Our reading comes from the pastor and theologian Walter Rauschenbusch - from his book Christianity and the Social Crisis written in 1907. Rauschenbusch uses the terms man and men to express human and humanity. I will share his piece as it was written, noting that it was appropriate for his time...
When the 19th century died, its spirit descended to the vaulted chamber of the Past, where the Spirits of the dead Centuries sit on granite thrones together. When the newcomer entered all turned toward him and the Spirit of the Eighteenth Century spoke: "Tell thy tale, brother. Give us word of the humankind we left to thee."
"I am the spirit of the Wonderful Century {Said the 19th}. I gave man the mastery over nature. Discoveries and inventions, which lighted the black space of the past like lonely stars, have clustered in a Milky Way of radiance under my rule. One man does by the touch of his hand what the toil of a thousand slaves never did. Knowledge has unlocked the mines of wealth, and the hoarded wealth of today created the vaster wealth of tomorrow. Man has escaped the slavery of Necessity and is free.
I freed the thoughts of men. They face the facts and know ...
I broke the chains of bigotry and despotism. I made men free
and equal ...
I have touched the summit of history. I did for mankind what
none of you did before. They are rich. They are wise. They
are free."
The spirits of the dead Centuries sat silent, with troubled eyes. At last the spirit of the first century spoke for all:
"We spoke proudly when we came here in the flush of our deeds, and thou more proudly than we all. But as we sit and think of what was before us, and what has come after us, shame and guilt bear down our pride. Your words sound as if the redemption of man has come at last. Has it come?
You have made man rich. Tell us, is none in pain with hunger today and none in fear of hunger for tomorrow? Do all children grow up fair of limb and trained for thought and action? Do none die before their time? Has the mastery of nature made men free to enjoy their lives and loves...?
You have made men wise. Are they wise or cunning? Have they leaned to deal with their fellows in justice or love?
You have set them free. Are there none, then, who toil for others against their will? Are all men free to do the work they love best?
You have made men one. Are there no barriers of class to keep man and maid apart? Does none rejoice in the cause that makes the many moan? Do men no longer spill the blood of men for their ambition...?
As the Spirit of the Nineteenth Century listened, his head sank to his breast.
"Your shame is already upon me. My great cities are as yours were. My millions live from hand to mouth. Those who toil longest have least. My thousands sink exhausted before their days are half spent. My human wreckage multiplies. Class faces class in sullen distrust. Their freedom and knowledge has only made men keener to suffer. Give me a seat among you, and let me think why it has been so."
The others turned to the Spirit of the First Century. "Your promised redemption is long in coming."
"But it will come," he replied.