p. 104 | THE SOCIAL ISSUE by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 17, 1898

THE SOCIAL ISSUE.

By T.

TO SAY that there is an issue in society to-day, is only to state a fact of which all are abundantly aware. And in saying that this social question is world-wide we merely say what is already well known. When Major Howe, from his little island home within the borders of California, declared a few days since that the corruption and fraud in this country had become so repugnant to him that he could no longer remain a citizen of the nation, he stated the feelings that many others seem on the verge of expressing. This social question is discussed in all the papers and magazines, whether secular or religious. On the rostrum and in the pulpit it is the theme for consideration.

“What is to be done with the tramp?” “How shall we take care of the growing pauper class?” “How can we suppress the robbery,murder,vice,and crime that are so prevalent?” “And how can we harmonize capital and labor?” All these and other like questions are being earnestly asked about the social status of things to-day.

Some of these social questions have been up for discussion more or less all through the ages. But the remarkable thing to-day is that so many issues and social perplexities should arise together, and that they should be discussed with such heated earnestness. And it must be apparent to any thoughtful person that an agitation like this can not continue without a serious crisis being reached.

He who reads the causes that led on to the French Revolution must be impressed with the similarity—it might be said the identity—between the issues in France there and what is before all the world now in this social question. “The nobility secular” and “the nobility spiritual” owned nearly everything there was in the kingdom, just before the Revolution burst forth. The “third estate,” as the common people were called, was bowed down with poverty, and the sight of the luxurious pleasures of the nobles filled their minds with grievances. The difficulties were discussed pro and con, and Louis XVI., as mild and generous a king as France ever had, did all in his power to get the wealthy nobles to satisfy the just grievances of the “third estate.” Their complaints were ignored, and in due time the Revolution, with its Reign of Terror, came on.

The horrible barbarities committed by the frenzied people in that time can never be justified. But they all might have been avoided if the selfishness of the nobility had yielded to the reasonable reforms that the age then demanded. And so the “Revolution” and “Reign of Terror” that now threatens, not France only, but all the world, could be turned aside if the selfish heart of man would yield to the ways of righteousness. But we have not the slightest ray of hope that the self-centered age in which we live will heed this great object lesson in history.

There is one thing, however, of which we may be sure; that is, that we have entered the time when, as in the days just previous to the deluge, “the earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” Gen. 6:11. And the Lord has forewarned us that “as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” Luke 17:26. We may not hope to close up the fountains that are even now “filling the earth” with “violence.” But we can point all to the promises of the soon coming of the Saviour, and tell them of this “Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” And He is the Refuge for every one who can be led to receive Him. T.