The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-05-29
ENMITY OR INDIFFERENCE.
Attitude of the Church Toward Labor a
Seen by Two Wiknaesas

Attitude of the Church Toward Labor
Seen by Two Witnesses.
Mr.. Morris Ross delivered an address
before the Indianapolis Central Labor
union which has caused considerable
discussion in that community. The fol-
lowing is taken from printed copy of
the address:
Moro than u year ago there was strike in
mining region. as the result of long period Of
depression in the coal trade. which for months
had reduced wages literally to the starvation
point. 1t involved from 1,500 to 1000 miners
and from 5000 to 5000 people. Justice or JUS
tification was soon lost sight of in the actual
condition of starvation. Food and clothing
were contributed for weeks in all the region
round about. In city of 10000 people, an
hour and half by rail from this scene, there
were loo churches. In those weeks of many
Sundays, the press ringing meanwhile with
appeals for help to feed the hungry and clothe
the naked,
80, God help me, they spake not a word,
But like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
Gazed each other on;'
except one-and the preacher in that pulpit is
not regarded as orthodox by the ninety and
nine. In the same city, to an invitation from
organized labor to speak upon the righteous
hess or fallacy of eight hour working day,
but two out of the hundred pulpits responded;
they fayorably. The ninety-eight, as with one
accord, ignored it.
These examples are cited in illustration of
what will be conceded by qualified observation
that the church founded by the Hebrew
penter is absolutely Indifferent to labor. And
the workingman today is not found in the
churches. What exception there may be in all
this as to the Catholic communion, and the ex-
tent and valid worth of that exception, each
may estimate Tor himself.
! affirm that the workingmen are not posi-
lively hostile to the church. They are SO neg
| atively, as one stung with the sense of neglect;
bitter, as one who expecting aid and comfort
has met strange stares, agitated words and a
hurried departure, feeling himself an object of
fear, and to some extent of curiosity, as be-
ing of another world, and affirm that any
Christian who comes to workingmen as Christ
came, him will they hear gladly.
Organized labor is the road to freedom; la
Dor organized for the purpose of lettering its
condition at every step toward the goal of q
just share in the profits of production. In this
forward march the laborer will, in my opinion,
have little if any help from the church-much
from good people in the church. The church
has made friends with the prince of this world.
1t is not in it to protest against a system where
1t has its desires financial support, the backing
of the rich. respect of opinion. The church is
satisfied. More help and great help Is to come
from free speech and from free press, the
books and newspapers that can pour forth
their argument unchallenged save by counter
ton are to achieve freedom.
There is for you, for every working man, this
immediate thing to do-organiZe. Make Or
ganized labor SO strong that nothing can resist
it; the purpose of its heing-cvery ones Just
share in the profits of production. Natural
monopolies ought to go first; the things whose
value is made by all the people must belong to
all the people. Public light, water, transporta-
ton arc examples. All the people carry the
mails for all the people. We may be able in
time to believe that freight well as letters
can be carried for the benefit of the people,
and then that the people can be their own
carriers instead of the Vanderbilts and Jay
Goulds. That if six men can control the coal
output and one the oil, perhaps the people may
be able to do it. This by way of suggestion
merely. ] mean, not to speak of plans, but
principle. This principle hold steadfast, and
cease not to organize and work for; all men are
created equal, and each has an inalienable
right to his share in the profits of production
1t is forever wrong and false that labor's only
just reward is wages, while they who have the
accumulated fruits Of labor apital-shall
have all the profits
Mr.. Ross address brought an open
letter from the Rev. John billiard
Ranger, of Christ Episcopal church, In
dianapolis, from which the following ex-
tracts are made:
MIR. NORRIS Ross-I take the liberty of ad-
dressing you few words bearing upon the
paper read by you before the Central Labor
union on the evening of Dec. s. 1890 lam moved
to do this at what is now late hour in the
discussion your paper has aroused by the feel
ing that you have been unjustly censured. Not
that you stand in need of my defense, but be-
cause it gives me pleasure thus to give express
sion to my appreciation and respect
honor you for the sentiments expressed in
your timely words to the laboring men of this
city They were wise, just, direct, courageous
and eminently truthful.
Your criticisms of the church are deserved
The crying sin of this land is avarice. It is
riding over the Lords day of divinely appoint
ed rest. Year by year, on railroad and steam
boat, in telegraph and postofiice, and elsewhere,
the army of men who are shut out from the re-
cuperation of Sunday increases. Avarice dead
ems the churches with mercantile methods. II
makes the churches as institutions sadly dere-
hot in this, their imperative duty of leading
common people. /, for one, bow before your
censure. and have faith that there will be
among us all great searchings of heart, and
bsEf tha dou nf oytro l. mi,