INTRODUCTION

THIS is a holy book. It has been written under an impulsion of the Spirit. The manuscript of nearly a thousand pages was prepared in about forty days. Many of the thoughts herein contained never occurred to me before. Indeed, the remarkable thing about this book is that it is nearly as new to me as it will be to the reader. When I have read over a chapter after completion it has seemed as though I were reading the work of another.

And it is the work of Another. I did not premeditate it. I laid out no plan of composition or arrangement. But as I progressed, borne along by the spiritual Power, I put down what came to me to write. Therefore, I feel I am only an amanuensis in its production. It is new to me, after so many years of authorship, to be thus so directly moved by God and sustained by Him in prosecution of a task. In a sentence, this book has truly been begun, continued and ended in God. To some this may sound like fanaticism; but I am satisfied that nobody indwelt by God will find herein a single fanatical paragraph, or even line. It is far away from visionary. It is realistic, to the last word.

If anybody shall be disposed to criticize it as lacking art, and being crude in part or as a whole, I answer, this is not an art book. It was not composed for men's admiration, to win their praise. It is an unveiling, a message. Messages from God are not meant to be models of composition. The work belongs to the Pauline account of his ambassadorial visits. He says, he came not to those to whom he

was sent with elegancies or tricks of speech, whereby the orator captivates his hearers and causes them to laugh and cry, sympathize or rave, in turns. No, no. Plainness is all I claim. God would have His word understood. Understood to be obeyed. God seeks obedience from man. If any line may seem dark, I shall be glad to be given a chance to remove the obscurity.

Now as to the substance of this book. It views this world as very evil. It calls it a "damnably bad world." Very strong words, I grant; but having lived in it nearly seventy years I know it. And nothing is gained by calling it good. Besides, it is not the truth. Facts prove it is not. The economic and industrial conditions of earth are all based upon selfishness and greed. Of course, there are other stones besides these at the base of society and mercantile life; but these are sufficient to mention here. Any thinking man will allow that love of self and covetousness are not very hopeful principles from which to expect satisfactory conditions for mankind. Therefore, it is no wonder that millions are poor and cheerless, restless and resentful. There is a very great and substantial grievance in the heart of the toilers against the exploiters of the race, the rich men who have everything. Great God! how devilish these creatures be! Men who can feast and lie down on their beds at night satisfied, while millions are empty in stomach and huddle together between rags to keep up a little heat that they may not utterly perish, have passed out of the class of humans, although bipeds and with the features of man. This book speaks of them in epithets as strong as those used by Christ against the Pharisees. Why not? The miscreants deserve every bad word in the dictionary that describes them, whether they have church affiliation or are openly irreligious.

This book, too, rebukes the churches that coddle the bad men-for the money they can get out of them. If they were good they would say to the moneystealer, under cover of business: "Thy money go to perdition [hell] with thee." It will; and there are unmistakable signs that it will not be long before the exploiter and his badly gotten gain will together go into the fire.

But the greatest service which this book renders is that it gives a sketch of a new system of living together, founded upon love. Really, it is not new; it is the old, the first way Christians dwelt together, slightly modified to suit the changed civil conditions. For the converted it is entirely practical. But, alas! there are few converted. Most persons, while looking toward the Zoar of safety, face about and look back to Sodom. Their heart is there, because their material possessions are there. Surely they are not fit for the Kingdom of God. And the unfit will never enter therein. They may as well know it now. Here they are fearlessly told the truth.

The end sought is the re-establishment of the early Community System, based upon a covenant of mutual love and support. It is shown that if the Brotherhood will once for all give up private interest as the end of life, and put what they have together and co-operate in work, everybody will have enough, even to plenty; all will be relieved of worry and care; all risk of losses will be gone; poverty will be ended; and the Christian Community will be a gloriously converting agency. Which may God grant for the church's and the world's sakes, but chiefly for His own pleasure and glory.

WILLIAM KELLAWAY.

N. B.-I invite correspondence from all earnest readers upon the subject of this treatise, with statement of difficulties and presentation of questions, for answer in following editions, or treatment, if too lengthy, in a separate volume.

The New Christian System of Living

OR,

AN ABUNDANCE FOR ALL

CHAPTER I.

An Associate Christian Life Possible

"IT can't be done. What you propose is beautiful indeed, and would bring supply and satisfaction to all, but it can't be done; hence, it is waste of time to talk any more about it."

“John, John! and you among the canters! How much better to be of the willers and the doers!"

"Yes, where a thing is possible; but I say this is unattainable, an impossibility, and it is vain to consider it further."

"That is what is said of everything until it is done; then it seems strange that it was not always thought of as practicable."

"I know, Dad, you are good-hearted, and always thinking up and doing something to relieve people and give them pleasure; but positively, a Community dwelling together in brotherly love, working for each other, with plenty for everyone, is too heavenly for this old world of ours. Nobody would like to see such a state more than I, but really it never can be."

"John, do you remember-it was but a short time ago when men spoke of flying, and how it was