The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1912-11-22

III ia true that there are bad men,
who live impure and mwholesomo
lives. but that ia no argument for con
demning Socialism. II we accepted
this as an argument we would be fore.
ed TO condemn Christianity itself
"rho thing we must look TO Ia the
principle of the movement and not
the character of the men in the move
ment"
Father Ross also held that the fact
that those in authority were opposed
to the Socialist movement did not con
demn Il for Christ Himself had been
opposed by the leaders of His time.
ut is also argued against Socialism
that Il viii overthrow the present state
of society.
"This is absolutely true. But let us
consider the present state of so
ciety such as to develop all the good
there is i'm man, does II give him an
that his Creator intended, does It bring
Justice. or does It not rather foster
injustice?
ut is said that Socialism means
many things 1t is a fact that the
name is applied to many movements,
from mild efforts at social reform to
the theory which advocates direct ac-
ton. the destruction of the present So
cial state by violence If need be to
make place for the new.
"But the fundamental principle on
which all Socialists agree is that So
cialism is a movement to bring about
condition where the people as a
whole own the tools of production and
distribution.
"This is the essential thing. Along
with his men build up different the
cries. However, the differences are in
the non-essentials, the fundamental
principles they all agree on. The
thing for us to determine is wheth-
err or not this thing will bring about
condition more favorable to Chris
tian life than that of the present day.
If so, it is our duty to do all in our
power to further this movement"
Father Ross told of his investiga-
lions while in New York city this
summer, of the great organizations
which had been built up to alleviate
the misery of the poor in that citl.
when I asked the workers in these
organizations what they thought of So
cialism l found that the great majority
of them believed in it. They believe
it to be the only solution of the ter
rible conditions now existing. The con-
census of opinion among the workers
who come in actual contact with these
conditions is that the coming of So
cialist state will remedy these condi'
tions.
Must Face Socialism
1--WE as Christians must face these
facts. If Christ were living today
among men as He did once, would He
not take an interest in these matters?
'If we have read the Gospels, we
know that he would.
"The charge is made by Socialists
that organized Christianity is against
them because it is largely supported
by the rich, those who pile up Wealth
at the expense of the poor. They say
that it doles out charity instead of
justice.
"This is sometimes fearfully true.
But the church as a whole does not
tolerate injustice. 1t is the fault of
individuals that this condition exists,
not that of the organization as whole
after a study of this question l
have reached the conclusion that it is
the duty of the man who believes in
the Eternal God and the All Merciful
Christ to stand out on the firing line
and fight for the cause of the work
ing people.
"This question deserves your con-
sideration and it is possible that after
a study of this greater worldwide
movement, which is an attempt to
bring order out of chaos, that you will
reach the conclusion that instead of
being antagonistic to Christianity it
is the ray of hope shining down into
the present darkness, and that it will
hasten rather than retard the coming
of the Kingdom of the Compassionate
Christ. Chicago World.