The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-07-11

The sermon in the Trinity Reformed
church was based upon a text from Matt.
&llI-55. Is not this the carpenters son?''
Jesus Christ had left his home and country
and went into other countries to preach the
Gospel. He followed the vocation Of q
carpenter. His father Joseph, was a
carpenter, and Jesus himself worked at the
carpenters bench. When Jesus went into
the new country the finger of scorn was
pointed at him and even the lowly asked,
Is not this the carpenters son ?' Christ
was carpenter before entering the
ministry, not by accident, but God digni-
fies labor and he made his only son a
| carpenter Labor, therefore, is no dis
grace. There are two things absolutely
necessary in the political economy OF the
world-capital and labor You may have
all the wealth, all the capital, all the
machinery, all the mills and mines, but if
you have not got the men to work them
they will be of no benefit.
On the other hand, you may have
millions Of men anxious to work, but if
you have no capital back of them to give
them work then labor will be no good.
Capital and labor must, therefore, go hand
in hand.
My object this evening is merely to
present to you the troubles that are now
before us as people concerning the riots at
Homestead.
The sad feature of the affair is that
politics are brought into it. 1t is not a
political question, but an economical one.
The capitalist has the right to fix his
rate of wages and l, as an American citi-
zen, not as an Anarchist or Socialist, have
no right to interfere with him. So the
laborer can consider his labor his capital
and you cannot compel me to work for
you if do not wish to do SO.
The wrong position in which the work
ingmen at Homestead is that they are not
in their own homes, not living in their own
houses, but are occupying the mills. They
are occupying property that does not be-
long to them, property in which they have
not one cent invested. No matter how
wrong the capitalists may be two wrongs
do not make right.
The only redeeming feature of this dark
side, to my mind, is that these poor labor
ing classes do not hold that position on
American principles. Five thousand men
are out of employment in one town.
Seventy five per cent. of that 5000 are
either Poles, Hungsrians, Swedes or Ital-
? ians, and less than one.fourth are Ameri-
cans or Americanized people. The whole
5000 are led therefore, to take this position
on that principle which would destroy your
life, and my lite, your home and my home,
your church and my church, your govern
: ment and my government, and wipe out Of
existence your God and my God-anarch-
ism and socialism. This is an unfortunate
position, and at the same time a redeeming
feature.
said it was unfortunate that politics had
been drawn into it. This advantage is
wrong, because the question is not polit-
ical one. Christ is the only friend of the
laborer.
The first thing necessary in order to
avoid these troubles is to haye the cspi-
talists and lsborers be christians. Then
they can and will sympathize with one
another. The great trouble is now that
there is too much mistrust. One is afraid
of the other, 1t is necessary that the cap
italists shall recognize the lsborer, that he
shall not consider the laborer is beneath
him, and not like the Jews with Jesus, say
sarcastically, "Is not this the carpenter S
son ?"
On the other hand the laborer ought not
be less a christian. l do not believe in
driving a rich man to hell and driyingall
the poor to heaven. There are many of
both classes who will never reach heaven.
The poor man is not the poorest in heart by
any means. The rich and poor must be
christians. The laboring man must have
respect for Him who is over him.
1t is necessary that the christian church
take hold of this question. Take hold of
the people, the capitalist and the laborer,
and educate them and teach them the true
meaning of the christian religion.
The capitalists at Homestead positively
refuse to surrender their rights to labor, and
in that they are right Let each man hold
to his rights. And l, as laborer, dare not
surrender my rights.
This is from standpoint of law, not
from a standpoint of feeling. My heart
aches for these poor men and the poor fam
lilies, The families suffer the most and are
the innocent victims.
|
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age.
Camp Meetings at VermilliOn, o.
Excursion tickets on sale via the Nickel
Plate from June 2lst to August 28rd at
very low rates. Tickets good returning
until August 26th. taug20