The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-17
METHODIST CONGRESS.
Ministers Discuss the Relation Of Labor
10 Capital.

WASHINGTON, Oct 16. Rev. F. w.
Bourne, President of the Bible Society OF
the Methodist Church of England occupied
the chair at to-day's session of the Ecum-
enical Methodist Council. The resolution
presented yesterday in relation to Metho-
dist federation was again taken up, and it
was agreed to unanimously. Among the
resolutions adopted was one demanding the
complete suppression of the opium trade in
all parts Of the world. The topic of this
mornings session, Social Problems" was
then taken up.
Mr.. Speers, in the course of his remarks,
said the church, by spiritual changes which
it has wrought in the lives Of millions OF its
membership, has elevated them from habits
and conditions that lead only to poverty
and crime. In return for such priceless
benefits labor and capital should give their
first and best efforts to the church for its
extension and prosperity. The elective
franchise should not be given any foreigner
until he can read and write the language of
the country of his adoption and has been
long enough resident to become thoroughly
conversant with the laws and customs of the
land, be that time ten or twenty-one years.
Speers thought the question of the hours
that should constitute days labor more
vital to the wage-earner than to capital.
For the last ten years the average return to
capital has not been per cent Ii further
pressed the goose that lays the golden egg
OF constant and we'll remnnerated employ
ment is killed. Manufactures must be closed
and the lab0rer left without employment
if the enhanced cost Of production is not
added to the goods produced, and which must
be paid by consumers, of whom the wage
earneTs and their families are a great III a.
jorisy.
THE STRIKE QUESTION.
Rev. j. Berry of New Zealand dwelt on
the strike question. He said the position of
Methodism In the twentieth century will de-
pend upon her attitude toward the labor
movement in the last decade of the nine
teenth. There can be no peace between en-
pl0yer and employed until the principle Of
profit-sharing is recognized as an equitable
Sc ettlement OF the wage question and adopted
wherever practicable. Let US make haste
to wipe out the reprOach that the Christian
pulpit hardly touches upon the duty OF the
rich to the poor, except by an occasional
sermon upon the duty Of being charitable.
Until justice is done there is no place for
charity.
l. Il. Inch Of the Methodist Church in
Canada spoke On "Ihe Moral Aspects Of
Combinations OF Capital" He dealt severe
blows 10 trusts. Congressman J. d. Taylor
Of Ohio said he had been workman him.
self He had concluded that there was no
adequate remedy on the face of the earth
LOT tHe Complaints UI ldDOT except CHRISTIAN
religion and the alb OlitiOn of the liquor traf-
ic. Numerous other addresses were made
on the subject, and III the afternoon THE
Obligation OF the Church in Relation 10 the
Social Condition of People," was discussed.
THE EVENING SESSION.
At the evening session the subject of
missions, foreign and domestic, was eXten-
sively discussed. Rev. William Morley of
New Zealand and Rev. Mr.. Townsend of
England suggested that great extension
Of the mission field is demanded, especially
in Africa and China. Rev. a. b. Leonard
of New York dwe.t on missions in Christian
lands. The vast influx of immigr ants into
the United States and Canada make those
countries in particular missionary ground.
There is little hope of relief from stringent
immigration laws; no political party is
likely to adopt such policy as would lead to
certain defeat. Time has come for Evan
gelical churches to take up the line of
march for foreignzed city centers. On
both sides of the Atlantic there are foes to
be vanquisued. Advocates of all fakesms
-materialism, agnoslicism, spiritualism and
athelsm-are disseminating their poisonous
teachings in every possible manner.