New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-01
DIR. RAINSFORD ON LABOR.
BLAMEs CORRUPTION OF THE LAW FOR
EVILS OF TODAY
CHRISTIAN CHURCH. HE SAYS THE ONLY
POWER THAT CAN OPPOSE TFIIs-INDEBT-

CHRISTIAN CHURCH. HE SAYS THE ONLY
POWER THAT CAN OPPOSE Tfis-INDEBT-
EDNEss TO MODERN SOCIALISM.
Under the auspices OF the Church Association for
the Advancement OF the Interests of Labor. the
Rev. William S Ransford delivered a labor mis-
sion sermon last night in St Georges Church. at
sixteenth-st. and stuyvesant Square. There was a
good attendance of labor representatives from this
city and the neighborhood in the church when the
services began. After offering prayer on behalf
Of labor and laborIng men and women in general.
DR.. Rainsford spoke In part as follows:
On all sides it seems to me that observing men
can see cause for help and hopefulness | wan, 10
that come to want you 20 be patient with
me. as want TO do 1t briefly and hurriedly. How
though they still admit init Of great evils and pre-
ventebie iniustces, yet we are not without hope;
fairly on the shoulders OF our brothers. The n-
equality Of law fixes the heaviest burdens on me
shoulders OF the weak. You must change the laws
which cause and enforce this injustice. WHAT we
ny in order per this is TaHgy
ov % want to say 10 you i tdat 'h nan
was two generations ago. Those who deny that fa
statement are either ignorant OF the actual stua-
fact admit that class distinctive feeling is slow
ly going away. Men in their respective spheres
are asking themselves to-day how they can best
serve their country. their party their family or
their union Let me tell you that in the compare,
lively brief space of my own ministry find that
the hearts OF men are better to-day than they were
The regeneration Of society depends the re-
generation of the individual Only good individuals
10 grow a walking stick How many does IT take
20 make a man? | will not give place TO any man
legislation. and Cod grant that by happy environ
ments we may better the entire people. Better
actr or good mem in many nm So much
for the first part Of our mission-the regenetaios
cried halt. and Christian men have stopped and
have lost His guiding touch because He went on
aud ha1s hgak tG 40
q clock that swings too far one way. We need
the stimulus Of hose outside the ChrS a has been
paced under distinct Obligation to modern social D,
lem Socialists hS9 sn be RGch hs no d
nouaced. | stand in the. Church pulpit tonight
tian Church is Indebted to extremists for the
theories which they have advanced on social anu
economic problems.
CALLS PRESENT CONDITIONS IMMORAL.
say the present economic condition is immoral
because 1t Is too exclusively dependent ON compe-
titlon as a basis Of social life 1t is the law OF
love that mobiles competition, and Jesus discov-
cred that. To-day we what our fathers ola
not see and am not standing IN this p pulpit 70
This matter Of Socialism is growing in all the CO..
eges in the land. The Church alone can Ia'se t ,
standard OF righteousness. 1t Is Idle Tor men 10 tg
TO please one class at the expense Of dispensing
the other We should not rest until we be not
Fraternity as basis OF society means the equal
zation for all and the reapPortionment or taxa
iha S are the to cSTrg it It IS ths
that makes the beast out Of the man Ihete are
agitations against combines and trusts. but tne
more study the question the more am con-
ylnced that these misleading. ,
The combines and trusts have tennercy anu
result in extinguishng reckless conpelIion.
have no hope OF preventing the CROWN OF coin-
bines The trust IL economically sound; II ul-
economic II might bring suffering to the WAX,
Garner. Why IT buy them outY There IS one eN =.
in this countr, that bars the way; what IL lt| IL
Is the corruption of the land. ~.
say the corruption Of the land II Is not me
corruption OF legislation municipalities me cor
porations and the professions are eaten thiougn
and through in This land to-day with corruPuon'
and. for Gods sake. race II.
The speaker, in closing said that trade organiza-
tons and labor leaders just as corrupt as the
politicians He said further that If labor men were
upright they could not be bought
CHURCH THE ONLY CURE
1T stand before you tonight" said the preacher
with a good deal Of emphasis. land know whereof
speak There is nothing in the land but the
Christian Church that put its foot down on the
boad ~ tho corr,Infion snake and crush II TO the
dust The man who seeks TO buy his brother Is a
traitor like Arnold. and the man who seeks 10 buy
another is a slave. Dishonest men cannot make
good society,"
DR. Ralnsford said that twelve years ago at
meeting in Cooper Union he advocated the owner
ship by the municipality of all franchises, and was
told by Mr. Choate that the time was not then
opportune for the advocacy OF that problem. lie
said II is the problem Of the hour to-day.