COMMERCE AND CHRISTIANITY.
Commerce and Christianity. By the Author of "The Social Horizon." (Swan Sonnenschein and Co. 3s. 6d.)—Christianity versus the competitive principle in business, such is our author's theme, and he demonstrates the great antagonism between the fundamental idea of Christianity and the struggle for wealth. He declares that the Church is powerless to improve matters, and that it only views the question now with a sort of apathetic regret. But, says our author, this question—the industrial problem—is solving itself, and the taking over of large concerns by public bodies already points the way, and he instances the acquisition of the tramways by the County Council. This action, he says, was fraught with a momentous meaning, and was, in fact, changing the principle of the enterprise from anti-Christian to Christian, though no one realised it. The County Council placed the business on a basis towards which, as he says, the commercial forces of the world are impelling all businesses. Now, the old rules were disgrace- ful and inhuman, and the Church should have stepped in and protested, though truth to tell, he adds, it would have been little use if they had. Does he advocate the Church as a temporal Power ? "I do not say that the Church is bound to solve it [the problem]," says our author, " the thing is solving itself ; " and he does not think their action or inaction will affect the final issue. " But," he adds, "I do say that if they cannot, they must be prepared to stand aside and see much of what influence still remains to them pass to those who can." Our author (an awkward phrase, but as he remains anonymous there is no other) is eloquent, reasonable, shows restraint, and is quite reverential when discussing the utterances of Christ; and there are passage., for instance in " The Simple Life," which are not only beautiful, but lofty in tone. His contention that the ultimate end of com- petition already foreshows, and can only be, the Christian ideal as announced by our Lord, sounds a hopeful note. His declara- tion that the ultimate coincidence of the results of competition in business, i.e., co-operation, with the teaching of Christ is the strongest proof of the reality of that divine inspiration, is a striking observation. But the remark he makes elsewhere that Christianity as distinct from the altruism of the world will dis- appear is too confident. Altruism is only an emotion, and would be non-existent but for the teaching, the duty, the restraint, and the final hope held out by Christianity.
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