Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1903-07-10
CHRISTIANITY AND UNIoNIsM.
A Retail Clerk Defends Union Prin-
cip1es.

ciples.
Dear Editor:-I noticed an article In
your valuable paper stating that a
Christian lady, a member of the
Ladies' Aid Society, Christian Endeav-
or Society, The Home Missionary So
ciety and possibly others, made the
remark that she would not patronize a
Union clerk because she did not believe
in Unions. How sad it is that lady
of her position should make such a re-
mark. Evidently she did it carelessly
and thoughtlessly, not knowing of the
good that is accomplished by the
Unions.
This lady, as | understand, is
engaged to large extent in missionary
work. Oh! that she knew the good
missionary deeds that have been ac-
complished to SO many souls through
the Unions and so much more that
could be accomplished if the working
people were better organized.
| firmly believe that Unionism
and religion walk hand in hand and I
must say am surprised that the min
listers Of the gospel have not advocated
Unionism more from the pulpit do
not mean to say that all Unions nor
all members of Unions do good. am
sorry to say many do not, but Unions
and Unionism does accomplish much
good. Some churches and church MEM
bers make fatal mistakes and even
some ministers go astray and yet we
can not condemn the church on account
of their mistakes, neither condemn the
Unions on account of the mistakes of
a few. Let us take the clerks of Roa-
noke and let us see how they have been
benefited by the Unions. A few years
ago the clerks were not organized they
worked till 9 and 10 o'clock at night
and often till IL on Saturday night.
What chance did those clerks have to
attend church, or engage in church
work. They could not attend prayer
meeting, young peoples meeting, or
the special and revival meetings THAI
are often conducted during the week.
Then often working every night during
the week and until IL o'clock on Satur-
day night was he fit subject for Sunday
services, even IL he desired to go. 1t
would be natural for him to want to
sleep late and rest on Sunday. Now
the clerks get out at o'clock p. M,
many of them at six, except Saturdays
and paydays, and by hustling he can
get supper and get to church.
Heretofore you could not blame the
merchants for not closing at z. A
great many of them-the best ones
were anxious to close and such a move
ment has often been on foot and yet
they could not, because few said they
would not close even in the hot ans
dull months Of July and August.
The only thing for the clerks to do
was to organize. They did! And now.
not through the efforts of Union clerks
alone, but through the combined efforts
of all Uunins the poor clerk has better
hours and more time to worship his
God in religious services. Give the
clerks chance and If they do not
grasp the opportunity they can not
blame anyone but themselves. know
of young man about the time OF COM
ing to Roanoke was president OF
church society-Similar to the Chris
tian Endeavor-and he was active in
church work. He wished to join like
society in Roanoke, but on account OF
working so late at night he could not
attend, therefore. he did not join. Since
we have been closing at z p. M, he Is
a member of that society and has the
honor of being elected it's president
If we only knew what so many poor
clerks in large stores, in large cities
and the many women in large factories
have to contend with we would say
Unions are good thing. Men and
women can not serve God in a true
sense when they can scarcely earn
enough to keep soul and body together
Things are bad enough as they are
but If there were no Unions they would
De worse and If there were more Unions
they would be better. In Union there
is strength. We protect the weak.
United we stand, divided we fall Sure
ly Unions are a good thing.
A UNION CLERK.
xIcrnRIEg On ORC ANIZEn LABOR.