The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-19

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The "Church Association for the Ad-
vancement of the Interests OF Labor Is
the pretentious title of an organization
in the Episcopal Church for the study OF
the great labor problem with view to
it's solution as feature of church work.
The parent organization has been
effected among Central New York
churches with Bishop HUNTINGTON at
It's head, and branches are IN process OF
organization all over New York ate.
The objects of the Association are set
forth in the following extract from "a
recently issued circular;
Relieving that the Church should take an
active interest in those industrial questions
that are so intimately connected with the
moral and religious welfare of the people, II
has been decided Co continue the efforts
hitherto put forth by our association, with
measurable degree of success, TO
draw the attention OF the Church at
large to the Importance OF the issues con-
cerned being fully persuaded that spiritual
health is 10 be promoted by honest dealing be-
lhttu NOTkIldu cnlploltIs anu iuab AhN
Church which appears Indifferent TO the great
issues between capital and labor and ignores
the demand for what is called fair play be-
tween man aud man cannot prosper, what
ever may be its historic origin aud character.
On the contrary, we hold that the higher the
origin and the more authoritative the charac-
ter of any religious body the greater must be
its pr ,ctical action along the line of social
progress and reform.
To-day society does not represent the mind
of Christ. and the Church Association points
dis tinctly to this portentous and undeniable
fact and invites the cooperation of all who
realize the gravity of the situation in order to
secure that practical action by the church at
large, which we believe necessary for the flu
ture stability Of church as well as state. The
situation itself is one that should make a
powerful appeal TO all true friends of the
church who are most deeply concerned In the
creation and maintenance of a Christian So
cial order"
The new association has already en-
listed large membership in the
Episcopal diocese. Committees have
been appointed to look into various con-
temporaneous features that are part
of the labor problem, as, for example, a
committee on sweating shops to
investigate the shops, workers,
sweaters and contractors, to study
the conditions, to suggest means of
alleviating the prevailing distress, and to
submit some plan whereby the system
can be lessened or modified, If not de-
stroyed. A tenement house committee
will have for its object the inspection Of
these abodes, the mitigation Of the ills
which are current among them, and the
creation of plan for obtaining better
homes for working people. A third
committee will make study Of labor
organizations.
The association is probably the first
step taken by any Christian church
toward solving the industrial problem,
heretofore largely the preserve Of politi-
cal demagogues and visionary thinkers.
The idea of attacking the matter on
the platform of pure Christianity" ought
to be practical, as it certainly is
disinterested. The church is a power,
and properly directed to aid the
trades unions of all sorts, to exercise a
beneficent influence on strikes and lock-
outs, and, as far as possible, to aid in
securing arbitration aud harmony be-
tween employer and employed, it GER
tainly would seem to be engaged in a
fitting work of Christianity, and to
promise a large measure Of benefit. 1t
is, to be sure, giant undertaking,
but no more gigantic than
other work which, like this, looks to the
practical development of the principles
of the brotherhood of man, and the solu-
tion of a condition that is now chiefly
distinguished by enmity, bitterness, hos
tility and lack Of that mutual con-
sideration which should prevail between
parties in controversy if the controversy