyoted. in our own press, from the En-
Hcyclopedia Brittanica, that familiar fsl-
lacy that the ethics of Chrislianity and
Socialism are identical. 1t is not true:
we do not ourselves, in most cases, be-
lieve it, We repeat it because it ap-
peals to the slave-mind Of the world. 1t
is easier to act than to affirm, what in
our very souls we feel to be true, that
socialism, as an ethical Interpretation
of life, is far removed from Christi
anity; of infinitely greater beauty and
worth. Socialism Christianized
would :be Socialism emasculated and
destroyed"
Wilhelm .Liebknecht, the acknowl-
edged leader in Germany; in Materialist
liasis of History, says: "It is our duty
as Socialists to root out the faith in
God with all our zeal, nor is anyone
worthy OF the name who does not con-
secrate himself to the spread, of
atheism :"
Joseph Leatham, in Socialism and
Character, says: AT the present mo-
ment cannot remember IA. single in
stance of person who is .at one and
the same tine a really earnest and in
telligent Socialist and an orthodox
Christian. Those who do not openly
attack the Church and the fabric of
Christianity show but scant respect to
either the one or the other in private
-. While all of us are Indifferent to
the Church, many of us are frankly hos
tile to her.,
Socialism S attitude towards the fam
lily, an institution sacred in the Chris
tian religion, may be seen from the two
following authorities:
BaX, an English socialist authority,
in his Religion o: Socialism, says: eve
defy any human being to point to a
single reality, good or bad. in the com
position of the family. 1t has tile merits
Of being the most perfect specimen of
sham that History has re-
served to the wcrld.'
Gngel declares that "the marriage of
one man and enc woman will disappear
Wnder socialism) and sFree Love will
reigr'
In the face of the above statements,
it is TO be wondered why socialists mar
ry and rear families. Also it Is a sig
nificant commentary on such doctrines
that two of the principal American eX-
Founders of socialstic doctrines should
have deserted their wives to live with
Converts to their theories, thus leav-
ing trail of suffering and perfidity be-
hind them. And the father of Socialism,
Karl Marx, had it brought home to him
in poignant way when his star pupil
deserted Marx daughter, with whom
he had been living as his common-iaw
wife, to marry another woman. Verify
they went out ito practice what they
had been taught.
The writer once attended the funeral
of man who had been jealous social
list. The funeral service was conducted
by brother socialist. He was gifted
man and well informed on socialism.
AS we remember his remarks, among |
other things, he said, in substance: /
Socialists dc not confine their labors to