Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1891 — Christianity the Remedy for Social Evils. [ARTICLE]

Christianity the Remedy for Social Evils.

Harper’s Magazine. If Christianity were univesally adopted all social evils would vanish; there would be few very rich persons; comparatively few would be poor and those would be worthy of abundant sympathy and help, which they would receive. At a gathering of socialists at the grave of Carl Marx, celebrating the anniversary of his death, one of the speakers declared, “The three things which the world needs are soldarity, energy and self-sacrifice.” Self-sacrifice Is another word for disinterestedness, and this needs Christianity, for, as F. D. Maurice, the English rector, socialist and friend of Kingsley, said, “Be very sure of this, that no human creatures will be found saying sincerely ‘Our brothers’ on earth unless they have said previously ‘Our Father who art in heaven.’ ” Prescriptions for the relief of symptoms or for deadening sensibility to pain can at best serve but a temporary purpose. If while serving that purpose they divert attention from constitutional maladies which if left to themselves will inevitably prove fatal, the good that they may do becomes infinitessimal injeomparison with the evil. Reformers may or may not have doubts of the supernatural origin of Christianity, and may or may not openly ally themselves with any of its visible TbTßnr. but without its aid, directly or indirectly, any scheme which antagonizes Christianity must be limited in its application and restricted in its duration to the lifetime ot its founder or his immediate successor.