The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-05-13
Bororo tho Representative Labor
People Yesterday
WAS AN INTERESTING DISCOURSE
That was Listoned to Attontivcly.
References Mado TO tho Conditions
OF Modern Socioty-Tho Brother.
hood OF Sian Itccommondod-3foot.
Ing of tho Trades hssombly-A Pop.
ullst Newspaper to DO Started.

session OF tho Ohio Valley Trades aud
Labor Assembly. tho delegates and
many other representative labor people
listened to a very interesting and
thoughtful address by Rev. DR.. Il. R.
Swopo, rector OF st. Matthew'S p. E.
church, on the subject: "The Wage
Earnera and tho Church." Dr.. Swope
said:
II am not going to speak to you this
afternoon upon tho rotations of capital
and labor or kindred topics, for man
In my calling, unless he has made such
matters asubiecL OF special study aud
Investigation, is not fitted to deal
with them in m intelligent way.
These arc practical matters and the un.
practical minister who speaks upon
them eithor in his pulpit or elsewhere
will usually excilo the contempt OF the
well informed meu who hear him. Thus
friend OF mine told me that he went
to n church in an eastern city one Sun.
day while the Brooklyn car strike was
going on and heard a sermon on
Strikes We'll, did you not like it?' l
asked. no, it was not what | went to
church to hear, and moreover the
preacher knew no more about strikes
than cat knows about q cable car.
"But neither do want to talk to such
q gathering as this merely for tho sake
OF talking. want results. am like Il
lawyer. this afternoon, before a jury; l
want your verdict and believe l am
going to secure it. l am going to pre-
sent to you way by which much OF the
discomfort that exists in tho labor
world, much OF the friction and all the
injustice can be done away.
I'm this l am not going to present
some novel scheme evolved from my
own brain, for il l did, few or none
would accept my plan, and II you did,
the world would not, and it would be
fatal to any plan, even the most satisiac.
tory, if capital and labor alike failed to
endorse it fully aud work cheerfully
under it.
"You may rememher book writton
some years ago, called Looking Back
ward Il described state OF affairs OF
society in which all the matters which
are to-day productive OF discomfort and
friction have been done away. All men
were equal, but such equality was pur-
chased at the expense OF the freedom OF
the individual man. Such n condition,
with all the good things it would bring,
would be dearly purchased at tho price
OF mems freedom to work along the
lines OF their individual gifts and
powers. and the right to eujoy the re.
wards which they justly win.
THE FUTURE OF SOCIETY.
"Exceptit come as a revelation from
Almighty God We cannot tell what will
be the order OF society even a century
hence. Bu. We may be sure OF this,
that mans progress is upward. 70 see
this you have simply to note the differ
ence in wages. in social condition, in
education aud general intelligence, in
food and clothing and hours OF work,
in the character Of tho productions oi
the wage earners to-day as compared
with these things fifty years ago. Here
ia forward movement relatively as
great as that between the primatiye saw.
age and ourselves. Yes, tho world does
move and the movement, though slow,
is in tho right direction. and tho dis.
content, the friction. tho actual suffer-
ing are but the birth pang, OF new
social order that will surely be bora.
cold things shall pass away; behold, all
things will become new."
Hundreds OF years before the Chris
tian era an old Jew forstold that time
would como when men would beat
their swords into plowsharcs, and ma
tion shall not lit up sword against no
ton, neither shall they learn war any
more And when Jesus OF Nazareth
was born au angel choir proclaimed
from the heights OF heaven the intro.
duction OF the era Of peace and good
will among men. Has 1t been accom-.
pished yet? The great standing armies
OF Europe and the bloody wars OF the
present century aro the denial. But
the wiso meu toll US that tho world is
nearing this desired contamination I;
that great statesmen arc recognizing
that bloody war in which millions OF
money are expended, thousands OF men
killed and MANNED, wives widowed, and
children left fathcrless, is too heavy n
price to pay for the settlement of some
difference which could be rs well dccid-
cd In quiet conference by disinterested
mon. Arbitration is bound to dsplace
the appeal to the sword. Yos, We arc
attaining, though slowly, to better
state OF things in all the conditions OF
our lifo.
"What claim, then, ia that there is
n better order Of things possible. Tho
coming OF tho better order can be
hastonod. claim that there are soma
ancient. simple, yet absolutely impor-
tant principles enshrined in tho consti-
tuition OF an existing society whose ac-
ceptance will quickly bring about dii.
ierent state Of things. These principles
arc the sayings OF Jesus Christ rs hold
aud taught by tho Christian church.
And hore lot mo say that when speak
oil tho church, | do not mean tho church
OF which am minister, but tho
the church catholic, tho body OF faith.
ful mon and women throughout tho
world who own jesus Christ to bo tholr
Lord and Master and who try 10 follow
tho commandments OF God and mani.
fest them in their lives. !
ISDIFFgRESCE TO CHURCH.
"Toward the church aud tho institu.
ton Of religion thero is manifested, by
the WACO oarners OF this country, an
l.. 4. . n. l..