The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-09-05
PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY.

Proposals of Church Association for the
Advancement of the Interests of Labor.
The Church Association for the Ad-
vancement of the Interests of Labor, of
which Frederic Dan Huntington, bishop
of central New York, is president, is
circulating for signatures petition, to
be presented to the Fright Reverend the
Bishop, the Reverend Clergy and Lay
Delegates of the Parishes of the Diocese
of New York in the 1O7th Diocesan Con-
vention." that will assemble on Wednes-
day, Sept. "a. This association believes
that the clergy and laity of the church
should become personally interested in
the social questions now being agitated,
should inform themselves of the nature
of the issues presented, and should be
prepared to act as the necessities of the
day may demand.
Among the special duties LAID down
are these:
SIT shall be the duty of each member
to take or read at least one journal de-
voted to the interests of labor.
sit shall be the duty of each member
to devote certain portion of his time to
the study of the social questions of the
day in the light of the Incarnation"
The prayer given in the ritual of the
association is as follows:
20 Lord Jesus Christ, who didst glo-
rify labor by thy life of toll, bless, we
beseech thee, the efforts of our society
that we may both rejoice to work with
thee, and we may also strive to open to
all our brothers the way to honest labor
and secure to them the fruits of their
toll; who, with the Father and the Holy
Ghost, Invest and reignest one God,
world without end. Amen"
Here is the heading of the petition to
be presented to the convention:
The undersigned, communicates of
the diocese of New York, acting with
the Church Association for the Advance
ment Of the Interests of Labor, society
formed ON the following principles:
/. 1t is of the essence of the teachings of Jesus
Christ that God Is the Father Of all men and that
all men are brothers.
2. God is the sole possessor of the earth and its
fullness Man is but the steward of Gods boun-
ties.
8. Labor being the exercise Of body, mind and
spirit In the broadening and elevating of human
life, it is the duty Of every man to labor dill
gently.
4. Labor as thus defined should be the standard
of social worth.
5. When the divincly intended opportunity to
labor Is given to all men one great cause Of the
present widespread suffering and restitution will
be removed
And using the following methods:
/. Prayer.
2. Sermons, setting forth the teachings of the
Gospel as the guide to the solution Of every ques-
ton involved In the interests of labor.
8. The proper use Of the press and the circula-
ton of tracts as occasion may require.
4. Lectures and addresses on occasions when
the interests Of labor may be advanced.
8. The encouragement by precept and example,
Of conscientious use of the ballot.
Do humbly ask that you will pass the
following resolutions:
Whereas, 1t is known to us that many Of the
members Of Christ in this city, through the pres
emit inequality Of opportunity, are forced to work
under conditions injurious to body, mind and
spirit; and
Whereas, The church, through her chief pas
tors, has declared that 1t Is fallacy In
Christian thinking to look upon the labor of men,
women and children a mere commercial COM
modify, to be bought and sold as an inanimate
and irresponsible thing" and,
Whereas, The bishop of this diocese, in an Off
cial communication to the clergy, has declared
that at is false In the domain of religion that la
Dor and the laborer are alike commodity to be
bought and sold, employed or dismissed, paid
underpaid as the market shall decree;" and that
1.-THE share Of the laboring man" should "be
something more than mere wage" therefore.
Resolved frst-That this convention procure
its printing and other work to be done from firms
paying not less than the minimum standard
wages current In the trade.
Second-That this convention urges on the par
she, societies and institutions of this diocese the
duty they owe to Christ In his people to assure
themselves that the laborers on any work for the
church are not defrauded Of their hire by INSULT
cient wages or excessive hours of toll and recon-
mends that contracts for work to be done shall
include a clause requiring contractors to pay not
less than the minimum rate Of wages recognized
by the trade and to give out no sub-contracts.
Third-That this convention hereby expresses
its approval of oil legitimate efforts bring about
the adoption Of an eight hours working day.