Socialist Sunday Schools

The Socialist Ten Commandments
Posted by Harry

My six-year-old daughter has begun asking a lot of questions about religion and the Bible and the conversations reminded me about the Socialist's Ten Commandments, that were produced by the Socialist Sunday School movement. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Sunday_Schools

I remember reading a version in the house of an old Lancashire ILP member when I was first getting involved in political activity. It was first published in verse form in the 1908 in the newspaper The Young Socialist but I think it still stands up. Its not only a good document for schoolchildren but at a time when the notion of socialist ethics appears to have been forgotten, I can think of a few 'left wing' adults who might benefit from a read:

No. 1
Always love your schoolmates, Make happy those in sorrow;
The children of to-day will be The citizens tomorrow.

No.. 2
To parents and to teachers, Be grateful and be kind;
For we should all love learning (Which nourishes the mind).

No. 3
Let every day be holy By doing some good deed;
To all do kindly actions, Whatever be their creed.

No. 4
Be just and fair to all men, Bow down or worship none;
Judge man by what he tries to do, Or has already done.

No. 5
Hate not, and speak no evil, Stand up for what is right;
And do not be revengeful, But 'gainst oppression fight.

No. 6
Try not to be a coward,But always help the weak;
Whatever path of life you're in, For love and justice seek.

No: 7
All good things gathered from the earth, By toil of hand and brain;
Instead of going to the few,The workers should retain.

No. 8
Speak (the) truth at all times, And try not to deceive;
And what opposes reason We ought not to believe.

No. 9
Love all the races of mankind, Abolish war and strife;
That we may reach the higher plains Of our intended life.

No. 10
Look forward to the day when menAnd women will be free;
As brothers and as sisters liveIn peace and unity.