The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-08
CHRISTIANITY THE
SOLVENT OF STRIKES
Says Rev D. R. Straton in Sermon Discussing
the Coal Strike.

, In commercial life, one business
| concern has struggled to destroy the
| other and to flourish by its opponents
decay and death. In international
life, each nation has striven by might
and main. by injustice, by dupHcity,
cruelty and craft. by lies Of diplomacy
and stroke of sword To destroy its
competitors and then to flourish above
their ruins in self-indulgent and ego
tistical ease. And this eager selfish
ness has caused all of the struggles,
strife, heartburnings, bitterness, in
justice, suffering and woe by which
the earth is cursed. To reverse this
policy and supplant the law of selfish
ness and hatred with the law of love
and service will destroy the effects of
selfishness and establish cooperation,
harmony. peace, purity and happiness
among men.
To Solve the Problem.
Apply Christ's law of love to our
social problems and it will solve each
and every one. Take what we
term the capital and abor
question. What are the factors in that
problem2 They are these: On one
hand, is the mass of laborers selfishly
struggling and striving TO get more of
the wealth of capital in return for
their labor. On the other hand, Is the
group of capitalists selfishly striving
to get more and more of the laborer's
toll in return for their wealth. SO
both, moved and inspired by the law
of selfishness. strive against each other,
and hardships, heart burnings, strikes
and bloodshed result
But apply the law of love. Let the
rich man love the poor man and the
poor man love the rich man, and will
not Justice be at once established, while
interests of both? When these two
parties cease to look toward the ideal
of selfshness which they each cherish
within themselves. and fix their eyes
upon the social ideal of service which
should stand out and between the two;
and when they abandon strife between
themselves and devote their entire eff
forts to struggling for the common
good of all, then will harmony prevail
between them and the lot of each will
be immeasurably advanced.
strike of Coal Miners.
THE present coal strike, which is
now being felt in every home in
America through the advance in the
in point There is none of the spirit
of Christ on either side of that great
controversy. The rioting, recklessness
and bloodshed on the side of the
strikers and the heartess Indifference
and selfish greed on the part of the
operators are a disgrace to our So
called Christian civilization.
There is but one thing which will
really solve these problems and that
is Christianity. We may arbitrate for
centuries, but the differences will not
stay arbitrated. Not until men see
the Savior as he is. and not until His
love begins to shine abroad in their
hearts will they live together in jus
tice. harmony and peace"
"Enmity toward a brother man
might prevent our seeing the Savior.
Or bad habits and secret sins may be
in the way. We must get away from
all of these things. IL we expect to see
Jesus as our Savior. Like Mary. we
must turn ourselves. None of the
trouble is with Jesus. He is always
before us. Behold l stand at the
door and knock he says. The trouble
is with US. We must turn ourselves
and look Alright. Then we will see
Jesus in all of His beauty: and expe-
rienee. with Mary. a great juy in the
recognition. Jesus saith unto her,
Maryland all of the old-time tender
ness and gentleness and love were in
His voice. And all of its gracious
music thrilled through her as when He
had spoken words of cheer and hope
and life so many times before. Then
she recognized Him. She had not
looked Alright before. but now she
turneth herself and saith unto him,
Master!' All. the rapture and delight
| of that exlamationi And, all the joy
ops happiness which the soul expert
/ ences when 1t turns at last and rec
ognizes Jesus. When 1t realizes that it
has at last a personal Savior. whose
precious blood has washed away it's
sins. and upon whose strong right arm
it can lean for succor and strength!