The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-22

under restraint. We must not degrade
him, we must not humiliate him, we
must treat him so that when he Is
cured, or partly cured, he can resume
his place in society with some prospect
of earning his own living and conduct
ing himself as a well-behaved citizen
Penology reflects the very highest re-
ligious principles; it shows that the
precepts of the Christian religion have
found practical application in the treat
ment of the defective elements in So
ciety I know of no better nor more
emphatic illustration of the evidence OF
the growth of a practical religion tnan
in the penology of our day.
The temperance question occupies the
public mind in a manner 1T never ola
before. Great railroad corporations are
everywhere understanding that their
duty as guardians of the public safety
demands temperate employees. 80 the
man who it given to the use OF lntoxi--
eating liquors can not now secure EN-
ployment on our great railroads rms
is the SureSt temperance reform known
at the present time. but it is the out
growth of an agitation which springs
from the highest and purest motives.
1t is the exemplification of the very
elements of religion.
The economic aspects involved in the
treatment of the temperance question
are having an influence in industrial es-
Establishments and by government The
simple idea that a man with clear
brain is a better employe. than one with
q muddled brain is carrying this Ques-
ton forward to; success and the sooner
men learn that in order to secure seFr-
ployment at all they must approach
their service with minds uncloudec. the
better for humanity. Religion teaches
that the temple of God must not be de-
filed. Economic consideration now al
lies itself with religion, and insists that
the welfare of the community demands
that the temple of God shall remain
unde6led.
The treatment of the labor question
offers the strongest evidences of the
growth of a religious spirit. The en-
ployer recognizes this in large degree
not everywhere. not in every eStab-
lishment, but in increasing numbers
and i'll an increasing degree. The best
what they claim for themselves: and
this is one of the highest conceptions
of religious action The moment one
man recognizes the rights of another
he is far on the way to the solution of
the difficulties which perplex him.
The labor unions are. in a sense new.
Their principles, which may be right
enough, do not always determine their
actions; but their actions will sooner or
later conform to their principles, which
are based upon the recognition of the
rights of all men. The Introduction or
the spirit of Cancellation; the recognition
of the right of agreement, so that the
details relating to the conditions of en-
ployment can be fixed by a positive con-
tract; the readiness to arbitrate when
all other means have been exhausted;
the recognition of the fact that the
working man is seeking something be-
yond his arbitrary living wage-all these
influences are the result of a living spirit
in men, which must come from religious
precepts, if at all We may call them
the ethics of industry. but ethics with
out religion is always feeble in the pow
err to affect results. There must be a
conscience which is above and outside
of 3fI da,-o ions f0 1ood
right action. The labor question In
wolves many difficulties. but the outlook
is most hopeful, because, as / have saio,
men are everywhere recognizing in
larger degree than ever before, the mu-
tual rights which belong to 1t.
Arbitration however, which can new
er be a solution but only a means to an
end, takes broader and grander lines
troubles as they occur between employer
and employe. The growth of the reli-
gious spirit in the settlement and adj
justment of international affairs IS an
evidence that the public conscience has
received some stimulation from some
source which leads it on to the reason |
able consideration of questions involving
international rights, duties, and oblIga-
tions. This is a religious spirit: 1t is a
spirit which comes from every old
teaching.
The modern church may fail TO reach !
as many people relatively through it's
reaching them in another way It is
reaching them by the preaching of a |
sane doctrine, which means the upbuild- |
ing of the character of men and of the !
character of community. It is teaching
us to recognize the rights and the |
wrongs that surround us. 1t is teaching |
US to be more active in our endeavor to |
suppress or to right wrongs, and in ell
ways to bring about the establishment |
of saner and better community spirit |
This does not come from the crucified |
Christ nor the dead Christ. nor the |
Christ of the resurrection, but from the |
living active Christ, that always was, is, |
and always shall be- and it is through |
this living Christ that we find the solu- |
ton of all social. industrial and politi- |
cal problems.
Rev. Thomas r.. Slycer. chairman of |
the council followed Mr.. Wright.
The address by the secretary Mrs |
Emily Fifield. of Dorchester. Mass, was |
full of important information and was |
attentively listened to.
Another report which was of much in I
terest was that of Charles w. Werdte. |
of Boston. secretary of the International |
Council of Unitarians.
a deviation from the original pro-