[1071] Such, for example, is the opinion of Nitti in his book on Catholic Socialism, and because of that rather unsatisfactory reason he only devotes a few pages to it.
[1072] There are several historical considerations that may with advantage be kept in mind in dealing with this subject, such as, for example, the notable fact that while the Catholic Church has always been opposed to usury, it was Calvin and Calvinists like Saumaise and the ancient jurist Dumoulin who first justified the practice of taking interest.
[1073] The Christian Socialist was preceded by another paper called Politics for the People, founded in 1848, which may be taken as the birthday of the movement. In any case the date is significant in view of the contemporary revolution in France.
It is only just to note that Channing, the American pastor, who died in 1842, was one of the pioneers. His writings on social questions are still read.
Those who wish for more information either on the history or on the other aspects of Social Christianity should consult the New Encyclopædia of Social Reform, published in America.
[1074] The following year Charles Kingsley preached a sermon in London which caused such a sensation that the vicar of the parish felt bound to protest against its tone even during the service. In the course of the sermon Kingsley remarked that any social system which enabled capital to become the possession of a few, which robbed the masses of the land which they and their ancestors had cultivated from time immemorial, and reduced them to the condition of serfs working for daily wage or for charity, was contrary to the spirit of the Kingdom of God, as revealed in Christ. The sermon was afterwards published under the title of The Church’s Message to the Workers.
[1075] Maurice declared that everyone who is a Christian must also be a socialist. But the significance of the word “socialist” has changed somewhat since then. According to Maurice, “The motto of the socialist is co-operation; of the anti-socialist, competition.”
[1076] “There is no doubt about association being the form which industrial government will take in future, and I have no doubt as to its success, but a preliminary training extending possibly over a couple of generations is necessary before the worker has the requisite ability or moral strength to make use of it.” (Kingsley in 1856.)
And this is how State intervention appealed to him: “The devil is always ready to urge us to change law and government, heaven and earth even, but takes good care never to suggest that we might change ourselves.”
[1077] The official organ of the Christian Social Union, which is definitely connected with the Church of England, is the Economic Review, published at Oxford—not to be confused with the Economic Journal, which is published in London by the Royal Economic Society.