The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-09-25


Of church history in Rochester Theo-
logical Seminary, in q radical address
last night before. the twelfth and clos
Ing ,sessionliof the second summer con-
ferencesof the Intercollesiate Socialist
Society, at Sherwood Forest. near An
napolis. outlined the position Chris
az well as the reciprocal attitude that
socialism should assume toward Chris
Nanity.
81 believe socialism has a divine quail
ity." said DrS Rauschenbusch. II be-
modern world The Socialists should
have charity toward their Christian
brethren and the Christian brethren
should see socialism In more sensible
way"
DR.. Rauschenbusch stated that the
one great problem for Socialists to con-
slider 10 the determination OF what ex-
tent II can penetrate the minds con-
trolled by the Christian religion. There
are 100000 members Of the churches
voluntary organization in America.
Can Socialists penetrate that body, get
inside; and capture II? was the question
he asked.
The speaker predicted that unless
churches there was very little hope
for the success Of the Socialist ideal.
Criticises Preparedness.
Incidentally. the speaker criticised
preparedness as a movement OF the
business class. not OF the preachers
or the working class'
r whs s'sr tss 5spSTsSns eampsEsn
were against It, He didn't know how
they stood now. Probably, they were
supporting preparedness, he said. be-
cause In essence and ultimately the
.pI, preachers are the parasites Of the
After upbraiding the Socialists for
the "contentiousness and doctranaire
tendencies manifested at meetings OF
the labor Socialists" he paid his re-
spects to the ministers conferences
by declaring thattthey are the dead
est place i was ever In except a
graveyard"
He modified this statement later
by admitting that IL there is a deader
place than a ministers conference or
graveyard IL tn the usual Socialist
meeting. The meetings of the Social
lists. he said. bore a striking resem-
blance to prayer meetings. The
prayer meetings. he declared, are
prepared for the benefit Of the saints
rather rather than the sinners. and the So
pleasure of the faithful rather thar
the redemption OF the lost.
Depioring the too frequent criticism
81 the church by Socialists, DR.
isu admonished them
ping the church In the face. The two
organizations had many ends in com
mon, and each should approach the
Se ns, ws aisrsrs desire to .nders,Sca a.
sharpen antagonisms.
Historic Phenomenon"
The speaker characterised the al.
legged antaRonism between Christian.
lily and Socialism as a Historic phe.
nomenon. and said that In the mid
ale OF the nineteenth century. when
the modern Sosialist movement as.
sumed its important position, Chris.
socialists participated in this criti.
e end az the hands Of the Darwinite,
socialists participated in this criti.
Sism' and attempts had been made &c
hold The present-day socialism re-
denotes OF a few OF its last ceNtru,
Christianity was the best thing 20,
ing Ing unit. until Socialism came on deck
the church to hold Its own confront.
90 with the challenge. of the Socialist
The speaker pointed out that Socialism
draws Its strength from having absorbed
the social vision of the early Christian
church. In those days Christianity wal
essentially an institution Of the common
people aspiring for the well being OF tn,
common people. Later the "church wa
taken over by the rich." and ceased e
express the aspirations of the poor h,
tsaid. and then predicted. that, unless
Christianity entered into n rebtrth anc
became animated with the ideals OF tn,
first century Christians. the Sociaiis
nlnVnnnAnt Ar.
as q vital social force.
Wtttily satirizing the Socialist for In
sisting that Christians should "empt,
the contents OF their heads into tn,
ditch" in order to prepare their minds
Tor the teaching OF Socialism. tn
| to undertake to substitute "ecomoni,
determinism for free will" the "socia
revolution for the Lords PRAYER" o,
the class struggle for the Book Of
Kings"
Need Support Of Christians.
Getting down to the practical question
for Socialists to consider. DR.. Rauschen
busch told them that they could neye,
succeed without the support OF tn,
major part OF the 1900 600 Christians IL
the United States. He felt that the ole
loose from the church was bad propa
ganda, as II couldn't be done The bet
ter way was for the Socialists TO pene
trate the church with their ideals anC
aspirations.
ut used to be said" declared tn,
speaker. that when a man got tn,
measles of socialism he was a eonel
for, the church. That should not be
II Is bad propaganda for n good cause
What Is the use, II YOU have got to dis
through gravel pit. OF filling Il nj
with cement before you lift a shovel?
The gravel pit that the Socialist
| have got to dig through is the &, 900 90
| members Of the, Christian churches h
the United States. Il would be an awful
indictment against Christianity IL ther,
| Is nothing IN II with which socialism
! can connect. and II would be an evel
greater indictment against Christianit,
| II there is nothing In socialism witt
which II can connect"
Admitting that individual Christian
might properly be subjected to criticism
| by the Socialists, and adding that tn
church itself In certain periods ma,
have alse been culpable, DR.. Rauschen
busch declared that "Christianity Is no
like a Tub of butter that you can ties
with one probe" ~.
Hope For Working People.
Turning his attention directly to tn
subject OF the evening. The Socialis
| Appeal to the Christian Mind" Dl
Rauschenbusch said In part:
TO the working people socialism OF
i ferA the hOnA af anna N nj An tknx, &C.,. :. -.