The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-11
HAS HONORED LABOR
FATHER LAWLER SAYS THE
CHRISTIAN CHURCH HAS MADE
TOLL RESPECTED
SERIES OF SUNDAY MEETINGS

First of a Number to Be Given at
Assembly Halls Addressed by the
Pastor of the Cathedral and Rev.
f. b. Cowgirl, of the First Nj. e.
Church-PrOminent Speakers Who
VIII Address Future Meetings.
Assembly hall was packed to the doors
yesterday afternoon, the occasion being
the first of a series of public meetings
held by the ministers Of the city and
members of the various labor organiza-
lions.
Rev. David Morgan presided, and intro
duced the Misses Mcdaniel, who favored
the audience with an instrumental duet
Mr.. Morgan then said that the question
of holding these semi-monthly meetings
had grown out of several conferences
held between the ministers and represen-
tatives of organized labor concerning GER
tain matters at the state penitentiary. 1t
had been decided to make the experiment.
and there was every indication that 1t
would be successful. Scarcely had the
echoes of Bishop Potter's address at the
Peoples church died away when requests
movement. 1t was expected in the future
to have addresses from Bishop Gilbert,
Samuel Gompers, Archbishop Ireland and
Miss Jane Adams, of HUI house, Chi
cago. The Sunday before Christmas Bish-
op Gilbert would be the speaker at As
sembly hall. Mr.. Morgan then introduced
Father Lawler and Rev. F. s. Cowgirl, OF
the First M E. church.
Father Lawler said in part:
1t is certainly encouraging to see this
magnificent audience deSIrous OF hearing
the treatment of vital topics. and 1t ls not
less encouraging to lind that the clergy
men of this city haXe expressed a Will
ingness to lena active cooperation. II
any additional light can be thrown on
the problems of the Industrial World-lf
the bond OF friendship between the en-
ployer and the employed can be strength
-ened-if false ideas concerning the
cnurchs attitude toward labor can be re-
moved from the minds OF people, the gen
tlemen who have begun this movement
will be amply rewarded. My principle is
that he who stirs UP feeling OF dlScord
between different intereStS-Who sets
class against class-may we'll be branded
as an enemy OF society, while he who
teaches sound principles, who tries to re-
move the difficulties and abuses which
exist between capital and labor, who tells
of the rights ana privileges Of the one as
we'll as OF the other, performs patriotic
duty toward the community in which
he lives. AS it is my privilege to deliver
the opening address, and as others will
treat different phases Of this vast sub
5ect l shall cOntne my remarks to the
work of the church in identifying labor
What has Christianity done that it should
receive the thanks of the laboring classes?
TO it We owe immortal thanks for it's
mission in the domain OF labor. Let US
honor labor is the motto which has been
on its lips from the beginning. One of
the great blessings which the Christian
religion conferred on humanity is the re-
Mobilization of labor in the public estima-
ton. To it belongs the glory of having
rescued labor from the degradation into
Which paganiSm had plunged it. Though
many beautiful tribute be paid to the
dignity of labor by gentle and Jew, yet
IN the course or ages, paganiSm regarded
1t as humiliating and degrading. Hero
dotus found a contempt for labor among
the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Thracians,
Scythians, Persians and Lydians. In an
a tatal blow at the dignity Of labor
There as elsewhere contempt for labor
brought ruin to the empire. In harmony
with the general sentiment of his coun-
trymen, even Cicero considered workmen
as people Of no account. as barbarians
6readWlnnerS, Wage-earnerS, laborers
were contemplate in pagan eyes
into such g. state of society Christian
ity came. If the lot of those who work
with their hands has been ennobled, sane
tined. since then; If the sons of toll are
1t not be forgotten that the Christian
religion must be thanked for it. We need
not be surprised at the change wrought
in the mind Of the ancient world in re-
gard TO labor, II we remember that the
Eounder OF Christianity set the example.
The Savior of mankind was known as a
laboring man. rs not this the carpenter,
the Son of Mary?'' they asked BY living
the life of mechanic, Of a laboring man,
He shed a halo of respect around the
workshop. Little by little His principles
to its original dignity. Gradually the
words operarius and operaria, working
man and working woman, which for CEN
turtles had been terms of reproach, be-
through the centuries; the church has al
ways stood for the rights Of all her chill
dren. They who talk of an estrangement
between the church and the laboring
them visit the Cathedral from s a. M to
Il Sundays and witness the church going
9 Glnailfits OF Our working men and our
glorious mission of the church in uplift-
ing labor. l might also tell of the
magnanimous deeds done for religion by
me sons OF toll, They have not been I'M
grateful AS they have been called the
pun ers Of our nation, so may it be said
mat they have done more than their
mare IN erecting religions monuments
strangers. to denying themselves com
10rts in itSir own homes for the glory of
the house Of God. He that would find
lndlHerence toward religion and a lack
OF self-sacrifice for God must look for II
elsewhere than among our working
classes. Why, 1t has been charged that
the church has too strong a hold on the
masses. Honor for labor should be es
PeclaIly the watchword of our country
we 90 honor labor. The humblest citf-
zen may rise to the highest position in
L tne git or q sovereign people. And hum
pie citizens have risen to power and
prominence. Our principle Of equality he
tore the law is an acknowledgements of
t tne dignity OF labor We do we'll to honor
me only arlstocracy of our countrv-+he
aaFlstoeracy of head and hand. Resnact
LOT TABOR is safeguard for any nation
contempt for labor will bring ruin to anv
Rev. F. B. Cowgirl announced that ba
could heartily indorse the views of Father
LAWYER. While religion was largely made
up OF classes, no one should believe that
relations between the church and labor
were strained. This was proved bv the
large audience in attendance on this
meeting. Quite a number of the hest
union men were church members He
was glad to see that ministers were 81
willing to unite with labor For bis own
part, the speaker said, he conceded the
r1ght OF every branch of Industry to or
game There was in the various unions
vast amount of intelligence good in