The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-04-25

found occasionally, and in labor GEN.
ters only, some ministers who would
preach sermon partially favorable to
the labor cause. Even up to the pres-
emit day, with millions of men and
women enrolled in the ranks of or
ganized labor, there are comparatively
few ministers who seem to have the
courage to advocate the cause which
We believe to be right and just.
1t is q Well~knoWn fact that. the
most bitter enemies Of organized labor
are prominent and influential members
of the church. It would be very pleas
ant, indeed, to attempt to worship in
a church where one knew that the
leading members and In some casese
practically the owners of the church,
were tho men who would and who had
called out the militia to shoot US down
like dogs when We dared. to:ask for,
tho,.gh 81. ! !
to- curious {: 8 ct that ii TIT city.
where the building trades are as well
organized or in any city in the coun-
try, the only contractors running I'M
fair shops who amount to anything at
all, are prominent members OF some
Of our city churches. And another
fact is that the only work done in this
city in the last three years where
union men were allowed to work with
non-union men, (the Building Trades
council making a special ruling so as
not to antagonize churches and charity
work), has been on churches and on
work being done by charitable asso-
Citations.
I'VE find that the people, both men
and women who are the most tyrani-
employees, who deny us even the right
to discuss with them what we believe
are our rights, are processing Chris
tians'
Labor Not Against Churches.
ITO the best of my knowledge orr
ganiZed labor is not against the
church, but from the treatment we
have received from the church, and
from the people who make up the
church, we have about come to the
conclusion that the church is against
organized labor. So the only thing
left for us to do is to work out our
SdClSHeO
that the day is coming when the
church will come to us, for we believe
in our hearts that we are right, and
right will prevail We do not presume
to say that We are perfect; that every
thing we have done and may do is
right, that we have not and may not
make mistakes, but we do believe that
the underlying principles Ut organized
labor are right and the only salvation
for the Masses of the people. and that
as time goes on we will continue to
perfect the methods Of carrying out
our grand Objects
The church's Efforts.
Mr.. Stelzle's lecture showed wide
and intimate acquaintance with the
conditions of wage earners, Mr.. Sickle
having been in his boyhood newsboy,
later having served an apprinticeship
in the largest machine shop in New
York city, and still later having stud
led social and labor conditions as a
student and preacher in an eager de-
sire to solve the great problem which
confronted the church and the laboring
man. In his lecture he said in part:
"Workingmen today are looking for
a coming man. But that man has al
ready come. He was carpenter.
FIts first followers were workingmen
Workingmen are coming. more and
more to recognize that Jesus, the car
penter, belongs to them But this does
| not mean that the workingmen are at
tendig the church of Jesus Christ. 1t
is said that not more than percent OF
the working men OF. our large cities
are regular attendants at our churches.
"The eworkingn1an would not attend
the church Of the rich, even though
he were welcomed with wide open
arms. Indeed, the more conspicuous
the welcome the more would he be re-
peeled It would be JUS. as reasonable
to- expect he I average rich man who
| IS not Christian "a: hiuself at
home 50 the Mission poo 81
deed. It<yYoul q more reasona Bile fof
the man fscultu east supposed
Istos have broad