St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-12-08
THE SOCIAL GOSPEL
address given at the State Confer
ence, Barre, May 10. 1915, by Rev.
Roy NJ. Houghton, Brattleboro.1


ence, Barre, May IS. 1915, by Rev.
Roy NJ. Houghton, Brattleboro.l
(From The Vermont Missionary
Ideas rule this world. When an
epoch of history is completed and the
curtains are drawn aside we behold in
bold relief a dominant idea. But this
idea was powerless until it incarnated
itself. The abstract principle was as
ineffective as scattered clouds of
steam but having embodied itself in
/ a moral being it became irresistible.
II Columbus possessed of the idea that
he could reach India by sailing west
/ ward gave to the world a new CONT
nent. Luther, embOdyfng the idea of
i religious freedom, gave to the world
| a free church. Abraham Lincoln, in
carnating the idea of brotherhood, in
augurated a worldwide movement for
common rights.
This idea of brotherhood. of social
/ justice and righteousness has been the
energizing force of social progress.
from the dawn of civilization. From
the beginning of historic time there
forces, class privilege and common
rights. Abel, personifying the one, is
willing to share the best he has, while
Cain, representing the other, will take
even the life of his brother, that he
may possess the earth. And every
forward step in the onward march of
the human race from that time to this
has been crowned by the triumph of
this eternal principle. which says, Il
am my brothers keeper"
In the beginning of the sixteenth
century we behold these forces in one
of their crucial conflicts. The pope,
embodying the one, has made of the
church an institution of avarice, op-
preston, extortion. Luther, personi-
flying the other, denies the authority
of the pope and publicly burns his
edicts. The struggle was long and
fierce; it's results far-reaching. But
the ultimate triumph of right led the
church out of its night of ever-deep-
ening darkness into a day of increas-
ing light.
And what the reformation was to
the church, the French revolution was
to politics. Here again are the same
gigantic forces measuring strength in
pivotal contest. The one, proclaim
ing the Divine right of kings, says, 81
am the state" The other, proclaim
ing the common right of humanity,
says, you have no rights which do
not belong to u.s." The common peo-|
pie met face to face in deadly conflict
with royal despotism and class privi-
lege. The clash shook the world.
But when at length the power of the
king was overthrown, and the voice
of the people was heard, there was
opened to humanity a way of progress
that had long been closed. Although
defeated in this struggle, the forces
of injustice were not conquered and
they quietly gathered strength for
another contest The civil war was
the result. Justice, championed by
Abraham Lincoln. again triumphed
and by the emancipation proclama-
ton slavery received it's death blow.
But Lincoln was not simply the lib
orator of the American slave. Through
the victory here won a great wave of
enthusiasm for common rights was
set in motion. Soon Brazil and Cuba
were freed from the curse of slavery;
Russia witnessed the abolition of serf-
dom, and the French Republic was
set upon an enduring foundation. That
billow has not once receded, but has
gathered strength as it rolled along.
1t moves, today, and the Titanic power
of it's influence as it takes hold of hu-
mainly is Transforming society. Wei
look about and on every side behold
it's manifestations. Charitable insti-
tutions are increasing in mum ers;
men and women are giving their lives
to the service of the poor and needy; |
millions of dollars are being spent an
nually in the cause of humanity. and
the basis of all this is the principle of
common brotherhood. Society cares
less and less for works of artistic fin
ish, and more and more for books
filed with enthusiasm for men," To-
do hof &c f.
est who sacrifices most for humanity.
Florence Nightingale, Frances Will
lard, Mrs. Maud Ballington Booth are
among the worlds famous women, and
their lives were giving to the service
of the despised and unbefriended
classes. The passion of Lord Shaft |
bury's life was to search out the poor
and neglected and to minister unto
them. Yet Mr.. Gladstone said of
him: 1.-The safety of our country is
not in law or legislators, but in Chris
tan gentlemen like unto Lord Shafts
bury"
If then we read history Alright, what
m essage has it for us Of today? If
all progress of civilization has been
due to the triumph of humanitarian
principles how are we to make our
lives COUNT. The way is evident
OuT OuIy anu our opportunity lie
clearly before us. The world is rising
above selfshness and greed. Despot-
ism and class privilege have had their
sway. We look out upon the social
horizon and behold the dawn of
brighter day in which humanity, not
money, not power, but humanity is
being recognized as the priceless treas
ure of the world.
But there are still obstacles in the
way Of social progress. There is need
Of constant vigilance and activity lest
they become supreme. The shoulder
ing embers of class privilege are yet
to be extinguished. There is still a
lingering desire on the part of a few
to live in luxury by the sweat of an
others brow. The labor problem and
the race problem are even now sources
Of menace to our national life. The
one principle whereby these problems
may be solved and these difficulties
is the principle of brother
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