CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM. Auckland, Sept. 6.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 169, 11 September 1886, Page 5

CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM. Auckland, Sept. 6.

0» Sunday / evening, Rev. C. Worbo> preached' in Pitt and Vincent streets Cliurch on ""Christian Socialism.'? j The text was, "4m tb °y that believed were, together, and had all things common," Acts 2nd chap.,'44th verse. After speaking of the importance of Christian: people giving attention to to important a question as socialism, he epoke of the inequalities.of men in their circumstances which do not ariee out of their moral nor'intellectual character; and in the form in which it oxfets 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 ot history from which philosophical socialists hope so muoh will effect greats changes, but any socialistic arrangements without the spirit of socialism can only end in failure. The absolute selfishness 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 oured while it prevails. The advocates ot these views have generally been antirdigious, 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 the idea we must have the "spirit of divine fraternal love," the spirit of the cross of Christ, which is the spirit of self sacrifice for othere. If we could only get men to love humanity, more than money, very much would be gained. The (racialism in the early Church was born and died at Jerusalem—neither the Church nor the world were ready for it then. It was purely voluntary. Ananias and Sapphira lacked its spirit, and hence broke their engagement in relation to it. Christianity contemplates voluntary socialism, arising out of the possession of its spirit by the community. To seek it otherwise is to brgin at the wrong end. Get the hearts of men regenerated, and ruled by benevolence, and everything else will follow. This will come; the Old Testament teaches it; the great Teacher Himself was full of it," and His Apostles were tru6 to thoir Master in reference to ifc. The scene referred to in the text was an inspiration from the Divine heart, and a prophecy of grood fchinga to come. Distant though it appears, to be, society is progressing toi wards 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 we cry, " Bow long, oh Lord, how long?'* But selfish lust and passion, which make the day of the Lord so long, and the progres's'of the kingdom so slow, wcrald bury in wreck or drown in blood every poorer or weaker attempt to work out more swiftly and vehemently the salvation of society. The preacher closed with an earnest appeal to each one to get their own heart right, which could only be done?by the rcganeratingpower of the Divine Spirit. Be also stated that as he was obviously restricted in thettreatment of the subject in a sermon, he would take a more suitable opportunity OF going more fully into it.