The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-11-01
Religious Obligations Of Railroad Com
pinicS.

The following extract from the annual
Address Of Bishop WHr7 EHorsE, at the late
diocesan co INVENTION at Chicago, places the
custom of dead heading clersyn,en, as
1t is called on It's true ground:
No modern invention has wrough: the
vide social change that have the j on
tracks with the swif; locomotive. Tho "a
fluence petmstes society, Is moulding j;
in many r.s poets: diifu<ing il with rapid
progress, blending it IN bomose char
acteri and disclosing relations, yet undc-
velopcd or amazing extent and potency.
Run down that Indicated line and behold
the glorious creation Of its power. See
how the wilderness and SOLITARY places i
glad for the enterprise. Reclaimed from
iadefni.e sslitude. the lad springs into
large nnerchautable value: population
iocks 10 buy and settle il; towns spring
up along H. and the increase in numbers
and thrift. makes tributary return OF profit
To the great thoroughfare, along which
Games and goes the life Of thousands
There are many bonds Of interest between
the CamP7uy and the population co!oaized
along its way but none more certain, more
comprehensive. than that It's great expansc
shall be thick with Christian home and
free aud good. Hence it is the interest Of
the Corporation that every village should
become nucleus of churches. and for
this end they must act, without reference
indeed 10 theological systems, but still for
A common Christianity. 50 that the settler
may be attracted bv finding the represen
tative ef his own religious preferences. and
be held h the continuation OF the
privilege
Railroads have created new branch of
law, and each year opens wider the com
piicated cases OF their legal rights and OBJ
legations. in the same say have they
opened and carry vast moral obligations
Doth of restraint and action. and in the
same degree, as they transcend the condi-
ton OF common carriers and create
great equity and legal system OF their own,
so 60 they rise from mere soulless corpo-
rations, into responsible, highly endo we'd
agents in civilization, social happiness, and
public virtue They are now welding on
Immense influence; but it is only the
shadow Of coming aggregate power, which,
as il is exercised. is to be the curse OF
selfish monopoly in tyrannical combination
a tax upon industry, dangerous 10 political
freedom, or blessing to labor, the recul,
tor of demand and supply, generous in
conception Of real interests liberal in meet
ing claims of Justice and charity, and en-
ploying their incidental forces for gener
refinement, comfort and virtue. Railroad
companies are responsible for more than
the safe transport of passengers and pro-
duce They have an army under their
control, for the moral government of which
they are responsible. They have litera-
ture, which they are broadcastIno, for
which they are responsible. They have
police to observe in every department, so
that order and self respect propric.p of
manners and language shall be enforced
in every shop. and depot, and train They
have vast complicated wort dealing with
tremendous energies. dependent on God
for His blessing, and bound to acknowl-
edge Him in His providence and institu-
t;eHs. They have countless wayside homes,
where the whistle, that stops the headlonG
speed, is signal for the daily impulse and
material for intelligence, discipline, and
growth,-homes they have not only made
but which would perish if they were to
diverge their track single mile from its
existent course So will these homes and
their interests be dwarfed and crippled, or
perish Just as Railroad management di-
Terges from the track of right principle,
generous brotherhood, and Godward allie
glance 1t will be a day of woe. when
along any such line, the idea of n divorce
of interests shall be ratified, and sence
of wrong. oppression, selfish neglect and
grinding monopoly begins to exasperate
the beople. These places are each the
Child of the Railroad, and have heart
claim on the protection, interest, and
training of the Company. Each place in
its childhood struggle, has a claim para
mount TO all other, to be helpen in its
provision for religious training and christ
ian growth. do not mean for moment
to regard this as outside of the legitimate
business spirit and duty Of the Railways.
1t is not il. the light of a tax to be paid, as
the State might exact it, because they
represent capital and property, Not so.
1t is to be regarded as integral part OF tn 9
true corporate life; claim go intrinsic,
that wn ether shaped as duty or privilege
cannot 3. sharply defined. or perea,ptarilY
discharged, / do not mean to intimate
that hitherto. there has been an indiffer-
.ence to these obligations, or neglect to
recognize the ministry and establishment
of religion. But l must say that it has
beer, done with too little business ability
and care; without a principle, or on a
folse one; with lavish carelessness instead
Of watchfuI economy; and the result has