The Labor enquirer., 1886-04-10
The ClergicaI ~Brakemen Have
Begun to HeaVe Coal Into
the Fire Box.
Social Ref0rmers Should Go Out
and Meet the Prodigals
and Help Them.
The Great Awakening at Topeka, as
Told by "The Enquirer's"
Special,
Editor Labor Enquirer.

One by one the ministers of the Cos
pei begin to get glimpse of the mean-
ing of those words that they have been
ignorantly trying to interpret for 50
many years. One by one they are be-
ginning to see through the cracks of that
dead shell, "creeds and doctrines" and
realize that they are in the midst of a
great and real universe. One by one
they are turning from the grave of myth,
superstition and dead languages, and are
trying to get acquainted with the ever
living Jesus Christ. They have begun
to discuss principles and their relation
to human happiness and development,
instead of quarreling over the technical
meaning of useless words. They have be-
gun to study the laws and ways of God as
energetically as they used 70 hunt for
man-made definition of mixed up eto-
mological expression. This influential
class of men, who for ages have been
brakemen IN the train of progress, have
now begun to fire the engine, and if en-
couraged by their new associates are not
| liable to 60 out on a strike.
To the student of social progress one
of the most interesting features in the
present revolution of thought is the as
tonishing rapidity of the growth of new
ideas amongst the clergy. Their minds
are initiating Jonah's gourd it is hoped
they will not wither 80 soon, in devel-
oping as in a night from but germ or
seed into a living power with branches
spreading in all directions. Now
think it is the imperative duty of all So
cial reformers to try and encourage this
newlY-tormed friendship between this
class of heretofore strangers and our old
brother o-worker Jesus Christ. Let no
one put stumbling block in the way of
the prodigal, but 90 and shake hands
with him when he is yet afar off. Do
not wait until he comes clear to us but
if his strength begins to fail when he
nears his journeys end, we should help
him the rest Of the way.
There has been special waking up
among the religious people of Topeka
within the past few months. MAJOR
Whittle, the well-known revivalist,
started theS ball roll ng by throwing a
bomb into the midst of about l,5OO peo-
pie the first week of his stay In this city.
He declared that "we are on the eve of
great upheayal )" that the ques ton of
wages unless solved would quickly des-
troy the existing COVER nment and order
of things. All through the revival he
prophesied the early coming of Christ's
kingdom of love (which means Liberty,
Equality and Fraternity and said that
1T was right that the laboring men
should have what they earn; that the
Lord would not long allow this selfish
ness and oppression. He dwelt espe-
cially on the great smash-up of the ex-
istlng order, and thought that the Revo-
luton that was upon US would herald
| IuC VI OllIloG 11C uIkCu IllO
merchants and worldly men to lay up
treasures of mind and soul as the prop
erty which was now their only happi-
ness and would soon be theirs no more.
His ideas on the subject 30 well upheld
by all biblical prophecy and common
sense left deep impression on the re-
ligious minds of the community when he
left about three weeks ago.
Soon after Rev. Mr.. George, pastor Of
the First Presbyterian church this city,
the largest church in the state, an
nounced that he would begin series of
sermons upon the Labor Problem" be-
ginning March %. The church was
crowded to Its utmost capacity, several
hundred Knights of Labor being pres
ent to near the tirst sermon on the SUBJ
ject. The text was Thessalonians 81.
1t is a prayer: THAT we may be de-
livered from unreasonable and wicked
men," "If there is any prayer that we
caa all join in Tonight he said, "it
would be that we may be- delivered
from unreasonable and wicked men,"
unreasonable and wicked employers and
unreasonable employees. Now is the
time above all others that we need cool
Judgment. Now is the time that we
need reason, reason, reason" Like Paul
he said that he had very little confidence
in the flesh; not enough to trust any
one with $200,000,000. He thought that
God intended the land for the genera
tion Lying upon it, and that it should
not be monopolized by individuals.
Under the laws of Moses the Jews
never parcelled out the land to individ-.
uals but owned it as nation, and he
thought it unreasonable and wicked tor
men to make merchandise out of what
God Almighty intended for an inhen-
ance to the people The coal was also
placed in the earth for humanity to use
and not that few individuals might
live in opulenee without stroke of use
full labor. 1t is only unreasonable and
wicked men who think that the coal WAS
made for their especial benefit. He
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