The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-04
DOWN IN IRON MINES.
That's Where Rev. Charles NJ.
Sheldon Has Been
LOOKING AFTER CORNISH MINERS.

personal seeker after the truth of mat
ters by going to see for himself. Perhaps
nobody knows it, but Mr.. Sheldon has
been among the Cornish miners of the
Michigan iron ranges for five weeks. He
went there simply to study their condi-
ton.
He went freely among the men, learn
ing of their purposes and desires with
the expectation of making practical use
of the knowledge acquired.
Mr.. Sheldon on his vacation also at
tended a summer school for two weeks in
Iowa where lectures were given on
Sociology by some of the brightest minds
in the country.
For ten days Mr. Sheldon occupied an
anuex to the college which is known as
the Retreat" where the ministers in at
tendance made their home. Here they
took off their coats and collars and freely
discussed the lectures and conferred
with one another
81 call such work a vacation" said
Mr.. Sheldon, although studying very
hard, because it was change from the
channels I had been laboring in.
"Then, too, think [ came in contac
with some of the brightest minds it has
ever beeen my good fortune to meet, and
as we were all working along the same
our task light one.
Two Of the weeks of my absence were
spent at the School of the Kingdom in
the Iowa college at Grinnel. There we
had lectures on sociology from such en-
inent men as Dr. Heron, B. Fay Mills
Professor Graham Taylor and J. r. Com
mons, who is new but rising man in So
cial life
'Dr. Heron often read from his Iateat
book, Christian State and discussions
of political economy and social science
occurred
''All of US belong to the same school
Of sociology but differ in detail. We
were making a study of the existing con-
dltions of society from Christian stand
point, with view to its betterment.
THAT is where sociology Is far in ad-
vance of political economy, for political
economy has no soul.
I'VE had lecture before US by S H.
Hadley, q reformed druukard, who has
charge Of the Water street mission right
in the heart of the slums Of New York
city. mir. Hadleg was successor to the
noted jerry McAuey but man of much
more administrative ability.
Every night meetings Of PRAYER, som
and converse are held at Hadley's mis-
sion, Cheap lodging houses have been
! established and 4 good WORK and prac-
| teal ono is being carried on.
Gas prelude 10 my sermon next Sun
| day evening I an going to tell of Had
| ley's work. He is a wonderful man.
ii can best illustrate sociology, as we
recognize II, by relating briefly the work
| Of Professor Graham Taylor who occu-
pies the chair Of Christian sociology in
the Chicago Seminary, one of the most
noted in the west.
stAr TaUtOT holds VHrv 1iharal xyfnvza
on Christian economy and is devoted to
enc work. He has rented fat right in
the Haymarket district of Chicago and
moved his family there.
''Here he is in close touch. with some
| of the worst class of Chicago criminals,
as well as the low and humble. He goes
| among them night and day to learn their
needs and the causes OF their poverty
and crime. Work is conducted in con-
nection with the Civic Federation and q
genuine attempt made to bridge over the
chasm between classes. | was with Pro
lessor Taylor few days and know thai
his work is ennObling and sincere. He
will profit by the knowledge gained anC
use it to the betterment of the human
race.
''In more quiet way I made observa
tons among the striking iron miners o
Negaunee, in the lower Michigan PENN
sula This city is in the heart of the ircl
range; 5000 miners struck the day
reached the town and 5000 more peopl'
were dependent on them.
81 stayed with these people five weeks
making a study of their condition, thu
causes of the strike and many other Oh
servations.
SALOONS were run wide open, yet l say
no cases of drunkenness among tn
strikers 1t is the only strike on recort
that l know of where meetings wer
| opened with prayer, The men woul
gather IN the public square, around tn
band stand with uncovered heads, Will
one OF their number would pray. The
they would adjourn to the park and dis
| cuss their business
These miners are largely Cornish pee
pie and very religious. One of the bes
, prayers I ever heard offered came fror
one Of their number, Methodist Sunda
school superintendent
They seemed sincere in their strik,
and thought It for the best. but, poor fe
lows. | am afraid they will lose. l hear
from there yesterday. and there is suffer
ing.
5 The waters flow in the mines a gres
t deal, and the pump men were allowed +
, work, but they were the only ones. A
f others were idle.
] 1T is a sight to see the men go dow
the long ladders under ground. The
slide down hundreds of feet much afte
the manner of school boy down a sta
bauister. l once descended 800 feet III
9 der ground on the ladders. but went in
I, | more conventional way.
= 81 brought home some curios in the wa
of canes, photos and specimens. Ateac
q of ten sermons l will preach in the ne,
future I will, in a prelude, show som
illustrations and tell my congregation
some of the questions l gained know
edge of.
"The question of sociology is CROWN
= and widening, and find many note
3 ministers giving the subject attentic
b andsdiscussion. Many who once bitter
= opposed are now modifying their view
To return to the miners a momer
Il e.