31. THE CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH

capitalists. This concentration has proceeded so rapidly that already six thousand multi-millionaires and billionaires own one-fourth of the nation's wealth; one per cent. of our population possesses more than the other ninety-nine per cent. And to this one per cent. the whole industrial, social, political, and even the intellectual and ethical life of the nation is becoming completely subservient. How true are the statements of Bishop Spaulding upon this question: 'If the present methods continue, a few individuals and trusts will soon control the means of production and distribution, and this in an era in which money is the mightiest force of social influence and dominion. To those few individuals and corporations will belong an authority and power greater than any history makes known—an authority and power which are both incompatible with political liberty and popular institutions.'

"But modern civilization presents another side. Facing the six thousand multi-millionaires, abounding in luxury and power, are the ten millions of people suffering the pangs of poverty—poorly sheltered, under-fed, under-clothed. Complementary with those who obtain millions without any productive toil, are the mass of unskilled workers whose greatest exertion brings scarcely enough to keep body and soul together; are the two millions of the nation's sons denied during half the year the opportunity to earn a livelihood; are the tens of thousands of mothers in the heat and grime of sweat-shops and the death-dealing tenements 'sewing at once with a double thread a shroud as well as a shirt'; are the seventeen hundred thousand little children of school age who are refused the right of an education, forced into the dismal, poisonous atmosphere of factory, shop, and mine, and there compelled to coin their little lives into glittering gold for moneyed aristocracy."

"These are the facts. What is their meaning to the rich—what to the poor? To the rich, this enormous wealth means magnificent palaces, gorgeous wardrobes, rare and precious jewellery; it means monkey and baboon dinners at which money flows as freely as water, at which terrapin is daintily eaten from silver canoes with golden spoons, and trust stocks are lavishly distributed as souvenirs of the occasion. It means a life where real values are lost and where money is God. To the poor, poverty means foul hovels, reeking—ah, too often!—with vermin and disease, filthy rags as substitutes for clothing, a life of forced

ECONOMIC CONTRASTS ignorance, of stunted body, mind, and soul, an existence of sickness, crime, and death.

"'Wealth and poverty, millionaires and beggars, castles and caves, luxury and squalor, painted parasites on the boulevard and painted poverty among the red lights.' This is but a suggestion of the social abyss—of the social wrongs which must be righted."

The writer from whom we have just quoted, looks, of course, to Man himself to bring deliverance out of these grievous conditions; and he appeals to "the college student" to do his part in leading people onward to the golden age of humanity—the UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD of Men. He says in conclusion:—

"Then in the name of justice, truth, and liberty—in the name of suffering humanity—in the name of the Master Servant of the ages, beholding in the full this human inferno, may the college student do his part in blazing forth to society the intricate pathway of social progress, and in leading the people onward toward the golden age of humanity—the universal brotherhood of men."

These extracts are fair samples of the statements and appeals by means of which the principles of Socialism are being propagated the world over. Our chief interest in them, for present purposes, lies in the disclosure they clearly make of the fact that this great movement, while aiming at the material welfare of humanity by a world-wide consolidation of human beings and human interests, is essentially religious in character.

II. THE SPREAD OF SOCIALISTIC PRINCIPLES

Socialism is gaining favour rapidly in many quarters, and its claims are receiving recognition by persons of influence well able to propagate its doctrines.

There are, of course, many varieties of Socialism, and there are doctrines necessarily belonging to a socialistic community (such as that relating to marriage, of which we will speak later on) which are wholly repudiated by many who now advocate the purely economic doctrines of Socialism. We shall therefore treat “Socialism” generally, as meaning those prominent principles held and advocated by nearly all who call themselves “Socialists.” As to those features of Socialism which are obnoxious to many zealous Socialists of to-day, it is necessary only to say that the acceptance at the present time of a part of the programme of Socialism will make it easy for the rising generation to accept the whole of that programme.

Socialism is notably gaining favour among the clergy of various denominations. It is stated that upwards of two hundred clergymen in the vicinity of

THE SPREAD OF SOCIALISM

New York City have signed a paper committing themselves to the main principles of Socialism, though not ready as yet to avow themselves openly as Socialists, because of a lingering prejudice which still clings to the name.

At the recent Pan-Anglican Conference in England (1908) the principles of Socialism were earnestly advocated, and met with a decidedly sympathetic reception. Among the Resolutions there introduced were the following :—

"The Conference recognizes the ideals of brotherhood which underlie the Democratic Movement of this century"; and that

"The social mission and social principles of Christianity should be given a more prominent place in the study and teaching of the Church."

This spread of Socialist principles among the clergy accomplishes several important results. In the first place, it strongly tends to impart to industrialism a religious aspect—thus tending towards the fulfilment of prophecy in making the production and distribution of wealth a matter of religion. Furthermore, it furnishes a live principle, tending to unify members of the different dying denominations of Christendom. And finally, it furnishes to ministers who do not preach "the Gospel of God concerning His Son" a theme of universal interest, which, if ably discussed, is sure to hold the attention of their congregations.

A circular lately issued by the "Christian Socialist Fellowship," quotes the following passage from the last annual address of Miss Frances E. Willard, founder of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, showing the gain of Socialism in that direction:—

"What the Socialist desires is that the corporation of humanity should control all production. Beloved comrades, this is the higher way. It eliminates the motives for a selfish life; it enacts into our everyday life the ethics of Christ's Gospel. Nothing else can bring the glad day of UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD. It is Christianity applied."

A system which can thus be strongly advocated as "Christianity applied," while it is at the same time advocated by the most outspoken enemies of Christ, is certainly a thing to be seriously reckoned with.

III. SOCIALISM A COMBINATION OF THE TEMPORAL AND RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF MANKIND

What chiefly renders Socialism an object of interest to us at the present time is the fact that it proposes to bring about that very consolidation of all human interests, both material and spiritual, which prophecy leads us to expect as the consummation of all the prodigious energies and activities of "Man's Day." We cannot fail to be deeply impressed by the fact that there is now looming large upon the near horizon, and

SOCIALISM A RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT increasing in size at a very rapid rate, a System, both religious and economic, presenting exactly those main features of that Great Consolidation which were impressed upon the Apostle John, and which he, by Divine inspiration, wrote down in order that believers should be enabled to identify it as the masterpiece of Satan.

Socialism is not merely the creed of a political party having certain reforms to advocate. Nor is it merely a school of political economy having certain financial and economic policies to propose. It is essentially a religion; for its basis is the universal brotherhood of man, and the cardinal feature of its creed is faith in the inherent power of Consolidated Humanity to rid itself of all ills and miseries. To this end it proposes to abolish capitalism, and also the private ownership of the appliances of production (land, machinery, railroads, etc.), and to consolidate all mankind, and all human interests, into one vast organization. This organization will be a Federation, or Society, or State, wherein all men will be on an absolute equality, and the interests of one shall be the interest of all. It proposes to deal comprehensively, and for the benefit of all alike, with all methods of production, with all produce of the fields and mines and products of the factories, with all appliances for the manufacture and production of commodities of every sort, and with all inventions and discoveries.

All this is based upon the sacredness of human rights; and the predominant characteristic of the movement is avowedly religious. It is the very embodiment of that great rising Religion which has now confronted us many times in the course of this inquiry,—the religion of Humanism.

The "Christian Socialist Fellowship," to which reference has already been made, has the following for its avowed object:—

"Its object shall be to permeate Churches, Denominations, and other Religious Institutions with the Social Message of Jesus; to show that Socialism is the Necessary Economic Expression of the Christian Life; to end the Class Struggle by establishing Industrial Democracy, and to hasten the Reign of Justice and Brotherhood upon Earth."

The body of the circular says:—

"Not one man in a hundred believes that the teachings of Jesus can be applied in everyday practice. Socialists do."

And the circular offers the services of "a clergyman" to any gatherings who wish to hear an address on the subject of Christian Socialism, naming several prominent ministers and offering "many others, including all the leading denominations."

Thus the sacred human Name of the Divine Redeemer is being used to advance the cause of Socialism, and to