The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-06
LOCAL CLERGY
They Discuss the Subject Of
the Coal Strike.

The local clergy paid considerable at
tention 10 the coal situation yesterday
At the Church of the Mediator in the
morning and again at Valley Falls in the
afternoon Rev. w. c. Selleck preached on
Some Implicati tons and Applications OF
the Golden Rule" He said that the
Golden Rule would settle the coal strike
In "a hours If the men on each side would
obey it. The conflict has resulted from
its disregard; the balance between the
self interest OF those concerned and the
social interest has been disturbed be-
cause this spiritual law has not had It's
rightful sway. and, while force or courts
or the militia may settle the trouble for
a time, 1t cannot be settled permanently
until both parties TO the existing indus
trial war learn voluntarily to square their
conduct with this simple but searching
principle enunciated by our Master: "All
things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to YOU do ye even so to them"
AS we face an unusual exgency. eff
fecting every person and every interest
I'm our community, what does this great
whole answer may be summed up in the
general statement that IL requires us to
be brotherly.
Is IL brotherly for the man who has
1000 or 100 tons of coal, which he bought
at the ordinary prices current last spring,
to charge consumers SIS or $40 a ton for
IL now? or to charge 81 or $40 a ton
for soft coal that is bought for perhaps
half that price? On the surface IL does
not seem so.
Is IT brotherly for the man who has
1000 or 100 cords of wood, which he had
cut last winter at the ordinary wages,
and which he would consider he was
selling at "a good profit II delivered in the
city for Sc a cord, 10 charge the poor
consumer SO or 81 cord for IL now?
IL hardly seems so. Such profits are ex-
orbtart, and when men exact them be-
cause they can. they merely show that
they are willing to compel the people.
whenever they have a chance, TO pay the
uttermost farthing. This sort OF conduct
/ does not seem 10 harmonize very well
with the Golden Rule
Do you ask what I would have men
| do who have fuel OF any kind TO sell just
| now? | answer I'm the name and spirit
OF the Golden Rule: / would have them
sell their fuel at fair. even a generous
! profit, and Herewith be content-sel IT,
| / mean I'm small quantities TO actual
/ consumers. and especially to the poorer
| people / would not have any man gouge
4 his fellowman simply because of the
/ existing necessities.
Let US try TO be reasonable. fair, mod
| crate. and be willing 10 share the good
| things OF life on the basis OF an equitable
4 exchange SO shall contentment, peace
and happiness abide, with justice. in oui
| land
| At the Mathewson Street NJ e. church
Rev. DR. Samuel NJ. Dick preached or
THE Strike and the Gospel"
| What will settle the difficulties I'm this
| age OF combined labor and combined
capital7 The gospel of God Is the only
settlement OF the difficulty The suprem,
power is.public opinion and moral suason
IL has been said that when capital relgni
| there IL despotism and when labor reigni
there Is anarchy. When Jesus Chris
reigns the tendency II toward peace anc
| harmony.
| 1--WE have had an example OF the force
J OF the great organiza tions within the pas
J few DAYS The president Of the Unite'
, States has shown. them how much de
, pended on their coming together. w
/ have been shown his impotency In dealinl
with great corporations Of capital an
great organizations OF labor. The tim
has come for the organization OF cour
where all such questions can be settles
| on the principles OF righteousness be
tween men and men.
THE whole country is agitated Owe
this great conflict between capital an
labor. Capital n nothing more nor les
,han stored up labor for future use. Co