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TV. CUNNINGHAM^ ARCHDEACON OF ELY, ON 



— but it is not Christian. Christianity holds to a belief in the 

 reality of undying spiritual power ; it insists that for every 

 human being to order his life here as the beginning of an 

 immortal life to come is the true way of forming the noblest 

 type of human character. Christianity recognises the joy of 

 life on earth, but does not admit that earth can give the best 

 that man is capable of enjoying; and Christianity, if it is true 

 to itself, must beware of a doctrine which fails to inculcate self- 

 discipline and teuds to encourage men to set their affections on 

 things of earth. That the Christian principle of aloofness from 

 mundane things may seem to many to be mere hypocrisy, is 

 true enough ; but it is none the less the business of Christians- 

 personally to try to make that principle real in their own lives^ 

 and to be on their guard against any associations that may 

 weaken it. 



The ends in view of Socialism and of Christianity are different,, 

 and the proposed means for attaining them are quite distinct. 

 Both aim at an improvement in society, but Socialists try to 

 attain it by compelling other people to do their duty, Christian- 

 ity by inducing every man to do his ow^n. The method of com- 

 pulsion is not altogether easy to justify ; when it is no longer 

 the suppression of a definite breach of the law of the land, but 

 is dictated by considerations of expediency, it may insensibly 

 become a well-meaning tyranny. In all taxation there is- 

 depriving a man of a portion of his property, and many tax- 

 payers are inclined to resent the demand that they should be 

 forced to contribute towards objects of which they do not 

 approve, ^or is it only in connection with the disposal of 

 property that this difficulty arises ; in a highly organised State- 

 Socialism it would seem impossible to give much scope to the 

 individual for choosing his own employment or distributing his 

 own time. Perhaps the danger of tyrannical government by a 

 bureaucracy is less formidable than that of bringing about a 

 deterioration of character in those who grow up under a system 

 which gives insufficient scope for initiative and enterprise on the 

 part of individuals. A highly organised society may be in 

 danger of becoming mechanical, and of turning out citizens of 

 one prevailing type. 



Christianity, on the other hand, appeals to each individual 

 personally, by holding out an ideal, and stirring up his will ; 

 it does not hope to accomplish its object by pressure from 

 without, but by inspiration from within. And thus, while 

 Socialism is not obviously compatible with freedom, and 

 hampers the growth of strenuous personalities, Christianity is 



