Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-01-15
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A MINISTER ON WORKINGMEH

| Wo Jake Ine lolloWlnR e1celi6nl
sentiment from the published report
of a masterly sermon delivered by the
Rev. DR.. Locke in tho First M. E.
Church, Youngstown, o., on Thanks
giving day. The reverend gentleman 3
estimate of the workingman, although
he is not altogether alone among the
clergy in that estimate is 80 felicitous-
ly and forcibly put that We could
wish similar sentiments might be
general in the pulpit. 1t is evident
that he appreciates the valne of the
productive forces of the country, and
therein he differs from many who, il
they would expend the time they waste
arranging their miraculous white
neckties in studying the merits Of
man from the ground up. would
preach more to the glory of all and
the honor of religion. Said DR..
Locke:
Another salutary lesson has been
learned by heart within the past few
years, and that is that the American
workin6man dare not be oppressed
by the community or the corporation
or the indivual. Who is the Amsri-
can workingman? He is the mighty
product of mighty civilization; the
mightiest civilization which tho his
tory of human progress has ever re-
corded. He is the aggregated result
of a hundred years of free thought
and free schools, and free ballot and
a free press. We dare net degrade
into vile servitude the American
workingman. Better that the shadow
go backward on the dial plate of his
tory until the achievements of the
nineteenth century are all wiped out
and we begin again the conquest of
the continent than that the working
men of this country should become
the willing slave of an oppressive ty-
ranny, or the mere creature Of an
overgrown and heartless monopoly.
The workingman is worth more to
the community than all your banks
and your manufacturing establish
ments and yoar railroads. The work.
ingman propsgates himself in mind
and in soul, and in spirit, and the
son of the workingman will be like
his father, cringing slave, fawning
aycophsnt, low born dependent, or
he will be a man, endowed after the
manner of men, with high-born pur-
poses, and of manly and Independent
action. But with the workingmen
before me as I have just photographed
him I must say that when he violates
the sovereign law he steps down from
the high pedestal of freeman, he
retires from the dignity Of an Ameri-
can citizen and becomes disorgani-
ger and an outlaw.
We ought to thank God that though
our industries have prospered beyond
the industries of most Of the nations
of the earth, that though our work.
ingmen apply themselves to business
With devotion that is a national
characteristic, that though we are
constantly developing new material
enterprises, we ought to thank God
that the peoples advancement in
liberal thought and in progressive
ideas and in higher civilization has
kept pace with the nations advance
ment in material prosperity. This
advancement in liberal thought has
brought to the clear dawning the era
OF the people, The uttersnces of the
pulpit and the actions of the State
house are alike submitted to the cru
chile cf common sense and the public
conscience. When the teachings Of
the leaders follow the limo of the pub
lie conscience, the people are in rev.
erent submission; when the teachings
of the leaders cross the line of this
public conscience, the people are in
majestic revolt.