The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-17
A WORK FOR CHRISTIANS.
Bishop Potter Issues Letter in Reference to
the Labor Disturbances.

New York Special.
Bishop Henry G. Potter. of the Episcopal Do
cese OF New York, has issued lengthy letter to
the clergy of the diocese containing a series of
Christian precepts in regard to the humane re-
latlons which should exist between the rich and
the poor. He says: "A grave emergency has
arisen, in which, while it seems to concern us
first as citizens, it is of supreme Importance that
we should see and own our duty as disciples of
Him whose ministers we are and whose religion
we are pledged to teach and illustrate. A class
conflict has grown up in this land which threat
ems not only the peace and good order
of society. but the permanence of
free institutions" He is not apprehenslve
that the constituted authorities will fail in their
duty in any conflict that may threaten us at this
moment Bishop Potter sees rare opportunity
for the church at this moment to reconcile the
differences between rich and poor. What the
laDorer wants from his employer is fair and fra
ternal dealing, not aims giving, and recogni-
ton of his manhood, rather than a condescension
to his inferority. do not see why poverty should
cringe to wealth, which is as often as otherwise
an accidental distinction, and quite as often a
condition unadorned by any special moral or in
tellectual excellence But we may be sure that
the manners of the poor, if they insolent
are learned from those of people whose oppor-
tunities should at best have taught them that no
arrogance is more insufferable or unwarrantable
than that of mere wealth. and if we are reaping
to day the fruits of these mutual hatreds be-
tween more and less favored classes, we may
well own that the fault is all on side"
Bishop Potter says Laws will not regulate
these matters; the safety of the state is in the
contentment and loyalty of its people. When
capitalists and employers of labor have forever
dismissed the fallacy that labor and the laborer
are alike commodity to be bought and sold,
employed or dismissed, paid or underpaid, as the
market shall decree; when the interest of
sworkmen and masters shall have been
owned by both as one and the share of the
aborng man shall be something more than
mere wage; when the principle of joint inter
est In what is produced of all the brains and
hands that go to produce it is wisely and gen
erously recognized, may we hope to heal those
great social divisions concerning which there
need to be among US all, as with Israel of old,
great searching of heart"
The Bishop calls upon the clergy to present
these matters to the people of their parishes.
ut Is time to say that no Christian can be indif
ferent to the interests of workingmen and
women that wealth brings with 1t definite re-
sponsibility, first. to know how best to use it to
serve others well as ourselves. and then reso-
lutely to set about doing it, that luxury
has its decent limits, and that we in
this land are in danger in many directions of
oversteppng those limits; that class churches
and class distinctions of kindred kinds have
nearly destroyed in the hearts of many Of the
poor all faith in the genuineness of a religion
whose founder declared. All We are brethren,
but whose disciples more often seem by their
act to say Stand thou there Trouble me not
when their brethren remind them not merely of
their manifold needs but of their just rights