The Portland daily press., 1897-04-23
FAST DAY At CHURCHES.
The Union Service Held at the
State st. Church.
A FAST SERVICE AT THE ST.
LAWRENCE CHURCH.

Rev. Mr.. Worcester of the New Jeru-
salem Temple Talks Upon the Divine
Right to Labor-O Other Clergymen Take
Part ON the Service-The Exercises at
the st. Lawrence st. Vestry.
AT II a. m. yesteday there was a
union fast service, participated in by the
different churches this side of Munjoy
hill, in State Street church. The con-
grsgation was not very large one. Rev.
D. NJ. Pratt of Wiillston made the open
ing invocation and read the governor S
proclamation. Then came singing, fol-
lowed by scripture reading and prayer,
by Rev. DR.. Asa Dalton of ST. Steph-
ems. Rev.. DIR. Worcester of the New
Jerusalem Temple preached the sermon
which follows.
THE DIVINE RIGHT TO LABOR.
John Tx, ". 4. I must work the
works of Him that sent me. Tae Son
of Man has given to the world the
thought that work is necessity of ones
being. Whether in the temple at the age
of twelve, whether talking to the Jews,
quiet OF that upper room in Jerusalem,
he speaks of service, Of work lie speaks
OF it as something which belongs to his
life, and which the stress of love urges
Hin to fulfil. To every one ', no has
not destroyed in himself the capacity
Go appreciate tho true and the beautiful,
the son of Man is an object of wonder,
and an example to be followed. AS one
who is the perfect expression of the oil
vine life. we may well learn from his
own lips of the blessed fright to labor. :"
Not the right of labor, of which we hear
SO much, but the right to labor, of
which we hear SO little But that right
the Son of Man claimed for himself.
Even the boys lips exclaimed, twist ye
not that must bs ABOUT my Fathers
buslnessY' and later on the same need
of his divine human nature declares, 81
must work the work of Him that sent
me.''
The right to labor is right to which
man is entitled not simply as q citizen,
nor as member of the state, but as an
immortal being-as the child of God.
although the world requires it. The
right to labor does not originate with
man, nor with the governments, nor
with society, although these are neees.
sary agents in furnishing opportunities.
The prime necessity for labor is spirit-
ual one, and grows out of mans eharac-
ter as child of God, and it is absolutely
essential to develope his spiritual charac-
ter. The divine right to labor. origi-
mates in God himself, God tho creator.
God the master workman. God, who in
his manifested person of the Son of
Man, declares, 81 came not to be
ministered unto but to minister and
81 among you as one that ssrveth.''
/ have not the time, nor is this the
MD 70 h0 In 0 ,unh 1nv,, x,s< =,
its hardships and grievances, affecting
the rich and the poor, tho industrious
and the idler.; but wish to speak of
the spirituakusa which labor is intended
to perform; the right to labor which God
Intends that man as spiritual being
shall have: and the responsibility
which men have, aud for which employ
ers as we'll rs employed must some day
give an account to the Lord. IT this
view of the ivlne character ofwork,
and the SPIRIT al use it is intended to
perform be true, cannot we see what a
mistake it IL to permit the mouthings of
the walking delegate or tho theories
of the political economist, to satisfy our
mi2is and guide our course, without
trying to know the higher law, the law
of the gospel on this point.
The old thought taught by false theol
ogy, Ethat labor is a curse, fingers in the
mind of the world. 1t is supposed chat
labor is the result of ''the fall" and of
mans disnbedienee; mark of mans
disgrace and Gods displeasure; the re-
suit of the sentence sin the sweat of thy
face shall thou eat bread. !"
Social economy declares that labor is a
necessity, growing out of the struggle
fof life. 1t asserts that without the
struggle for food, and the pressure of
want; without the conflict with foes and
the challenge of climate, the world would
L. JofE 30 3D. l.
progress. 1t follows from this struggle
for life, that those who struggle most
successfully will prosper, while others
will disappear; this is known as the
Survival of the fittest," and is the base
of our present social system. ''The
fittest shall in the end succeed" "The
weakest shall go to the WALL .'Yield
place to the strong, for might makes
right"
Close akin to this is the principle of
general competition, which is another
name for this struggle for life. and is
true of-shoot from hell. Men point to
it as the cause of all progress. the maic-
spring of our industrial activity; the
source Of oil our lowell But it is also
seen TO be the cause Of "incessant unrest,
aud general disturbance and misery"
Nobody contented with his lot nobody
certain of his future. He who is rich
strives to amass more wealth; lie who
lives by his labor trembles lest he lose
even his livelihood. Labor is recognized
as a necessity, but it is not thought of
as loves necessity for the accomplish
ment of good; it is not thought of as a
necessity growing out of mans spiritual
nature; and this brings US face to face
with the great problem that seems dark
to SO many. Is it possible that the
Creator of the world created it according
to laws which are selfish and destructive?
1t Is possible that work, labor, activity