The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-24

relations with the workingman were in great
variety. One said; Better preaching. Let US
be talked to by intelligent men instead of by
mandy PANTY persons who go to the mission
churches to practice Others said: "a better
training of the young" 'sby not sugar-coating
the truth" "a good revival of religion. excite
ment, curiosity "a social feeling shown by
members of the church TO workingmen and
their families Other remedies suggested were
preach the word in its simplicity and get
heart purity instead of rhetoric essay" Let
the ministers of the gospel preach the all-suf6-
cheney of the religion of Jesus as heartfelt
power to meet every want of the soul. and TO so
preach it and live il as to convince the world
that there is reality in it." Let preachers
teach and Christians illustrate in their lives
that the universal brotherhood of man
IS in Jesus Christ only. Teach
Christians to live more Chrst-like lives" etc.
Opera-house Sunday evenings about two
years ago by the pastor of the Second Presby-
terrain Church attracted people who never went
to any other church. A knight of Labor said.
MAKE the common people. as they are classed.
feel that in Christ's love theirs was the greater
part, that they were the sharers Of His tolls,
His fa.igues. His tears and His triumphs.
When / think of the unrest of the
present and the despair that Expresses
the people, l can picture the rapture
and delight with which they would hail an
other teacher like Christ. Let the church
become his representative in truth, well as in
name, and the good time coming will soon be
here" Another said: II heard Moody say that
there was no use talking to man about his
sonls salvation when his stomach was empty,
and say there is no use talking to a man about
going to church when his wages are so low that
he cannot dress himself and family in comfort
and taste. So the church must come
to the workingmeu and bid them cast their net
on the right side of the ship, which l believe is
cooperative business"
Mr.. McCulloch said the Catholic Church had
kept its hold upon the working people because
among its members there were many foreigners
who retained their church connections; because
1t had held its young people; because it had
always kept alive sympathy for the poor It's
service, charities and forms all related to daily
life, and it touched sorrowful and broken hearts
closely.
The workmen did not feel at home in the
churches 1t was not place of hope, of inquiry
or of instruction. Some of them were becoming
atheistic, but not many. Ia truth, a deeper
religion was growing among them In the in
vestigationS of the Senate committee on LABOR
and capital a printer testified that the mechanic
found substitute for the religious idea that his
forefathers had by turning his attention to the
remedying of social evils to the uplifting of his
own class. Edward King thought the selfish ell
ement in the trades unions was being eliminated
and that they were becoming religious organiza-
tons. 1t might seem foolish to see men and
women sending money to support those out on
lockouts or strikes, but such action was that of
sacrificing self for others. If it was not
religion it was certainly very near it.
The Sundays were full of meetings of lodges
and unions These were not meetings of
churches it was true. but they were, also, not
meetings of amusement or carousal They were
schools of politics. economy, business, filed with
an earnest spirit The growth of the temperance
sentiment, too. was noteworthy. There was a
moral earnestness in the time man who was
in earnest might be mistaken, but they were not
irreligious He was trying to square his life to
the great nature law. Every earnest man.
whether he knew it or not, believed in God and
tried TO Go His will. The hearts OF the working
men were not alienated from Christ,
but from certain forms in which He was
covered up. Rev. Heber Newton had said,
1.-The church has forgotten it's Masters gospel
and become the church of wealth. respectability
and society. But a mighty change is going on
in the church. The new Christianity will
preach justice and will inspire men to seek not
so much to save their souls as to save society.
And then I have no fear about the attitude of
the workingmen to the church of the 'carpen-
ter's son." Washington GLADDEN. had said the
church ought to encourage trades unions and ar
bitration, and point the way to a Just and equal
proft-sharing.
To the workingmen the speaker would say
that they were more welcome in the churches
than they think. He believed ministers and
members would be glad to have them, and he
knew of no Hpoor gallery" where they would be
put The members were of one blood, generous
and sympathetic. The workingmen could help
by their presence to make the church more a
school of character for this life. and less in
surance Office for the life to come The mem
bers of the church should come to the church
dressed so simply that their brothers or sisters
clothes would not be in painful contrast; should
carry into shop and store Christian love and jus
tice; should make their places of business less of
a labor market, and more OF house of human
ity: should go into the details of the lives of the
workingmen, visit their sick. and aid them in
other WAYS. Churches should be made Chris
tian schools where justice, government, religion
and all that makes for life taught.