The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-08

tory might be productive of great
blessing to the community in which
it exists. The application of practi-
cal Christian principles and the opera
ton of properly educated public SEN
timent as expressed in the press and
in the laws, would remove the evils
and convert menace into blessing.
As sequence to his first lecture,
in his second DR.. GLADDEN. discussed
Labor Unions, deprecating strikes
and lockouts, yet recognizing in them
weapon of defense. Labor unions
are to labor what standing army
and Notifications are to a nation, a
defense against unjust aggression
and oppression, yet nevertheless not
to be invoked heedlessly and without
recourse to the principles of justice,
humanity and religion, on the part of
employers. DR.. GLADDEN. deplored
the present social and economic con-
ditions which are dividing society
into hostile camps and threatening
the very existence of the social fab
ric; and while thinking that much
may be done by the State, more may
be done by the individual, employer
and employed, in bringing about
just and happy relations between
capital and labor.
On the subject of corporations DR..
GLADDEN. did not speak as partisan,
endeavoring to treat all parties with
fairness, and stating facts as far as
possible without prejudice to either
capital or labor, this indeed being
characteristic of the entire course,
thus making his suggestions doubly
valuable to all interested in the bet
terment of social conditions and the
progress and happiness of the race.
These suggestions and considerations
were still further amplifed and il
Illustrated in his lecture on the Rail-
way.
Perhaps the two most interesting
lectures of the course were the con-
Guiding ones on "The City" and "The
Church. DR.. Gladden's lecture upon
"The City" came at time when Chi
cago was particularly addressing it.
self by means of the Civic Fedora
ton and the Municipal Vote League
to an aggressive campaign for clean
illness, moral and physical, and mu-
nicipal reform. The responsibility
for misgovernment in our cities DR..
GLADDEN. properly places upon the
eminently respectable and well-to-do
business man and citizen who is "too
busy" to serve the city in an official
capacity, thus turning it over as the
legitimate prey of the illiterate and
unworthy classes who are eager for
the petty emoluments of the Offices
and still more eager for the opportu
mites of bribery and corruption these
offices present.
The grandest lecture of the course
was the last delivered, that on Friday
evening on "The Church" While in
preceding addresses the distin-
guished lecturer had indicated GER
tain agencies that might lessen the
evils that endanger the social fabric
in his opinion the church,-not any
particular church, but the one church
composed of all genuine Christian
men and women, whatever be their
UNCONVENTIONAL names,-is the only
agent through which the Indignation
of society can be effected, holding us
back from chaos and leading the
world surely and safely into the orbit
of peaceful progress. The work of
bringing the social groups and class
es into living unity is the work of the
home, work that the church is not
at present accomplishing because
she has lost her own unity. When
the church has once realized this
unity, and this depends upon each
individual member of it, it will then
be prepared to utter its grand mes
sage to humanity, the fatherhood of
God and the brotherhood of man
Religion is not passport to CO.
lestial paradise but the building here
in this world of the city of God. To-
ward this Christian unity of action
and purpose DR.. Gladden's lectures in
this city are a grand contribution.
May Chicago be ever grateful to the
eminent divine and philanthropist,
Rev. William Henry Ryder. whose
bequest makes such lectures source
of civic good for generations to come.