The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-16
] LABOR. VS. G PIT "A i, 4. !.
The Subject Discussed II Isngth BY the
Right Rev. John ] I. Kan Of Wheel
ing, ". Va.

An Able Discussion from the Pulpit
Labor Unions and Similar socie
ties Considered.
On the last Sunday Of December,
speaking from the pulpitOf st. Joseph's
Church, Wheeling, w. VI, Right Rev.
Bishop Kahn, who is justly regarded as
one of the most learned and intelligent
prelates of the American hierarchy, and
who has lately returned from an extend
ed trip throughout the country, having
been engaged in preaching a retreat
lately to the clergy Of the diocese OF
St. Paul, Minnesota, from which city
he returned homeWard by slow stages,
stopping at various points to preach
and lecture, circumstance that gave
him facilities for observing and study
ing the various phases pf the labor
question, one that even Id his own epis-
copal city has Of late Assumed large
proportions on account Of the difficulty
arising between employer and employe
Of the great corporations, addressed
his flock on the great question of Cap
ital and Labor" It is understood that
certain utterances repo1tM as being
made at the labor meeting held Satur-
day evening induced the bishop to de-
liver this discourse, and while it was
largely extempo eous, he only having
had an hour or so in which to prepare
his notes, it was one of the N most able
and polished discourses ever delivered
by him. It was listened to with mark
ed attention by the large congregation
present, and was the cause of consid-
cradle comment during the after part
Of the day. The bishop took the pa
pers containing the reports Of the meet
ing into the pulpit with him and read
extracts from the reports in order that
he might not be misunderstood in his
references and in what he might say.
In opening his discourse he warned his
congregation against the false and dan
gerous principles too often enunciated
by those who advocate the cause Of the
workingman, and reminded them of
the condemnation Of socialism, COM
mnnisn, nihilism, etc, by The present
holy Father. Referring to the ine-
quality in the po session Of the goods
of this life, he maintained that this
has always existed under every form of
government, aud that wsiile il n.;.....,.. I.
Its dlscomforts and It's sihiseries, 1t is
not, to the good Christian, unaccorn-
panied by it's corresponding advantages
and blessings. Both the rich and the
poor must be shielded by the panopoly
of the law. The rich may employ their
wealth as they please, provided they do
not infringe upon others rights; and
the poor man may labor when and
where he will, if he does not invade the
rights Of others. The man of wealth
who invests his capital in industries
that give employment and means Of
livelihood to many Of his fellow-meni is
greater benefactor than he who ties
up his wealth in bonds and stocks or
boards it in his Office. But whatever
be his responsibility to God for the use
Of this worlds goods, he must be free
from any restraint from his fellow-men
to use it as he pleases. Like liberty
must be guaranteed to the poor man in
the disposition Of his labor. He may
work or not, but he must not be rob-
bed by his fellow workmen of his right
to labor. They may advise, they may
argue, they may use all legitimate
means to bring him over to their way
Of thinking; but force they must not
employ, otherwise they become guilty
of the very tyranny which they are
| wont to decry in others. Labor unions,
like all human institutions, may be
good or evil, according to the means
they employ. There is certainly no
reason to condemn men for banding
themselves together to defend their
rights and promote their various inter
ests, and when properly conducted such
associations deserve and receive the en-
couragement and blessing Of the church.
But they may not use illegitimate
means. They may not employ force To
compel compliance with their man
dates; they must not infringe upon the
rights of others, must not destroy OF
injure the property OF others; must not
bid defiance to the laws Of the land
!, hen they resort to such means. Cath
loIics must sever their connection with
them, and they must moreover bear in
| mind that an injury to the
property of others entails the
strict obligation Of restitution.
Then, taking a higher view, the Bishop
defined the obligations which the gospel
| i'm poses on the rich. who should ever
bear in mind that, after all, they are
the agents and stewards Of God. and
are bound to use their wealth accord
| ing to the viii Of Him who is the only
| master Of all these things. He dwelt
too, on the gospel teaching in regard t0
poverty and the ills of life, and con-
| trasted this doctrine with the false
theories which the world holds as to
what constitutes the tue happiness Of
man. II is the denial Of these sacred
teachings, it is the spirit Of infdelity
abroad in the land, from which both
labor aud capital have most 70 fear
Rob the poor man Of his Christian