Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-10-30
UNCLE TOMS LETTER

Some folks believe Socialism is dead.
Not by jugful. It is the livest thing
in the world. Did you know that the
Socialists are power in the church,
Have you read the report from the
Southampton Episcopal Congress If
you have, you know the social prob
lens were discussed by Philip Snow
den, leading Socialist member of
Parliament, and also by the Rev. Con-
rad Noel, prominent member OF the
Christian Socialist League, and other
great speakers.
Our Protestant Episcopal brothers
are very catholic in spirit and the
church is reawakening to the social
conscience. We are looking for na-
tion to be born to the principle in a
day as foretold. We've known for a
long time the Episcopalian people had
more of the Socialistic spirit than any
other class Of christians On earth ex-
cept the Christian Congregationalist
Socialists themselves. Some people
believe Socialism is religion. Well,
what if it is7 Does that lessen its
power and influence? What is the key
note of religion? Is it not "Thy will
be done on earth as it is in heaven" :"
Then, in studying the will of God, we
fiud it all means just about this:
Love God and thy brother. l don
think religion of human brotherhood
is enough, but think it must recog
nize the fatherhood of God. A Social
ist who denies God may be Social
ist, and may also be lover of man
but his Socialism is not a religion
Yet we are commanded to love oui
neighbor as ourselves.
r. am a Christian Congregationalis
Socialist and the best teacher on th'
Socialist doctrine can get is the Bi
bic. Socialism may be a passion fo
humanity now, but the real Socialism
! of the future will be Socialism il
Gods name. Therefore | am no
afraid that Socialism will destroy an,
mans religion that is real and genu
inc, but it will cripple this narro'
selfish stuff 80 prevalent around us
and we all know no church is doin
what it is commanded to do and be
cause we socialists sometimes CRITICS
them for not looking after the poor G
their particular church we are charge
as being enemies of the church. Why
bless your hearts, friends, all we chri:
! tian Socialists want is for men an
women to live their religion and pre-
. vide for aud help their own house
{ holds, which they are not doing
Plenty of poor in your own church
btoGher, you could help and ought t
help, but do you do it. | am nc
fighting our Episcopalian people for
am proud to note they are wide awak
! along the line of doing something
They have the cooperative spirit an
are doing much to educate and pre-
vide for the poor and the children
i the poor. We Socialists don't preac
\ discriminative doctrines, spirituall
or morally. We want to lift the who
human family to one high commo
level, and we can't see for our Iii
/ how men can claim to be christian
Y and set aside the two great commant
y ments.
Some of the worst oppressors OF II
bor are church members. Just whi
4 they base their religion on is puzz
to me. Why, they are so autocrat
q and despotic toward their employs
D they won't allow them to organize
d do anything to better their condition
4 Imust confess / don't understar
4 upon what hope such oppressors expe
. to enter heaven. Merely belonging
d a church will not save such men. 4
II a Socialist my religion is to help me
y and when / go to the ballot box wal
n to vote with that end in view. \
u Democrat or Republican can be wh
y be ought to be in the sight OF God al
Y vote to perpetuate system OF goyerl
,5 ment that makes it possible for fe
n men to oppress the many. aud that
Y exactly ~ hat is being done at the pre-