New-York tribune., 1878-07-08
A SERMON on TIE LABOR PROBLEM.
THE REV. MIR. BAKERS REMEDY FOR SOCIALIST
Evn.s-A CHRISTIAN SPIRIT OF sELF-SACRIFICE

HE ElN. MIX, BAkEhS REMEDY FOR SOCIALIST
EvrLS-A CHRISTIAN SPIRIT OF sELF-SACRIFICE
NEEDED AMONG WEALTHY PEOPLE.
In the Protestant Episcopal Church Of the
Messiah, at Grocnc-ave and Cermont-s, Brooklyn, the
Rev Charles H. Baker preached yesterday morning on
"fhe Social Question at what IS called the National
Service" held year July 4, IN honor Of the
Declaration OF Independence. He attributed the evils
that disturb society to OF all but mccen
AIRY ties between the capitalist and the laborer. The
only method of rCcoucng the two classes, he argued,
for wealthy men to adopt the Chnstianlikc
plan Of giving OF their abundance to estab
lish Institutions and schemes OF cooperation by
which the poor may gain work live deceny and secure
comfort and fair share Of culture. This could only be
done by all classes following the text Of sesacrihce
given IN Cor, - p: ~ no man seek ais own, but
suppose said speaker that there doubt that
abundance bread. thousands Of men and in
grrat need fit willing work for 1t and yet not able
get It, In Prosperous times The merchant or capitalist
makes mon fas'. Ten years Is enough To furnish
him with surplus support him for the rcst OF his life
Blt ordinary lab0rug man, with strict economy, can
nIc,u,, rou., here How the moor live i'm hard times
D. AN enigma that I have never solved.
ibrv have walked the streets for employment
than 81 In slavery the master found that he
c0Id afford 20 car, for his slaves IN hari tunes Cannot
the modern capitalist afford 10 be ~ just 60 hts labores
The movement for political equality between ncl ana
on lord nnd serf which has been going on rapidly for
ho a .rtr,d ve,rs has sevcrsd m lies net yyer the
capitalist and the abOcr except the mcrccnay one, for
the nborer n to tie capitalist simply machine. IL is
from in violent severance that modern society is suf
ciug fhc fear has been that the result now would be
the same tne days of The Republic In Rome, and
that the unemployed and suffering masses would sell
their euiraKe- 10 WHO would employ and feed
them, and thus virtual arstocIacy OF money be re-
stored TAc.r de'ourascmc TO providence push the
most of the ahOrng class into the tramp and criminal
Many men dispose OF the whole question by saying
that supply and demand regulate All these things Ihls
s the Devils doctrine AMI not to DC accepted Tor mo
mrut by Christian men, supply and demaud give the
world ou the mcrcSt modcuu In tue lowest sphere OF
philosophical, scientific, rrlNous-nust be gotten
through cndOvuents gifts made by men who are
urged to them b. disnlercsird iovr; supply ah9 &c
mlud wOud regulate well this question OF socialism,
provided the 'aDcIgfI DcII "n1 Ms put gvaY 'u Ee
tools unin they were wanted; provided they
il no new question although it' more aggravated now
than ever To-day the Oid agnIian spirit threatens the
hc open ballot rendered free from all danger Yet
We have had Of the most severe peoeian outbreaks
mediate danger hat every one has been startled io ma
how much uiImmahe material there - and how much
hostility 20 ,uc capitalist cas The legislation, or at
vn'in ILL., y, Ti. syer biii a. prorosed ihe tly
npo Incomes reduction of the army etc. all the
III, ~. T'i ~, ne hsncGt of tic poor
Ia New York city nave felt the oppression which
t ARM. e,c, lin r,.nus at H. head have threat
encd up all the smaller ones. The community has
breathed whoa such men nave dled or 5ucl rlns
been overturned py change of fortune lou can judge
how the laborcr lees when lac machinery crOwdug
hm out many fields, and the struggle to live becon-
ius harder every day. what can harmonic these ee-
mcnts Of society, continually becoming more antago-
nisci The Socialists propose to level violently al. as
tuctiOus among mon. Ihel would make an ehd Ol me
capitalist class hy giving all productive capt
tai 10 the state. But 10 the bands
of the Twceds IL Is doubtful II u Would lemalu
long productive. They that society can do WITH
out tie of self interest which few OF us can be-
requires al tie hcld Of affairs score Of angels with alb
soutc authority There is no way 10 harmony tAoeP % 10
the adoption OF JcsuSs plMclpe ol lONhE Uuc
OF the first Outgrowths Of Christianity W. the building
OF hospitals ahd asy uis !9r ho'nciIss c1i' a tO'
the nged Thus from the force OF Christian synpahyi
the riches the capital class, oppressive under the uld
rGne now began 10 Ow back agJu TO the service of the
community IN many o'hef HyH nay 'is y ~
extrcsS Itself IL organize guilds Tor the reHct OF
worthy poor. establish homes Tor the lahoring class
which they purchase ON favorable terms ike those
In Philadelphia OF u may manifest II IN DuIlhE last
prizes shall offered for cleanliness. industry economy
aud taste 10 give the workman suc1 percentage
shan 1Ne ste,S @ ~ insurance OF the aborcr against
WanI All these things have been done, and when car-
ricd on ~ a Christian spirit they nave succeeded .
TIesa iusttnus will sunre 10 show how the Chris
tan sruimcnt may express Itself in Institutions. II
sc spirit might pcryade the capital class OF The cOul-
~, nr n strong Christian public opinion could be pro-
tlured something ike the mutual trust Of feudal times
VIZ" and I TO begin IT, Cultivate fratenal sooitude
for inc mental mo:al and physical webeng OF your
servants aud cmplOycs; make your irieudship so yu
obo 10 them thai radrs-unIOns and sOcallsuc orsza-
tons sl nave no charm for them. There is no smoke
without fire. The agiat0ns or these tunes lhulete ral
troubles lie tnat would be greatest must humOie hu-
II onr peopc can induced meet this social issue
In no sut OF Christ OF prosperity Is before US
for the next ntty years uneNamplrd IN the WORLDS
history But II righteousness and mercy are TO be leit
% f the ACCOUNT tns settlement IS 20 De lett to sup
nly and demand nothing before us but eglsa-
t1u n finance tarh and incomes which shall hamper
the enterprises 81 capital. season Vi EoOu ttauo u
would 0ulct the opposition for time, because the
iaborers would be occupied. But meantime thelr
ORGANIZATIONS are growing and the tramp class Is IN,
crsasing Every successive period OF depression VIII
exhIbit greater strength OF opposition In the 9D0rer
gbn is always IN a position to strengthen himself by
accesons from all dscOnented in the community,
and TO acquire political power by alliance Win eher Oh
the great parties. ,,. -. c.,. nh
and prosperity OF country depend on It's
exrcise of sefsncrdcmg love. No people can Do great
WIN are in intestine war The way TO greatness Is here
panted out: Let no man seek his own, but every man
another's, wealth"