Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-05-20
CHURCH SHOULD
WELCOME LEAGUE
Clergyman Praises 1t for Show
ing Way to Cooperation and
Economic Justice.
BY The Rev. F. Harrison,
Elk Horn, Wis.

Ever since time was, progress has
had to pay a terrific price for it's exis-
tence. All the powers that be find it
so easy to take the line of least resis-
lance and to worship the God of things
as they are. In this regard the church
has been neither better nor worse than
any other agencies. 1t has gone with
the swim.
Life's great truths are always first
cast out as heresies. But what a blast
ing indictment that the one institution
dedicated to truth should lose it's royal
commission! Facts have not alternat-
ed, the times have, and today the great
testing place of the loyalty Of the
church to it's master is not the realm
of theological speculation but the
world Of economic reality.
The foundation of all freedom is eco
nomic. If men are not free economic
ally, they are not free at all. We can
preach about a thousand things but
if we do not seek to make just that
part Of life where men obtain their
bread and butter, then is our preaching
vail anu Lie ld1ll u Liz ClluIC1l Is
vain. A man can say just about what
he wishes theologically today and no
body but a few dunder heads will
trouble at all about it. But let him
speak fearlessly about economics and
a thousand foes will spring at once
to the defense Of existing conditions.
Men who are afraid of martyrdom had
better stay out Of this fight. The next
century will provide a dual test of
religion. Can it work its gospel into a
great brotherhood of nations? And
can it take it's gospel and compel the
race to lay it at the foundation of the
economic order? If it fails here it de-
serves to stand discredited forever.
Church Was Negligible
What are the facts of yesterday?
The committee appointed by the
Church of England to investigate the
gospel of Christ in relation to indus
trial problems says: TN the fifty
years which laid the foundation of
modern England the influences of the
church as a witness to social right
eousness was, it is hardly an exag-
geration to say, almost negligible.''
Any honest man knowing the condi-
lions of those fifty years bushes for
shame at the terrible truth of those
words.
The report of the National Service
Medical Board issued by the British
government shows that of 2,425,184
nav ovo,,ipo1 ont of ovorv p;po oolr
three were perfectly healthy, two were
definitely infirm, three were a moder-
ate degree Of physical exercise, and
could almost Tin view Of their age)
be described as physical wrecks, while
| the remaining man was a chronic in
valid with a precarious hold on life.
And what is to blame? The industrial
system which is based on unqualified
selfishness.
Or look at America today. Sher-
wood Eddy in a recent address quotes
figures from what he calls a remark
able book 1.-THE Distribution Of Wealth
and Income in the United States.' by
Prof. w. /. King of the University of
Wisconsin. And this truth is in a nut
shell. Approximately 2 per cent of the
population of America possess over 60
per cent Of the wealth of the country ::
while 65 per cent of the population
possess only $ per cent of the wealth..
1t only needs a few moments sober re-
Election to know the simple truth that
our whole system of distribution is
wrong, morally and damnably wrong.
What wrongs are there in America
compared to this? None, absolutely
none And yet what does the church
say on 1t? 1t is lmld red, re,ltier Glat
all the B0lshevists In America ~
we driyel away our time on ti:aa