The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-05-22
THE COMMUNITY OF GOODS OF
THE FIRST CHRISTIANS.

Fifth Lecture of Rev. James c. Byrne
Before the Bible Section of the
carroIIton Club.
1t was stated in previous lecture
that the Christians of Jerusalem set
an example of the purest brotherhood
That example, both for the influence
which it has had on Christians of
all times, and for the misuse, which is
made of it by Socialists to uphold
their unnatural theories in our day,
deserves more than casual mention.
This is the account of it, as given in
Acts: Great grace was in them all
or neither was there any one needy
among them. For as many as were
owners of lands or houses, sold them
and brought the price of the things
they sold, and laid it at the feet of
the Apostles, and distribution was
made to everyone as he had need
CIV, 33, "a, 35). Here, after surrender
of private ownership, was certain
community of goods; yet l venture to
say, that in only one particular does
this community of goods bear out the
theories of Socialists, and that in only
one particular does it differ from the
practice of the Catholic Church in all
ages.
At the outset, let us bear in mind
that the names of movements do not
always indicate their nature. As
Christian Science is neither Christian.
ity nor Science but a sort of pan.
theism masquerading in scriptural
texts and examples, so likewise So.
cialism, which advocates the destruc-
tion of the home, of the Church and
of all liberty, is not in the least social
1t is simply a theory, that would bring
about the most hideous worldwide
slavery, that was ever excogitated by
the human mind. What Socialism
might mean, therefore, is one thing
what recognized Socialists profess il
Ito mean is another. Recognized so
lcialists profess openly, that Socialism
| is opposed to God, to Religion anc
to Christianity, as we'll as to private
! ownership, and it is their system
which is the professed Socialism O
today This Socialism can make nc
appeal to the example of early Chris
tians The principles Of Socialism
and early Christianity are completely
at variance.
The Brotherhood of the Church Holy
Brotherhood.
The early Christians relinquisheC
their earthly goods, because all ties
of earth were in that great grace
relaxed. Upborne by that rush O
heavenly lights and joys their spirits
were bathed in God; earth and it,
goods lost their value; new bond!
were established The brotherhood O
the flesh was succeeded by thu
brotherhood of the spirit; the sover
eighty of the Creator, through an over
flow of divine love, which embraced
Jesus and all united with Him, wal
transformed into the Fatherhood o
God. 1t was this sense of being on
spiritual family that disposed all thu
members to share their goods in com
mon. And the multitude of believ
ers," we are told had but one hear
and one soul; neither did anyone sa.
that aught of the things he possesse
was his, but all things we're commol
unto them" CIV, 32). Now, where i
the resemblance between this newborn
flock of Christ, radiant with the ligh
of God, and group of Socialists un
furling the banner mo God: N
ChurcI?" What resemblance is ther
between those, who looked with cor
tempt on all that they possessed, an
those who look with envious eyes o.
all that others possess? Those aime
to convert the world to Christ eve
at the cost of their own blood, thes
aim to destroy society and to tur
men from Christ in a welter of othe
peoples blood. But just as they di
fered on the fundamental principle c
!, God, so they differed on all the othe
principles OF Socialism. Let US tax
them up singly.
: Early Christians and Private Owner
ship.
With the first Christians, commul
: ity of goods came after the surrende
of private ownership, but not with
denial of the right of private owne
chin Tn fact tho slIrrpndnr of fhpi
: goods was made with clear exercis
of this right. When they sold the
, lands and houses, they exercised thi
right; when they brought the pric
and laid it at the feet of the Apostle
not for the benefit of the whole peopl
but for the benefit of private con
. munity, they exercised this rigl
again. Socialism would make sue
surrender compulsory, Christianft
left it free. When Ananias, whi
] pretending to give all, retained
goodly portion of the price of b
field, and thus made lying pretenf
of a virtue that he did not posses
: and tacit claim to a merit that We
!, not his due, st. Peter said to hin
! 'Ananias, why hath Satan tempted tf
. heart that thou shouldst lie to II
e Holy Ghost and by fraud keep part
: the price of the land? Whilst it T
mained, did it not remain to thet
. and after it was sold, was 1t not
!, thy power2' (Acts ", 34). Here :
d lPeter clearly indicates that the 81