The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-12-20
TRADE / I. unions :.
and ! HE: CHURCH
STATEMENT OFTEN MADE THE
LABOR AND CHURCH DIVIDING.
Paper Discusses the Cues
ton. Says That MinerS' strike
Disclosed the Facts. The attitude
of Many OF the Men Is One Of In
differences. With Many Others 1t
Is Positive Antagonism.

Frequently we encounter the state
ment that the toilers of this land are
drifting away from the church, and the
assertion is made that in the working
classes there: Indifference or antagon-
ism toward the church.
The following extract from an arti-
Gle in the Epworth Herald, voices the
thought of one Christian gentleman
on this important subject:
One of the big, burning questions
thrust into the foreground by. the coal
miners strike is the relation Of the
Christian churches to labor unions and
federations. The churches and the
unions are now far apart. The atti-
tude of many of the men is one or III
difference. With many others it is
positive antagonism. They do not go
to church. They do not support the
church. They are holly against it.
How far is the church responsible for
this: Has our patronizing attitude to-
ward rich men, who give their money
to support our educa tional and benevO-
rent enterprises. gone TOO far? Have
we failed to denounce the injustices
suffered by the laboring men? How far
should we go in our support of labor
union methods? What can we prore,.
ly do to heal the breach between the
churches and the unions?
It is an open Question AS to whether
the toilers are drifting away from the
church or the church is drifting apart
from the great mass of people in this
land.
T1.,f oct, iS N
and has been working for years is
true. Yet there are thousands ~..un
thousands Of Christian men affiliated
with the great movement of trades
unonism.
When we view the cold blooded
manner in which the labor question
is handled by the "Christian gentle
men whom an allwise providence has
placed in control Of industrial meer-
ests,' it is not a matter of surprise
that the churches and the unions are
far apart.
This is a subject worthy of consider
alton and thoughtful attention Of ev-
cry trades unionist and Christian
Here are two great elements in the
welfare of mankind, and ought to be
mana III manu- l!lc VI IAU-
manity. But. unfortunately they are
not.
We do not believe that workingmen
are holly against the church. But we
do believe that tie church is slowly
drifting beyond thereach, Of the COM
mon people.
Cycle, in the Washington Trades
Unionist has this, to say on the sub
ject: In all these years Of persistent
eoffrt by labor organizations for bet
ter conditions it has been impossible
except in rare instances, to enlist the
support or sympathy Of the church Or
clergy AS result of this Indifference
the church goers of liberal donations
have secured the services Of trained
prea cheers, whose salaries and useful
ness are measured by their ability as
caterers in the interests Of their en-
ployers and to whom the life and
teachings of the lowly Nazarene are Of
no practical value. The workers invite
the cooperation of the clergy every
where in the universal recognition Of
the F'atherland Of God and the Bro
therhoOd of man."