The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-11-17
(From The New Suddenly

OCOUOlillC SYSTEM, anu WIN lltio IOtiiNA
way to live which enables him
to be completely just to others and
absolutely sincere to himself.
1t is, as he points out, not an
easy way. This way may not be
the way for everyone. Neverthe-
less, the words of a man who has
persistently sought for way out
and who has at last found one and
who, moreover, is living in harmony
with his philosophy, must have a
profound significance for the ideal
istic student.
He does not wish to sign his
name to the following article as it
was he alone who developed the
philosophy. Anyone wishing to
communicate with him may reach
him through the National Student
Forum, 1929 Broadway, New York
City.
Biographical Note
The writer of the article gradu-
ated from Theological school in
1915. For three years he was min
lister of a church in one of the
worst industrial towns in New Jer-
sey. Here he had chance to OBJ
serve the effects of the capitalist
system upon the lives of working
people. He was requested to leave
as he was a pacifist and a socialist
He spent six months as a common
laborer working his way from coast
to coast in all kinds of mines, mills,
factories, lumber camps, railroad
section gangs, etc. Then for year
he taught in a modern community
school where he finally formulated
his philosophy.
Up till this time he believed that
it was more important for the work
ers that he should teach them and
live upon their labor, rather than
that he should help them bear their
burdens.
His present position involves
among other things:
l. Parting with all property.
2. Becoming a producer, working
as a carpenter.
3. Giving his labor as an out,
right gift to those who have need
of it, and simply trusting them or
others to provide him with what he
needs.
4. Seeking at all times the hidden
good which is in every man.
After several months, he was
joined by a group who thought as
he did. They worked during the
day, for various people, living with
them in their homes whether they
were American or foreign, and they
are still continuing this life and
preaching this ideal.
Work and Riches
He will be a producer. No good
man can be a parasite. He will
work to produce things people must
have to live. For everyone who
does not so work, someone else is
compelled to slave.
Only he can enter it who has
given up all that he has. He can
call nothing his own. To all men
he will say, whatever is mine is
equally yours" He who is poor
cannot desire riches and enter the
Community of Love. He who is
rich cannot enter if he keeps his
riches. 1t is difficult enough for
him to give them up. 1t is abso-
lutely impossible for him to keep
! them and enter. Between loving
| and owning there must be a choice.
God and Private Property cannot go
together.
Love simply gives. 1t can sell
nothing as it can withhold nothing.
To help men meet the needs of life,
he will give his labor, give it with
he needs, he will trust.
Attitude Toward Property
He will not be more free from
| self-seeking in his attitude to prop
| erty than in his most intimate re-
lations with people. He will leave
in his heart no least vestige of a
| desire to possess, or be possessed
by. any other person; no slightest
| effort to control another's life
Though it be closest friend, or child
or wife, he will lay upon them nc
/ claim. nor seek to establish with
| them any relationship which of it.
self excludes any other person. He
will leave them free always to fol-
low the best light that is in them
and hope for their continued COM
radeship only as their own spirits
impel them to travel the road he
is travelling too.
Attitude Toward Family
I He will call no man on earth
his father. He will recognize nc
ties but to God. No man can be
completely surrendered to God and
still be under obligation to someone
else. If his attachment to father
or mother, wife or child, or feal
for his own life, keeps him from
doing the very highest to which his
soul can stretch, then better that
he turn and hate his very kith anc
kin than that he let any person OF
any thing turn him aside from God
No ship can have two rudders.
He will never bind himself with
L oath or vow or promise, even fol
the next hour. His life is not his
to give or withhold, but Gods.
| For his food he will eat nothing
which has cost an animal it's life
or imposed upon any of its fellow,
men the immoral and degrading
task of killing.
Attitude Toward Government
And he will love every human
being without regard to race OF
nation, creed or class. He will love
his whether those who dc
foulest wrong to him and his OF
those who threaten his nation. HI
will never do the evil of resisting
evil. Also, he will not cooperate
with evil. Instead he will so fill
every moment with good that it car
| no longer hold evil. AS love neve
judges and never Furnishes but for
gives all men always, therefore h
will have nothing to do with courts
will refuse to bring suit, to serv
on jury, or to bear witness
against any man. And therefore
also, he will choose prison or deaf
rather than have anything to d
with any kind of war. And becaus
| il is pnvernn1e ntS that carru ~