Can this state of things last much longer?

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane, March 16, 1895.

Open Column.

For the expression of social and economic opinions with which the “Worker” does not necessarily hold itself in complete accord.

The Blind Leading the Blind.

If the blind lead the blind both will fall into the ditch.

Woe to them that put darkness for light and light for darkness.

Ye that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please yourselves.

Bear ye one another's burden's, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Be not as the hypocrites are, for they say and do not.

It seems almost incredible that the light of such plain, self-evident and homely truths, such good advice, and such profound wisdom, evidently designed, and so well adapted to raise humanity to a higher plane of intelligence, freedom, and happiness to reform and bless the world, should have been allowed for nearly twenty centuries to remain almost a dead letter, to become nearly obsolete, inoperative and obscured by men connected with so called Christian Churches who have received countless millions of pounds for the express purpose of removing that obscuration, to make a reality “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” and to bring about “Peace on earth and goodwill among men.”

* * *

These thoughts have suggested themselves to my mind from the fact that if many good and liberal-minded clergymen in aristocratic and plutocratic churches were to tell their purse proud, domineering masters from the pulpit that they were responsible for the social, commercial, and political corruption that is now cursing the world they would probably rise in a body and leave the church, and quickly inform them that unless they refrain from being political agitators their services would no longer be required, as there was no connection between preaching the Gospel and political agitation.

* * *

If it be right to expose commercial injustice and political wrongs stumbling blocks to the progress of that “righteousness which exalteth a nation”- which embrace political, social, legal and commercial reform, can it be wrong for the churches to use the lawful means to remove them? And what are the lawful means but political agitation in conjunction with preaching the Gospel. Politics are the tools or instrumentalities to make laws with, and without their strong arm of protection to-day no man's life or property would be worth one day's purchase, with all the increase of churches and their costly maintenance. What a blot on our boasted civilisation and a disgrace to Christianity? When darkness can expel darkness and Satan cast out Satan, then may we say there is no connection between political agitation and preaching the Gospel.

* * *

This long cherished conventional church lie, “no connection,” which many of the clergymen throughout Christendom appear to believe in, teach and practice, is the stronghold, the curtain on the stage that hides the inner lives of the dignitaries of the church and their wealthy supporters from the outside world, who make war on industry, plan, plot and contrive the best means to keep the poor and ignorant blind to their temporal welfare by directing their attention to the glories of a future state; form themselves into powerful monopolies and syndicates and commercial corner rings, become sleeping partners in questionable enterprises, throw the dust of deceit in the eyes of the toilers and keep them grinding at the mill of labour competition and slavery whilst the rich live in ease and luxury and make large fortunes.

* * *

Can this state of things last much longer? People starving in the midst of plenty. Whilst some of the leading lights of the churches and their rich supporters are engaged in the mad or blind race for the supremacy of creeds. Giving garden parties and feeding the rich whilst the unemployed outside the gates of the wealthy are wanting the common necessaries of life, and falling into the ditch of poverty, pauperism and misery. Is a foul cesspit thickly impregnated with the germs of typhoid less dangerous because it does not overflow and cause wholesale pestilence and death? Are our social, commercial, and political cesspits and sweating dens less dangerous because the unemployed starving millions do not break out in open revolt? Let the causes and the consequences of the French revolution answer. Can anyone for a moment think that if the principal actors in the churches were not blind to the fact that their lives in relation to the poverty and needless misery around them were a true picture of the parable of the “rich man and Lazarus,” that they would not remain one day longer in the false position of being the “Blind Leaders of the Blind.”

They are slaves who fear to speak

For the helpless and the weak,

They are slaves who dare not be

In the right with two or three.

                                                                                  W. GAISFORD, Warwick.

[N.B. - It must not be thought from the above that I condemn the whole of the clergy as indifferent to and neglectful of the sufferings of the poor. I am acquainted with several self-sacrificing and benevolent ministers of the gospel whose endeavours to sincerest admirations. W.G.]