CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 209, 6 September 1886, Page 2

CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM.

On Sunday ovoning, Roy. C. Worboys preached in Pitt and Vincent streets Church on "Christian Socialism." Tho text was, "And they that believed were together, and had all things common," Acts 2ud chap., -14th verse. After speaking of the importance of Christian people giving at tention to co important a question as socialism, ho spoke of tbe inequalities of men in their circumstances which do not arise out of their moral nor intellectual character; and in the form in which it exists cannot be in accordance with the will of the Creator, but arises out of defective arrangements, which may be remedied by legislative enactments. The evolutions of history from which philosophical bocialiats hope so much will effect groat changes, but any socialistic arrangements without tho spirit of socialism can only end in failure. The absolute seltishnoss Which now prevails would prevent the success of any such attempt. It has brought about the evils which socialism is intended to correct, evils which can never be cured while it provails. The advocates ot theße views have generally been antireligious, but that is a misfortune. There is an unconscious tendency to Christianity in every socialist, and a tendency to socialism in every Christian. To give appropriate form to tho idea we must have the "spirit of divine fraternal love," the spirit of tbe cross of Christ, which is the spirit of self sacrifice for others. If we could only got men to love humanity more than money, very much would be gained. The socialism in the early Chuich was born nnd died at Jerusalem—neithtr the Church nor the world were ready for it then. It was purely voluntary, Ananias and Sapphira lacked its spiiit, and hence bioke their engagement in rotation to it. Christianity contemplates voluntary socialism, arising out of the possession of its spirit by the community. To seek it otherwise is to br-gin at the wrong end. Get the hearts of men regenerated, and ruled by benevolence, and everything elao will follow, This will come ; the Old Testament teaches it ; the great Teacher Himself was full of it, and Bis Apostles were true to thoir Master in reference to it. The scene referred to in the text was an inspiration from the Divine heart, a prophecy of good things to como. Distant though it appears to be, Bocioty ia progressing towards it, for Christ is even now the greatest living force in the world. Often our hearts are sick and sad, and with the old prophet wo cry, "How long, oh Lord, bow long?" But selfish lust and passion, which make tho day of tho Lord bo long, and the progress of the kingdom so slow, would bury in wreck or drown in blood every poorer or wcakor attempt to work out more swiftly and vehemently the salvation of society. Tho preacher closed with an earnest appeal to oach one to get their own heart right, which could only bo done by the regenerating power of the Divine Spirit. Be also stated that as ho waa obviously restricted in the treatment of the subject in a sermon, he would take a more suitable opportunity of going moro fully into it.