The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
'GO[DSTE|N ATTACKS SOCIALISM BEFORE l. A LARGE AUDIENCE
Declares That Party Is Op- posed to Christianity and That Leaders AdvO-
 cate Atheism

David Goldstein of Boston. who .ap- peared at the Jefferson last night under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus, was greeted by capacity house. He discussed socialism in it's many phases, and condemned in unmeasured terms the niaterialistic doctrines that he stated were promulgated by socialist leaders. He was especially severe in his cricitism of the international socialistlc organization, which has headquarters in Chicago. for its alleged distribution of atheistic publica- tions. written by recognized leaders of tho party from time to time. His remarks were we'll received by the greater DOT tion of the audience, and there was loud applause at frequent intervals.
 There were. however, a few champions of the socialist party among the audience who took exception to the tenor of MT. Goldstein's accusations which charac- terized their organization as derogatory to modern civilization. and at the end of his address several men in different parts cf the house arose to the privilege of questioning the speaker. The inquiries were answered at length, and the audi ence was most demonstrative in its ap- plause of his answers to charges made Sy the socialists.
 The speaker had on exhibition numerous books, which he said were written by prominent socialists for the purpose of disseminating doctrines distinctly opposed 10 the Christian religion. He challenged those present to point out any other I espoused atheism. He went fully into tho naterialstie doctrine, on which he said the tenets of socialism were based. He stated that according to this view point all history would be divided into three periods, the feudalistic. the capi- tdlstic and the socialistic, and that the religious beliefs which prevailed in these periods were merely reactionary from economic conditions. and that, according to the beliefs expressed by this doctrine the different religions existed only to the benefit of the controlling classes organism being direct reaction of feud- alism, and Christianity a reaction from capitalism, and that atheism would be the logical reaction of period of socialism
 The speaker showed evidence to prove thu. the socialist organization controlled publishing houses which made speciality of printing books advocating atheism, and stated further that much revenue was derived by the party in this manner. He also showed editorial articles from socialist newspapers of this country writ ten with view to increasing the circula- ton Of books of this nature.
 Among the points made by those aris- ing to the privilege of questioning the speaker were the following:
 The Birmingham public library contains books advocating socialist doctrines. Another stated that the Encyclopedia Brittanica said that socialism and Chris tianity were closely akin
 MT. Goldstein answered these questions to the apparent satisfaction of the greater part of the audience. He brought out the fact that the second man got his in formation from the campaign book of the socialist party, which he said had mis- quoted the encyclopedia. He said also that the Birmingham public library fortu- nately did not limit it's circulation to books of a socialistic nature.
 MT. Goldstein closed by saying that 1t was his most earnest wish that all books of this nature would be suppressed.