The independent., 1903-06-11
NOT WAGES BUT CHRIST
Pastor BigeIow's Experience at Preach
ers' Monday Morning Meeting La
borers Need Jesus Rather Than
Better Wages
Better Wages

morning which he spent with the
members of a~ministerial association,
discussing social problems. Mr.
Bigelow said in part:
1t was in the city of j. / hap
pened to be there for a course OF lee
lures and accepted an invitation 10
speak at the preachers Monday
morning meeting.
My theme was the labor problem.
| attempted to show that millions CT
our fellow creatures, by reason OF
their scant wage, are compelled, -
work and live in conditions which
stunt the mind and discourage. II no.
prohibit, the formation OF moral
character. | declared that it was the
plain duty of the preachers, to en-
courage every wise and just plan OF
economic betterment, in order that
the discouragements to right living
may be diminished and more
wholesome environment provided for
the masses.
According to the custom in this as
sociation the address OF the day sWa'
followed by general discussion.
Then it was my turn to listen. That
general discussion threw no light GA
the labor problem. But it threw
food of light on the preachers.
Without the slightest shade OF col
oring / want to report the substance
of their remarks on this important
theme.
One preacher, with breezy opt1m-
ism, brushed aside my contention as
to low wages and bad conditions, VITA
the assertion that the miners IN tne
neighborhood of j were getting Sof
a week.
It seems that he had heard of some
miner who was said to have made
lat much. He could not tell how
many weeks during the year ne mac
made that. He could not tell how
many. if any, helpers this miner had
with whom he was compelled to dl-
vide his $34. 1t is true that the spe-
cial commission, appointed by the
president, reported that the average
wage of the contract miner is from
fourteen to sixteen dollars week.
This commission ought to know. But
this preacher thought the commissions
must have been mistaken because lie
had heard of miner who got more
How trustful men are of any evidence
which iustifies their prejudices!
The next speaker was still more
optimistic. His assertion was that
laborers in and around j were mar
ing from $3.50 to $40 a day. More
over" said he, 'if there are rev
who do not set enough, we can't rem
edy the matter. l believe Baer and
Morgan and Carnegie and Rockefellef
are good conscientious Christians and
are doing as we'll as they can for the
workingmen. What do we know
about business? How can we give
them any suggestions? l tell you the
preachers are all right. The trouble
is with the people. They need more
of Jesus in their heart. That's what's
the matter. If the people will treat
Jesus right, he will treat the people
right" This remark elected vigor-
GUS Amens from the brethren
Almost every preacher who took
part in the discussion voiced this sen.
timent that the thing needed was net
economic betterment, but individual
salvation. One and all they declared
"The great need of the workingman is
Jesus Christ and him crucified."
What truth is there in this thread
hare phrase? If a workingman were
dissipated and conversion to Chris
tianity made him sober, to that ex-
tent his economic condition would be
improved. But suppose he is already
3 sober and Woodworking man. How
will his conversion raise his wages?
There can be no general and perma-
nent increase in wages save through
legislation which destroys monopoly
and thereby increases the opportunl-
ties for remunerative employment.
But that cannot be done without A
knowledge of political economy. viii
conversion to Christianity teach a
man political economy? Will it teach
him to run an engine? Will it teach
him to pilot a steamer? 1t requires
thought to exercise intelligently the
rights of citizenship. The man wfc
does not give earnest thought to the
problem of improving the social cor
ditions of his fellowmen is bad citi-
zen, although he may be a goo:
church member or even preacher.
Another preacher referred in his
remarks, to the parable of the man
who, having been relieved of one
devil, was possessed of seven other
devils The appIication he made OF