The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-07-16
Rev. smithers at tho First Christian
Churoh-Subjsct of Women and
Missions Discussed at the
Y. w. q. A.

anu sway III Luo HhIheL pluC6s DbH-
etrius was very jealous as religionist,
defending the honor OF the great Diana,
which had been assailed by the apostles
preaching. But Demetrius was in the
shrine making business. In the early
church, converts from heathenism yield
cd to their teachers in abandoning idol
atory; but in some instances insisted
upon making idols for the market. No
Christian man would deny the author
ity OF the second great commandment,
which requires US to love our neighbo
as ourselves; but it's practicability in
the mart OF trade ia frequently denied.
The principle of competition may be
compared to that theory OF evolution
called "tbe struggle for lite," and its re.
sultant, "the survival OF the fttest."
Indeed. war and competition are this
very struggle for life" brought over
from the lower animals and the savage
state of men in civilized society. 1t is
continuance of the ''gl&diatoriel theory"
Some may even be ready to defend both
war and competition because they secure
the survival OF tho fttest. Says Renan:
TO such an extent do the many sub
serve the gain OF the few that AZ, 000, 600
may we'll be regarded as dung, do they
but supply the fertility which will pro-
duce one truly great man."
Our institutions for the defective
classes, the blind, the deaf and dumb,
the imbecile, the insane. are among the
proudeet monuments Of our civilization;
but the survival Of the fttest would
obliterate the defective classes.
Our civilization, with its arts and SCI
ences. attacks the principle of the strug-
gle for life; the coarser forms of that
struggle have already disappeared.
Though tho principle served the divine
purpose in the earlier stages OF evolu-
ton, to declare it to be perpetual law
among men would be to deny the moral
government of God.
The struggle for the life of others in
evolution properly illustrates the prin-
ciple of benevolence.
The speaker here exhibited the tokens
of altrnsm in tho uegata hia and animal
Kingdoms. He then proceeded to say
that practical experience proves what
may always be expected from the appli-
cation OF the principle of competition.
He traced the history of man through
the tradea and commerce stage to the
industrial stage and showed how upon
the invention of the engine in 1859 COM
petition sprang up in England. He con-
trasted the relation between masters
and their apprentices and workmen
serving under the wage system. He
attributed to Adam Smiths Wealth of
Nations the marvellous impetus which
competition now received. He showed
that under competition national wealth
was greatly augmented, while pauperism
was greatly increased.
The poor relief fund in England which
in 1850 was el,25O,000 was, in 1878,
1870 900. The population had in
creased 70 per cent; the cost of poor re-
lief had increased $50 per cent. There
had sprung up widespread alienation
among the classes, and there was vast
degradation among the great Eody OF
producers. Competition and machinery
had resulted in the employment OF
multitudes OF women and children. even
of children or years of age. Every
interest of the employee was neglected:
kindly disposed employers, to meet the
competition ct their rivals, were forced
to DO equally hard hearted and exactinp.
The woes of this pitiless principle are
shown by the abuses the factory laws of
1902 were designed to relieve. EN-
players were required to fencs their ma
chinery. which had proved largely de-
structive to life and limb; to ventilats
and make sanitary their unwholesome
manufactures; to employ women and
children no more than 10 hours, or l0lS
per day, and to use no children under III
years of age; and to allow children who
were employed half day daily, or every
other day, for school. The old law of
apprenticeship required labor from 5 in
the morning until between or at
night, and punished the apprentice with
imprisonm ent il he refused euch service,
Two circumstances have prevented
the full repetition Of this history in the
United Ststes-the early smallness Of
our manufactures and the cheapnese
and area OF our land. But as free land
grows less abundant the standard of the
laborer's lille ia depressed. Wealth and
pauperism are both rapidly increaeing.
The speeker then quoted very start
ling facta concerning the congestion OF
wealth in the hands OF few Americans.
and in contrast described the tenement
houses in our cities and the extortion of
the sweating system. He proceeded to
show the protitab leness of benevolence.
generous wages tending to develop the
intelligence and the interest of the en-
ployee. The laboring people constitute
the bulk of eociety; they cannot be
heavy buyers if they have light wages;
hence, the manufacturers market may
be depressed by his own oppression.
Tho preacher showed the bsseness OF
regarding an employee as horse or an
OK might te regarded, simply for his
commercial eervicea bleness.
DR.. Hutchins closed by enforcing the
principle that they that are strong
ought to bear che inlirmities OF the
weak and not to please themselves;
that men who pray Thy kingdom on
earth as it ia in heaven" should initiate
heavenly principles in the conduct OF
their own business; that they who have
heard Chriet's voice saying. "IIe that
taketh not up his cross and followeth
after Me canaot be My disciple"
should be ready fori self-sacritce in be-
hall Of those who serve them. lie
quoted Christ's description OF the last
Judgment. and noted the fact that men
are therein condemned to everlssting
punishment simply because they have
neglected to be kind to their fellowmgn
while others are crowned W'ih 'ia
divine approval and everlaetir Fac BE-
cause they have treated their 81 90
brothers a. Chrsts representa- yea