The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-09-25
Socialism Doing Work
OF God, Says Speaker
At Society Conference
THE Socialist Should Have Charity Toward Their
Christian Brethren" Argues Walter Rauschen-
"a busch, Theological Professor at Roch- g
va. ester Seminary.


instincts Of every christian mind. II
demands that all income shall be based
on labor and service. Incomes based on
power and the control OF necessities
have no moral quality, Az a Christian I
sSns and nsi iSat
afford to leave the protest against, the
fundamental injustice OF our civiiiza-
tion TO people outside the church;
both n Are oo Snsn fcr the n lost cSris
tianlty by evangelism and charity has
dealt with single cases. but capitalist
society manufactures the. lost raster
than the church can heal them. So
child labor and prostitution. on the
ciIoiSing OF the family by high rent and
long hours and low wages: I stand Tor
combining the methods OF Christianity
and socialism.
in extreme peril OF soul. His belief
was that rich man is In situation
where a real Christian life In almost
Impossible, A camel can pass through
a needles eyes sooner than a rich man
can enter the kingdom OF God. where
justice and fraternity are the law.
Salvation can come to the rich only by
simplicity, productive labor and fra
ternity. Capitalism breeds wealthy
class and separate them by arietocratic
bringing them under. the law OF work.
Sets Life Above Money.
Fifth, socialism joins with Chris
tianity In setting life above money. So
cialism may have a materialistic phil
osophy, but our capitalistic industry
has the materialistic practice. II makes
profit supreme. and uses up the life OF
the workers and consumers II neces-
sary to make profit. Al present the
aim OF the whole productive process "a
profit and not the sustenance of the
people. This makes industry man.
monistic. Socialism would produce for
use, and Herewith humanize our sys-
Sixth. socialism has an appeal "a
Christian mind because It creates
Jesus taught the duty Of love and
forgiveness 10 create unity. Wherever
lines. Capitalism splits society into two
groups with opposed interests, and with
manners OF life. thought and feeling 90
different that fraternal understanding Il
"Christianity becomes unavoidable
where the extremes Of society are toe
far apart. Society would reduce the diff
ferences. II would level up the poor
and level down the rich. making the ex-
today In college faculties. II would
answer the prayer OF the wise man
Give me neither poverty nor riches
Fundamental Sins Overlooked.
Seventh. Christianity is here to re-
veal sin and to redeem mankind from
sin. But religion has always tempta.
ton to sickle on trifes and to overlook
the fundamental sins. As Jesus said
religious people strained out drowning
gnats and swallowed live camels.
They cleaned the outside OF the cur
and left the inside full OF greed and
| excess. Socialism uncovers the master
| iniquities OF civilization. Nothing will
give a Christian man so much new In
| sight into the damning nature OF sir
as to combine the Christian with the
Socialistic comprehension OF the evil ir
| human society.
There Is no doubt that Christianit,
I Is for peace, No imagination can pic
| ture Jesus Christ working a machine
gun. In actual practice Christianity haI
! usually abdicated Its own law anC
spirit. and sanctioned the spirit anC
| practice OF war. We are in a painful
| and unsolved dilemma between the cal
OF the Christian spirit and the summon
Of governments TO help hate and kill.
| Socialism re-enforces the Christian
7 instinct by analysis OF the causes o.
militarism and by It's organized stant
| for international solidarity. Thos
| Christian men who have taken a pro
nounced and effective stand against wa
have practically all been under Socialis
influences. Combine the Christian spiri
with modern social knowledge. and yol
have an effective combination"