Essays in medical sociology, Volume 2 (of 2)Blackwell, Elizabeth
Science
Essays in medical sociology, Volume 2 (of 2)
Blackwell, Elizabeth
Prostitution; Sexual ethics; Social medicine
effort of every man and woman to consider together how these true
principles can be carried out by them. A Christian Church Conference
must ponder the life of that army of little drudges in our underground
kitchens, of the blasphemous boys and girls who gather at night in our
public places, of the vicious roués who crowd on us from London, of the
struggles of the poor householder who knows not how to pay the heavy
rent, of the tendencies of the trader oppressed by taxes, who sinks all
scruples in the desire to get money, and of the speculator whose one
desire is to make ‘wealth accumulate, though men decay.’ These are the
problems for Church Conferences which the practical Christianity of the
Nineteenth Century urgently requires should be solved.
It is only on these humble but indispensable foundations that a Church
which meets the needs of the age can be founded. It is only in a Church
so founded that prayer and praise and the worship of the Great Father
can become a glorious reality, and never sink into formalism.
A true Church, then, suited to the needs of this age, must be a
self-governing, industrial community, guided by Christian principle,
holding and managing its own lands, varied industries, and colleges.
It should send off out-shoots from time to time, new self-governing
colonies at home and abroad. These colonies necessarily possessing
varied individual colouring, according to occupation and composition,
should all agree in the one great uniting principle--organization on
the principles of Christian brotherhood. The Christian idea of united
interest, instead of the narrow antagonism of individual selfishness,
will be the distinguishing mark of true Church colonies--the practical
Christianity of the future.
There are large numbers of sincere followers of our Spiritual Guide
who clearly perceive the radical evils above referred to: persons who
long to devote thought, time, and means to the labour of forming a
Christian society; persons who would rejoice to leave their possessions
to the noblest Missionary work of the age. But these earnest seers are
scattered far and wide; they require the indispensable strength of
union. A grand work is before all the Churches to join their members
together under the noble banner of Christian Socialism. By careful
study of the various practical examples which now exist of successful
although imperfect organization, preparation can be made for union
together in the formation of a true Church Colony. A band of Christian
Socialists thus uniting in earnest preparation (whilst neglecting no
immediate duty) will be strengthened and guided in the course of a few
years to initiate the most important and urgent work that our age now
calls for.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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