C.F.W Walther and the Two Kingdoms in Action: "No reasonable man, much less a Christian, can or should take part in the efforts of Communists and Socialists" - Part II ("Lectures on Communism and Socialism," Contents and Prefaces)

COMMUNISM and SOCIALISM

Minutes of
The First German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, U.A.C.
at
St. Louis, Missouri

A STENOGRAPHIC REPORT OF FOUR LECTURES
DELIVERED, AND BY RESOLUTION OF THE CONGREGATION,
FIRST PUBLISHED BY
PROFESSOR C.F.W. WALTHER, D. D.

Translated from the German by Rev. D. Simon and published in
1879 by Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis Missouri.

(from the 1947 reprint by The Lutheran Research Society)

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CONTENTS

FIRST LECTURE

• labor unions used by communists;
• labor papers atheistic;
• French Revolution;
• No Christian can take part in efforts of Communists and Socialists;
• men are not intended to be equal by God;
• men are naturally selfish;
• happiness does not consist in external advantages

SECOND LECTURE
• Christian sympathy for troubles of laboring-man;
• condemnation of greedy employers;
• communists have never attained their purpose;
• history of real attempts at true communism: Sparta, Lycurgas, Pythagoras, Plato, Essenes, Monasteries, Thomas Muenzer, Peasant’s Revolt;
• Luther’s words to nobility;
• Joch Bockhold;
• First French Revolution, Jacobins, Babeuf;
• Egaliteurs, Count de Saint-Simon;
• Bazard;
• French Insurrection of 1848;
  
• Louis Blanc, Heine and the "Young Germany" movement;
• Weitling in Magdeburg;
• Fourier in France;
• "Icarian Communists”;
• Proudhon;
• France in 1871 and the "Commune"

THIRD LECTURE

• Communism’s attempt to justify itself from the Bible: Genesis 1;
• holding of personal property taught by necessity, reason, and for happiness;
• dangers in holding personal property must be watched;
• Acts 4:32;
• Matthew 19:16;
• laborers in Vineyard;
• Communists oppose definite doctrines of Scripture:
  personal property, fifth commandment, sixth commandment, differences between man and man, eternity, man must work to eat, man shall not seek his happiness in this world, sin is the source of all world’s troubles

FOURTH LECTURE
• Accusations of Communists against Christian Church, church in league with the rich and oppressors;
• Christ opposed to conquering world by force;
• Christ and Bible are friends of the oppressed;
• dreadful end of tyrants, Christianity not out to end corruption in the world. Christ’s Kingdom is above;
• Christianity never tried by Communists and Socialists;
• Consequence if it were tried;
• Christian’s aim is eternal life

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TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE TO THE 1879 EDITION
That our American people may be enabled the better to understand the true character of Communism, that they may see its blackness in the light of God’s Word, that they may be warned against its dreadful influences, that man may be benefited and God glorified, this English translation of DR. WALTHER’S excellent lectures is herewith dedicated to the American Public, but especially to those who may desire to acquaint themselves with the secret of our nation's troubles.

The translator has endeavored to give DR. WALTHER’S ideas in smooth English, without confining himself throughout to the original wording. Rev. C. T. Steck of Homer, Pa., assisted the undersigned in carefully criticising the language used, in consequence of which he hopes the work will need no further criticism after leaving the press.

God’s blessing accompany this little work then and cause it to do its work right nobly.
D. SIMON, M. A.
Translator

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PUBLISHER’S PREFACE TO THE 1879 EDITION
The undersigned yielded with reluctance to the earnest request of the Lutheran Congregation of this place, to publish a stenographic report of extemporaneous lectures on Socialism and Communism, called forth by special circumstances, and delivered at four evening sessions of the congregation. The publisher hopes, however, that the indulgent and unprejudiced reader will overlook the formal defects which were unavoidable in the circumstances under which these lectures originated, and he also hopes, that the reader will not inconsiderately reject the truth presented in these pages, because of these defects. May that which is here presented, occasioned as it was by the special circumstances of the congregation of this place, serve to call attention, also in other circles, to a question which is becoming more and more a burning one, even among Christians, and may it also give them occasion to answer from Scripture, reason and history, every form of this question, in which it may be presented, and that more thoroughly than time would allow.

THE PUBLISHER.
M. C. Barthel, Agt.

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