The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-03-10
NEWSPAPERS OPINION
RELIctoN AND THE SOCIAL ORDER


aFhe- visit to Kansas City and other American
centers Of Toyohiko Kagawa, with his Kingdom
of God" movement and his advocacy OF the CO.
operative program its particular instrument anu
agency has raised pointedly once more the per
picking controversial question Of the social Cos
pel"-of the proper attitude of the clergy ana the
Church toward social and economic reform. mat
question. has been the subject; of conflicting opn-
ion, within the Church itself for a generation OF
longer. In the recent years OF economic stress l.
has assumed an unusual Importance and Is con-
tnuously pressing for an answer. No answer can
be given in any Cff-hand, oracular manner per
haps not at all with any finality But the question
itself inevitably provoke serious questions; ana TO
these the laymen as well as the clergy of America
are called upon to give the most thoughtful atten
tion. ...t.
Every truly enlightened as well as every gem
timely religious citizen of this country is deeply
concerned with any possible betterment OF Its Soc
ial and economic system, .and-for that mattef-ltS
political system. There is heard multitude ot
counsel and there is consequent wide confusion,
confusion which ministers and other leaders OF the
Church literally share and on occasion are frank
to confess They, with others, cropping for pos
sible means to greater human security. But the
pivotal issue is whether the primary spritualizing
function of organized religion is not frustrated OF
nulified to the identical extent that churches and
the clergy indulge in agitation for specific reforms
or panaceas, social economic OF polltcal whether
the spiritual floundering of America in recent and
present days of trial is not comparable with, or in
good part occasioned by, the economic and social
Laundering of religious leaders who have improp
ery shifted their activities to alien and unfamiliar
| ground.
Two important points must be stressed. One is
that in so far as certain elements of the clergy OF
other religious leaders have engaged in promotion
| of particular economic and social agitation, such as
abolition of the profit system or the advocacy Of
Socialism, the constituency or membership Of
churches has not necessarily or perhaps actually
been represented there =. -. The rank; and file CT
church membership in the United States is a big
cross-section of the country's population 1t will
slow, properly and cautiously Slow to stand for the
/ the abolition of the existing American system and
to invite the introduction of an exotic and radically
| different system-even by process of peaceful re-
Volutlon. -. There is yet another quite pertinent
consideration. 1t is that the clerical and other
leaders Of the Church, in their Jealous efforts to
further the progress of real religion and to bring
about a spirituazed social order, can stand per-
sisenty and unwaveringy for vital principles with
out at the same time becoming propagandists for
a particular reform proposal
The single specific of Dr. KagaRa,-wsth his SIM
cere preaching of world peace. united Church.
human brotherhood and universal love, is the CO.
operative movement, Outstanding that move
ment, ne holds, is the one means to the Kingdom
of God upon earth and hence to Christianized soc
| III ana economic order But iuht why the cause
i OF Christianity should be staked on that one con
dlton Is not at all clear. The cooperative move
menu, winch has made some headways in America
ana inuch more IN England, Denmark Sweden and
other foreign countries is one form of doing busl-
ness Which mas It's possible benefits to certain class
eS OF ehe people. Its value might be enhanced by
us ohfiStahizaton, but certainly it is and has been
a secular movement to date .''
( But what of further ,Christianizrc, s,a ;n,.o,
1 ing she eAiselns social and economic order? Is
tna' ooJeetVe TO be reiiquished in despair while
'nere IS begun the slow and painful if not, impos.
si'ie effort ooth to establish and to Chrstanize
new Dryer christianity and organized religion
nave oeeh rather closely bound up with the exist.
ing ofaer Tor nearly 1000 years. What would he
the status of the Church and it's multiplied enter.
j prlses If the present order were DESTROYED and ro
placed by radically different system or if tbare
should be a widespread attempt at the aestrnctio,
'Eand replacement? II. is NOT o ln,ooir;+nt1
erasping OF panaceas that is required but further
persistent and treess effort in the quite possible
task OF improving Outstanding. the exstins
order; the further removal of evils and abuses tha
are IN no sense bound up with it but are only Incl
dental That is an inviting enterprise in which thu
vast majority may unite, toward an assured sue
! cess, -Ksasss City Star. ..s.
- '..r. .,s.r 20 - s.4,a, ,Esgsss Sss$