The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-02

Home, Sunday, 18th inst The church
was beautifully and profusely decorated
and the services very impressive. Sun
day, the 18th, the Locomotive Brother
hood, who were holding their annual as
sembly in this city, attended in body
the Church of the Redeemer, to listen to
a sermon from DIR. Tuttle. The follow
ing extract of the Doctors discourse ap-
peared the next morning in the Pioneer
Press, and will be of interest to your
readers:
DR.. Tuttles Sermon.
Whatsoever thy hand fndeth to do, do it
WE'LL"
The preacher said:
The social conditions of mankind, as Solo
mon knew them, bore but little similarity to
the socia! conditions of this city. Great
changes have been wrought and great i'm
provements, no doubt have been made The
present is better than the past, and the future
shall be better than the present This is our
encouragement and our hope. The question
of labor, perhaps, rose to some distinction
even in that early day. 1t was a question
that confronted men then as now. The ques-
ton, however, did not assume fraction of
the Importance it has reached to-day. The
condition of the laboring man was much
lower than now; the contrast between capital
and labor greater than at this time. The
condition of laboring men was never since
the world began go elevated, SO fruitful in its
rewards as now. Perhaps you may bring me
statistics to prove the contrary, but have
little confidence in statistics. They are too
is that labor has always kept ahead with the
progress of other interests. In what age had
you rather been born than thisr In what land
would you rather have been born in than
this? There were no locomotive fremen,
suppose, in Solomon's day. But had there
been, would it have been possible for them
to take a two weeks vacation and go up to
mons temple? Imagine the golfers of En-
gland walking abroad and receiving the re-
spect and the honor of people and officials.
In these observations do not imagine that
the laboring men have reached the summit
of all that is desired. There must be contin-
ued progress. 1t is no part of my purpose to
attempt to solve the great questions which
are disturbing labor and capital. have no
magic key to unlock these problems. But
do not stand before them with very much
alarm; certainly with nothing like feeling
of despair. The locomotive firemen have
handled this hard subject very wisely and
very effectively 40 far, at least, as touches
them personally. You have had no strikes.
You gained the ends of justice by shorter,
more rational and less dangerous methods.
You have followed, it seems to me, wiser
counsels. Now, may not all other labor or
CARNATIONS grasp their difficulties with the
same calm, steady, persistent and non-revo-
lutionary manner? But have no fear. Out
of the chaos and confusion order will come,
for the interests of this country are based on
the moral intelligence of the people.
The Blessings of Labor.
The preacher then discussed the relation
which labor holds to the laborer himself. He
quoted the sayings of many wise men re-
garding the nature of labor, and showed that
labor is law of God.
sLabor is not merely the toll of our hands,"
he continued: "The brain toiler is Just as
much laborer as he who works with his
hands. The ultimate condition of life is not
riches: it is not even to get a living. Labor
is also condition of life, and of the highest
condition of life. 1t is condition of health
and of happiness as well. If one gets all the
money he wants, he still needs to work to
get something else. Energy, industry and
ability are as necessary in keeping fortune
as in winning it. The idle man cannot keep
his money. 1t was popular doctrine once
that labor was imposed upon the human race
as curse for sin, and there are people who
think SO now. think there is more truth in
the reverse theory, that the penalty of sin is
not labor, but idleness-or rather idleness
itself is sin. l believe that labor we'll chosen
and well performed is agreeable. 1t affords
far more pleasure than doing nothing. But
for labor not only physical qualifications are
necessary. There is need of intellect to guide
the hand that labors. Take what is necessa-
work requires, no doubt, a good state of
body and a strong hand. Is that all? Can
man obtain and retain place who has these
qualifications only? No. he must put thought
into his work. He must put skill and his
whole manhood into it. He must do it we'll,
so as to inspire confidence. Your RESPONSE
bilities are great, and should be assumed
with high degree of intelligence. You have
a noble motto-"Benevolen charity and
'sobriety." In your calling, beset with so many
dangers, you have ample opportunity for
the exercise of charity and benevolence. So
briefly is equally as important, if not more
80. Who would trust an Incorporate man at
the head of a railroad train?"
The preacher, after dwelling on the i'm
portance of character building, continues:
Honest labor wears an honest face. It
will also carry happy heart. When our
work does not bring us satisfaction it is be-
cause we do not throw ourselves honestly
into the work. We slight our task and con-
sequently we are sighted in the reward. 1t
is the law of nature and the law of life that
we should rise to our best endeavor in what
ever we undertake to do"
The Third Society gave social party
last week which was attended by large
number of people. Refreshments were
served by the young ladies of the society.
Financially it was one of the best parties
ever given by the society; and socially it
could not be better.