Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-25
HOME AND THE STATE
Constitute the Twin Topics of Most
\ Interest Discussed by
THE CONVENTION OF REPORMERS.
Immigrants, the Oath, Political Morals, and
Marriage Handled.
WILL SUNDAY MAILS AND TRAINS STOPp

the outset for the recovery of Rev. DR.. Jona-
than Edwards, of Mesdville, whose serious
illness was announced.
The opening address by Rev. James Nor
row, D. D., on ''The Nations RESPONSE
bility for Her Immigrant Population, q"
deprecated the general proneness of the
people to regard immigrants as cursein the
line of pauperism. They brought and
created wealth among u.s. Particularly
mean and dishonorsble was it for America
to treat Chinese immigrants as she did, in
view of the better treatment our people re-
ceive over there, and in view of the industry
and thrift of this class of immigrants.
''The Oath and ifs Abuses, or Profanity
National Evil, which was to have been
presented by DR.. Edwards, was discussed
by several, in his absence. DR.. McAllister
thought the oath, as mumblingly admins
tered in our courts, a mere farce. DR.. Ste
= venson lamented that the Divinity was not
recognized in administering the oath to the
United States President. Profanity might
increase until this should be done. DR..
Hubbard, on the Biblical injunction "Swear
Not at All" recommended the total aboli-
tion of the oath, with afirmations as a sub
stitute.
CHRISTIANITY AND LABOR.
Then came the address on 1.-The Labor
Problem, from Christian Point of View"
by President Charles A. Blanchard, of
Wheaton College, Illinois. Ee said there
were stars in a cloud-swept sky, such as the
sharing of dividends with workmen at Mil
waukee and the division of the profits among
employees at Pullman, III. But there were
also devilish employers who were conJinu.
ally extorting the greatest possible exaction,
and there was a law In prevalence in the
business world called supply and demand,
a law, the text of which is, ''Grind as much
as you can, and don't let the church inter-
fere." Nevertheless, the church had power
to find the remedy and to enforce it by its
molding influence upon public opinion.
But before the church attempts TO lift up
the working classes or to win their conf
dence, it must give them its hand and not
reach out 10-ioot pole. As for the church's
best method, it was to secure by law to the
wage worker as much improvement as
possible, and do the rest by spreading the
spirit of the gospel.
DR.. Blanchard presided at the afternoon
session. The meeting was opened with
PRAYER by Rev. j. d. Brownlee. Rev. Prof.
Aaron Rittenhouse, of Dickinson College,
was then introduced. He delivered an ad-
dress on Popular Objections to National
Reform" Among other things, Prot. Rit-
tenhouse said that Christianity has right
full place in the political organization of the
Government 1t is an indispensable ele-
ment in political life, and yet objections are
urged against it in the name of the State, of
Christ and of conscience. Objections are
raised against Christianity in politics in
the name of the State because politics is a
mont Christian organization; in the name of
Christ on the ground that His kingdom is
not the world; in the name of conscience, be-
cause it is recognized that religious scruples
ought to be observed, but to gain personal
ends they must be evaded.
A MISLEADING NOTION.
The allegation that the State is secular is
misleading. There is no non-moral sphere
among men. The civil government has to
do with moral and religious considerations
because it has to do with moral and relig-
ious beings. The civil government cannot
ignore the higher nature in the man. The
highest end of the citizen must be the high
est end of the State. People say men can
not be made moral by law. But laws can
be made which will not legalize men to do
wrong A State may become Christian
without becoming State church just as a
business man may become a Christian
without trans orming his store into chapel
and his employees into evangelists. Objec-
tious are raised against the public school
system because the people do not want Sec
ular education. The State is burdened with
the function of educating the children. The
church is burdened with the function of ed
ucating the children morally.
The Christian Government, instead of
ignoring conscience, must appeal to con-
science. Let conscience speak and the
Bible will remain in the public schools; the
LIQUOR traffic will hasten to its downfall and
the injustices to mankind will be over
thrown.
'sThe State and the Family was dis
cussed by Rev. George K. Morris, D. D.,
of Philadelphia. He said marriage and re-
ligion are twin pillars in the State. De-
stroy religion and the basis of good govern
ment is destroyed. Make Government i'm
possible, and the infdels will be driven into
the support of religion. Permit marriage
to be damaged, and the Government is
undermined. Only by marriage can the
home exist, and the home is earth's most
precious thing. Here has woman found her
throne. Outside of the home she is q wan
derer-a .discredited competitor on the
battlefield of lie.
WITHOUT THE HOME
there can be no State, no Nation, no Gov
eminent. Man also finds his true estate in
the home. There is no rest in the hotel or
boarding house. Outside of the home he is
in perpetual storm, an uneuding battle
The so-called principles of business to the
man without a home are but principles of
barbarism. How many men there are in
business to-day that's are as diabolical as were
the British fathers in the days of the hep
tarehy, when might was made right There
are business men to-day who go out to scalp
and skin their neighbors, and hang them up
to dry that they may sell their carcasses.
Then they go home at night-not home
but to their boarding house, and count their
scalps. That's businessl
The home is not cheap thing. It is the
only place where there is q possibility of
the development of childhood. 1t is a
custom in London to discharge an employe
for getting married. This is the result of
greedy, oovetous attack upon the home.
What this Government wants to do is to
stop making people immoral by law. The
same principle applies to marriages. There
are multitudes of men who pass for moral
men who 90 into marriage hastily, knowing
that If they don't like It they can get out
again for 500 or $500.
AT the close of DR.. Morris address the
officers of the National Reform Association
took position on the stage and were photo
graphed.
Mrs. Mary A. Woodbridge, Secretary of
the Worlds W. c. 7. O., was then intro
duced. She read paper on the subject of
"Peace and Arbitration" Mrs. Wood
bridge held that all differences between ma
tious ought to be settled by arbitration. She
reviewed the late Civil War, and estimated