June 1931
253
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scene and conceives the idea that a merger of twenty-five or. fifty plants of this type would result in greatly in creased efficiency and profits. He secures an option on the concern at a figure representing twice the amount of the invested capital, part to be paid in cash and the balance in preferred stock or bonds. Thus, this chief industry of the city, now employing several thousand men, becomes Mill Number Fifteen in a great industrial combination administered from New York. Then comes the time of business depression. A pow erful executive, the president of this vast organization, scans with practiced eye the reports of his accountants and statisticians, from which he discovers that there has been a considerable overproduction. Directors are called to gether, and stringent economies and retrenchments are agreed upon. At last, the super-executive touches a but ton, instructs his secretary to dispatch telegrams to mills Number Five, Ten, Fifteen, Twenty-Four, etc., instruct ing their managers to close down until further notice. The notice arrives and is posted in Mill Number Fifteen, and the following day five thousand men are idle. They do not know even the name of the man who issued the order; they have only a meager idea of the reason for the shut-down, and no knowledge of when it will end. With the touch of a button in a New York office, this ca lamity may befall a dozen towns and cities on the same day. My fellow traveler was a fascinated listener to this recital. Her emotions were profoundly stirred. Finally she remarked rather desparingly: “That is an appalling condition. I had not realized that society had come to such an awful state.” Is T here a S olution to th e P roblem ? The conversation now took on a new phase, with my fellow traveler as the questioner. In tones which gave evidence of aroused indignation over the conditions de scribed, she directed this pointed inquiry: “What have you, as a business man, to say about such 'conditions? Do you mean to say there is no solution, no remedy? Has society reached the-brink of ruin, as it appears from your description, with no one to point the way out?” It was my opportunity to pause; meanwhile, I was con scious o f a listener impatient for a definite reply. Quietly I observed: “There is a solution, and I believe it is the only adequate one.” ■ , . Instantly there came the inquiry, “And what is that?” and my answer: “Christianity!” A n I nd ictment and I ts A nswer The wholly unexpected and disappointing reply was a severe tax on my listener’s patience, and there was something akin to annoyance in her tone, as she exclaimed, “Impossible! Christianity is a spent force which intelligent reformers and social workers no longer take into account. The church has lost whatever influence it ever had, and through its inexcusable indifference to the needs and suf ferings of the masses of people, it has become a • mere rich man’s club, a social clique of diminishing influence in the world.” This was the substance of the outburst, but there was much more; condemnation of ministers, ridicule of preaching because of the inconsequential nature of the worn-out doctrines discussed, and above all, the failure of the church to grapple with the great social problems of the day.
The atmosphere had become somewhat tense, and I felt that the time had arrived for quiet, thoughtful, serious statement, especially in view of the important spiritual possibilities involved in .the discussion. So I mildly ob served that I was aware of grave deficiencies in the church. Indeed, my position as a church officer, and my official identification with a score of denominational and evangelical movements gave me an unusual opportunity to judge the church’s failures. Notwithstanding these ad mitted facts, the church, as the representative of Chris tianity, was in my judgment the only instrumentality in the world which justified any hope of progress and bet terment. I proceeded to make a hasty inventory of the countries of the world—China, with one-fourth of the world’s population; India, with one-fifth; Africa, with one-tenth, etc.* until I had catalogued more than two- thirds of the world’s population, all of which were living in the darkness of heathenism and social degradation. Recognizing fully the inequalities and grave defects in the social order of so-called Christian lands, how were we to account for the immeasurable advance over the heathen world? Pausing to answer an inquiry or two, I discov ered that a new world of thought was being opened up to my serious-minded listener, so I continued to press the advantage. Without attempting a complete statement, I proceeded to outline briefly the well-known facts re garding the origin and expansion of Christianity in the world, pointing out that every step in moral progress and social advancement had been due to the influence of the Christian dynamic. Following the brief historical review, I offered a few illustrations from modern missionary annals, such as the transformation of Fiji, where within a century the most revolting cannibalism had given place to such a measure of Christian enlightenment that the people were clothed, home-loving, industrious, law-abiding, with a larger per centage of church membership than New York, Chicago, or San Francisco. Similar illustrations were offered in connection with missions in New Guinea, Africa, the New Hebrides, and elsewhere. Finally allusion was made to the history and progress of America. The contrast was pointed out between North and South America, whose history covers the same approximate period. The one was settled, by those who held superstitions which left the people in ignorance and darkness until this day, whereas the early settlers of North America brought a vital religious faith which has been the inspiration of our national ideals and the formative influence in shaping our national character. Coming down to recent history, details were given as to immediate social results attending revivals conducted in America by Moody, Chapman, Torrey, Sunday, and others. At this point, there was a rather chastened inquiry as to whether Russia was not an exception to this philosophy of history. But of course it was only necessary to reply that the masses of the people of Russia had been kept in ignorance and under oppression for centuries, worshiping paper images of Jesus (Ikons) rather than the living Saviour'of men. Thus the people were an easy prey to the excesses of Bolshevism which is in itself the grossest form of infidelity. U nanswerable Q uestions The opportune moment had now come for a little cross-examination on my own account. In quiet tones, I addressed my now far from militant listener, asking if she knew of a case where mighty results, such as I had
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