The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1897-06-12
PASTOR AND AGITATOR.

desire TO D11ng the WORKING ucu
4 and the church into more sympa-
thetic relationship. On several oc-
casions, during the past six
months, they have invited repre-
sentatives of labor to the meetings
! of their association, at which the
interchange of opinions have been
so interesting that further con-
| tinuance of the discussion was de-
sired. In consequence, E. K. Cobb
and A. McCallum were invited to
be present at the quarterly assem-
blage of the association, Monday
/ evening at the Spalding. The alb
! sence of Mr. McCallum from the
fcity, resulted, Monday afternoon,
| in the; substitution of George G..
Findley: @1..7 :..~-
Rev. C. HI. Patten presided; and
after the supper had been properly
disposed of, he announced the sub
ject of the discussion, "The Rela-s
ton Between the Labor Unions and
the Church." and after briefly ex-
planning the object of the meeting,
introduced Mr.. Cobb. The latter
followed with paper in which he
set forth some of the reasons why
the church fails in attracting the
|Workingmen. Among other things,
he said that the average sermon
lshoots too high; there is too much
display of scholarship and too lit
tie of the simplicity, the sincerity
and the sympathy of the gospel as
proclaimed by Christ. He dwelt
forcibly on the disposition of the
|5church to magnify the men of
wealth who contribute literally to
religious purposes, but by their op-
preston of their employees, harden
and embitter the hearts of
the latter against the cause
they profess to serve. Mr..
Pullman, he declared, in con-
lnection with the. flattery accorded
him for his donations, was a more
powerful sermon against Chris
tianity than all the speeches Inger-
soil had ever uttered. The church
welcomes the rich man with open
arms, while the poor man is often
met with disdain, or a patroniz-
hing air that wounds his self-re-
spect.
Mr.. Findley followed. He de-
clared that both the church and
trades unionism had common OBJ
|iect. The fatherhood Of God and
the brotherhood of man are COM
Elementary doctrines. Assuming
either, the other is inevitable. The
trouble is that the church too ex-
clusively emphasizes the former;
the workingmen, perhaps, the lat
ter. The church dwells too
much on ideals, to the neglect
of their practical realization; the
workingmen just the reverse. He
referred to the question of respons-
ibility. The ministry had assumed
the functions of the teacher; it must
adapt itself to it's pupils, the peo:
pie; and if failure resulted, it was
because of it's non-adaptation and
the responsibility therefor fell on
| it's shoulders. ...s.>.:z.*.. +, 49, -
Rev. w. J. Johnson of Superior re.
sponded. He thought it mistake
that the minister was not in sympa
thy with workingmen; the majority
of them had come up from the
ranks of labor themselves; the
trouble was that the workingmen
would not come to the church and
give the minister an opportunity tc
reach them. Men judge the church
from distance and will not come
close enough for the minister to be
{ heard. In answer to Mr.. Cobb's in
vitation to attend the meeting, o.
the assembly, he invited the work
ingmen to come to church. Better
ment must come from lifting uI
the people; not from lowering the
church to their level. ri -
To this Mr.. Findley responded
You have to take men as you fine
them; workingmen are what they
!. are by reason of their circumstan
ces; if they were perfect they woule
have no need of the ministers. The
thinking members of labor organi
| cations were not ct of sympathy
with the teachings of Christ. /
was the church as constituted, anc
as they touched it, that repellee
J, them. s-.
[ The general discussion that fol
t lowed showed much sympathy or
, the part of the ministers with th'
| views expressed by union represen
tatives and there were many promi
!, ses to accept Mr.. Cobb's invitation
on behalf of the union men to visi
the assembly.
J The meeting closed at 10 O'Clock