Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-05-28
LABOR AND CHURCH LEADERS CON

LABOR AND CHURCH LEADERS con-
FEB,
The Congress of Churches now in session
at Cleveland has taken another new tea.
ture besides the meeting OF the delegates
of Catholic and Protestant churches. The
great labor leaders now IL session in the
same city are also participating. Several
prominent divines and labor LADDERS on
Wednesday evening delivered lectures and
exchanged views in regard to the relations
of the churches to the working people.
One Of the speakers on the part OF the
church Was Rev. DANIEL CURRY Of New
York. Among other things he said:
ut is very manifest that the present age
is time OF changes il the form of Chris
tisn thought, and of notifications of doc
trinsl conceptions. The formulas of doc.
triue which have come down to us from
the past, although 80 precious to those by
whom they were once cherished, no longer
satisfactorily express the theological con.
ception of the beat minds of Christendom.
The changes that are so strongly marked
in the religious thought of the age, affect
ouly remotely and but slightly the substance
of Christian truth, and it is confined al
most entirely to forms of expressions,
called for Uy fuller and clearer apprecis-
tons OF It's nature and relations.
He thinks the doctrines OF the Church
should be brought more in harmony with
the best Christian thought of the day and
be able to appeal with greater power to the
masses.
John JARRETT, the labor leader of Pitts,
burg, said:
have SPOKEN time and again on the
labor question, but never to couple it with
religious question. The workingmen
think that the Church Is not what it ought
to be. They, therefore, have o certain
disirust Of that institution. They are told
that they will 60 to heaven after they die;
but they want to get little Of that heaven
here, if they can.
Christ's doctrines are not entirely car.
ried out by many Christian people. 1t
may seem hard for me to say this, yet, not
withstsrding, it ia true. Some churches
pay little attention to poor men because
they haven't enough money TO distribute
for the ministry and other church expenses.
know OF one church in particular, the
members of which dWindled down to four
for these very reasons | have stated. If
the church will show the people that the
man who robs the poor workingmsa has
no place in heaven, you will gain the con.
idenee and respect of workingmen. Let
them understand that Jesus sympathizes
With the poor, the doWn.troiden and op-
pressed, that he cursed men who did not
devote their lives for the welfare of others.
Say to them, 1--WE are brothers"
The above are good examples Of the dis
cussions which took place. Both these
speakers struck q keynote that should vi
brate everywhere in our land. The masses
must be made to feel that the Church is
not sn institution Tor the rich alone, but
rather for the poor. even if it is necessary
to 20 out into the streets and shops and
factories, as Miss JENNIE SMITH is doing, to
teach people to feel this.
This interchange of opinions among
members of the greatest labor organizs-
ton and the most noted church congress
that ever assembled in this country will
greatly assist in bringing about a better
understanding between the Church and the
masses.