Omaha daily bee., 1894-03-25
LABOR AND THE PULPIT.

~ W vi nv tNNO ao'e'' 'hs
Former.
"In the discussion of any question relating
to the life or welfare of any class Of men,,
says Rev. DR.. Newman smyth in the
Homiletic Review, "the pulpit is at the
same time to keep itself in touch will
other classes and conditions of life. In
pleading for one it is to be carefully Just
to all. In discovering abuses, the clergy
need to be particularly careful to recognize
the uses Of any economic factor, else they
will ALLEVIATE where they should mediate
among men. The pulpit is to be known
as the friend of labor, the representative
in the name of the Son of Man, of the poor,
the oppressed and the lost. 1t has its
own missionary task in r~escuing the sub
merged classes. And there come times
when 1t must speak fearlessly for those
who cannot speak for themselves. But in
all the responsiveness of its sympathies
and quickness of its sense of social justice
it is also to understand the forces which
make the world what it is; and it is called
to represent with just judgment the rich
as well as the poor, and to hold fast its
influence with the educated. 1t is not so
to espouse any one class interest as to do
injustice to any other. There may be little
danger of erring in the insistence of the
pulpit upon the social obligations of the
rich-the public Christian conscience is be-
coming in this respect a clear and search
ing light-but the clergy are more exposed
to the peril of making their preaching an
unnecessary foolishness by ill-considered ut
terances which will not command respect
from close students of economic subjects.
For, although economics can hardly be
numbered among the exact sciences, social
students are pursuing scientific methods, and
their Investigations on many social lines
are assuming the proportions of a science.
Inconsiderate defamation in the pulpit on
such subjects, for instance, as trusts or
monopolies, or the rights Of property does
not minister to public ediication. Con-
structiye work must always. be sober work.
'It'is the proper office of 1.-The pulpit to
keep before men 2those social truths which,
in their class antagonisms, they are apt to
forget. The pulpit has an important social
function to fulfill in putting into the fore
ground those human relations and obligations
which industrial competitions are constantly
pushing into the background. The pulpit
should keep prominent in the midst of the
discussion Of labor problems the common
elements of the life of men, In this respect
the pulpit has 1t in it's power to make for the
solution of social questions a positive contrl-
button which is of no slight consequence. 1t
can use with advantage the common multiples
of human life, those common interests, senti-
ments, obligations, endeavors and hopes in
which the lives of individuals are bound
together, and multiplied by being bound
together, far beyond the possible amount of
any individual effort or influence. Still more
specifically, the pulpit should be on the alert
to seize and to make the most of anything
that may promote the welfare of aDy~par-
ticular class In the community. 1fhe pulpit
can wisely attack the labor problem by
seconding all well-advised efforts to secure
better conditions of life for the laboring
classes. Anything that promises to give to
workingmen and their families purer air, more
sunshine, better food, more knowledge of
on mr. fhinuG nartatntnD IN pnnnnmtnnl and
healthful living is a subject which belongs
by divine right TO the Christian pulpit: and
if any sensitively selfish, good people should
object to the introduction of such matters
into the Lords sanctuary, they might be
commended to the Hebrew prophets for in
struction in the moral essentials of religion.
Further, the pulpit should not always be
closed, at times 1t must be boldly opened to
the advocacy of definite social reforms or
the rebuke Of specific industrial wrongs.
Destructive work is not the main work,
Indignation not the constant motive power
of the Christian ministry. God blesses the
world by shining every day all over it, and
only occasionally sending the thunder cloud
from the hidings of his strength. But &C.
casionally some wrong which one class in
ficts on another, or some evil thing which
finds room to flourish amid prevalent in
dustrial methods, or some suffering which
the greed or gain produces, VIII challenge
the righteousness Of the church and demand
OF the pulpit a vigorous wisdom OF utterance.
The minister of Christ cannot hide behind
his higher religious obligations when his
message is thus challenged by direct viola
lions of the fundamental Christian laws OF
society. If recklessness of statement will
destroy the power among men Of any pull
pit, so also will cowardice in the presence of
known wrong rob it of influence among the
people. 1t is not necessary to strike at
the whole social fabric in ORDER to hit hard
a particular industrial abuse. A crusade
for a socialistlc dream need not be preached
in order to reform a known evil. The uses
of things must be recognized in order 20
remove their abuses. Men OF economic
need not he alienated in the sym
pathetic effort to champion some neglected
or suffering class. In short, when the pull
pit is called to deliver itself with regard
to some local wrong or in favor OF sonpe
needed work of social righteousness, 1t only
weakens its influence If it diffuses itself
over the whole compass of political economy,
OF concentrating all the light and
power 1t may have an the one thing needing
to be done. Thus a preacher whose pastoral
knowledge has made him familiar with the
evils incident to some sweating system may
show up the wrong of 1t without feeling
called upon to appear as the apostle OF some
questionable social theory
Samuel Burns announces a toilet sale for
week, April l., 100 to go at 2-3 to