The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-11-16
COMMISSION ON TEMPERANCE AND
SOCIAL SERVICE

This report of the commission on
temperance. and social service was
read before the conference last night
BY Bishop Cannon:
The church of Jesus Christ must
fnce all the facts of life. everywhere
and always, honestly, couraEeousiy
and with unwavering faith, hope
ind love. She knows that the
teaching of her Master gives the
only adequate, final answer to all
the problems, in Guiding those OF
class and race. which perplex and
disturb the peoples of all lands.
1t is undoubtedly true that the
preaching OF the necessity of person
a, repentance and faith --persohal
salvation was never more greatly
needed than 1t is today. Men can
not be saved from sin in the mass,
or by any man made social program,
no matter how elaborate or careful
~ wrought out Selfish material
ism which recognizes no law but
might, and no good but things which
perish with the using, IS thoroughly
Christian, whether advocated
and practiced by the German kaiser,
wilhelm. or the German Socialist.
Karl Marx. Tyranny and injustice
are equally as sinful and as destruc-
tive of human rights whether prac-
ticed by capitalists trusts or shy
labor unions. The deciples OF Jestis
must proclaim the dominance of the
spiritual In all the relations of life.
"A mans life consistent not in the
abundance OF the things which he
posscsseth." What shall it profit a
man II he shall gain the whole
world and lose his soul?" II am
the Way, the Truth and the Life.
no man cometh unto the Father but
by me- This Is and ever must be
the dominant note OF the church's
message.
Jesus Christ Emphasized Social
Duties
But while repentance and raitn
are absolutely fundamental. how
narrow, inadequate, even unfaithful.
is the preaching which ignores or
fails to emphasize the vivid, real
istic, positive teaching Of Jesus tna'
in the final judgment the genuine
hess OF our repentance and of our
| Faith In. Him will be tested by the
dominance OF love in our relations
with our fellowmcn. We must man
fest an active. loving concern for
the hungry the thirsty. the sick
the imprisoned. the needy and meet
our full responsibility for social and
economic conditions In the world
about us. The social gospel OF
Jesus is adequately expressed in
His own words Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thysElf,'' or as
further implied. Therefore. what
soever ye would that men should
do to YOU do you even SO to them"
This is the leaven OF loye which
Jesus hid in the mass OF the worlds
life twenty centuries ago, and this
heaven will continue it's irresistible
work till the whole II leavened. until
there shall come the new heaven
and the new earth wherein dwelleth
righteousness. No church orga MIA
| ton Is truly Christian which does
| not recognize, accept, preach and
practice this social gospel, and
whose members do not let their
| light so shine that men will see
| their good works and glorify their
Father which IL In heaven.
| Tho present day unrest. turmoil
! and strife are not surprising. The
social gospel OF Jesus declares that
! I'LL men, whatever their race OF
| color, shall have their fair share OF
| the necessities. opportunities and
| Joys OF life. The appeal. aye the ir-
/ rcpressiole demand OF the present
| hour. all over the civilized world
for higher wages. shorter hours
| better sanitary working conditions
better food. more freedom. larger
participation in the management OF
the work they are doing, although
il sometimes becomes extreme and
maritest itself selfshly and destruc-
{ lively. is IN essence simply de-
mond % tho application OF His
teaching to'the life OF every man. OF
every race. in every country and In
every sphere of activity.
Failure OF European Churches
IT il too true that the church has
! net It'd in the movement IN Europe
during the past century for the de-
l;vcrance. of the people from the
sailing yoke. of autocracy and the
seryitude Of class distinction and
rule, but every genuine unsclfish re-
former, no matter how hostile TO
the established autocratic class
state churches, must admit that the
simple rule OF love your neighhor."
laid down by Jesus. gives the only
platform upon which can be built
the stable government of the ,fu-
ture.
Having stated these broad, un-
changsable Christian principles. we
shall not attempt to develop or ad-
voca.e a special program or propose
PARTICULAR rcredieA IT Is not to
he expected that the church as an
organization should legisiate for the
ration But the church can and
should proclaim her Masters tsach-
Ing with such persistence and power
that the Christian citixenahip OF the
nation will not only demand JegtslA.