The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-05-13
CHURCH AND UNIONS ~.
GETTING TOGETHER
Ministers are Joining With
Central Labor Unions in
Many Cities.
Influence for Good Resulting
From One Preachers Un-
dertaking.

The latest phase Of the old problem
OF the church and labor is the at
tendance OF ministers as fraternal
delegates in the trades assemblies
and other central bodies OF many
cities.
The Duluth assembly was treated
last night with hopeful speech by
the Rev. j. K. Schellenberger OF this
ture more preachers will be heard in
the halls OF the labor organizations
OF this city.
st. Paul and Minneapolis both have
fraternal delegates from the Minis
terial union. From our exchanges
we learn that large number of cities
have fallen into line, and all because
OF the efforts OF one man, who is
not hair. Drained evangelist or no.
toriety seeker. 1t is the wrought out
plan OF preacher whose theological
seminary was machine shop; it has
already been put into operation in
more than dozen cities, and back
OF the project stands the great Pres
byterian denomination.
The idea is one result of a radical
innovation in religious work by the
Presbyterians, who more than a year
ago employed, as part of their de-
nomlnational organization Rev. Chas.
Stelzle OF St. Louis to do special SER
vice among workingmen. This move
was a recognition OF the fact that be-
tween the church as a whole and
WOrkingmen as class there is a
great gulf fixed. TO bridge this gulf
is Stelzle's mission. His twofold
work is to interest the workingmen
In the church and to interest the
church in workingmen. In pursuit
OF that end he has travelled in all
parts of Amer1ca-he is now on the
Pacific cOast-visiting churches,
gatherings OF ministers and religious
conventions, setting forth the cause
and claims OF labor, and addressing
meetings OF workingmen in behalf Of
the churches.
Mr.. Stelzle has dual role to play.
When with the ministers being quiz
Eed on the intricate and pressing
labor union and. scores the churches
for their shortcomings with respect
to the workingman. He stands
squarely for the cause of organized
labor and in many debate has
proved himself master OF the diff
flcult questions-the closed shop and
socialism. to cite only two-that are
bound up with the present-day in
dustrlal. Frequently he is subject
ed to rapid-tire cross-examination
oy ministers who have heard only the
employers side of the case, that
would entangle one less accustomed
10 addressing public assemblies.
On the other hand, when taking
advantage OF his privilege as mem
Der In full standing OF a machinists'
local union which belongs to the
American Federation OF Labor Mr..
Stelzle attends meeting of labor
unionists, he holds brief for the
church's side OF the question. He is
full-tledged clergyman, having been
called from the pastorate of the
Markham Memorial church, st.
Louis. where he was conspicuously
successful in interesting workingmen,
to his present wider work.
Unionists are not bashful; they
know how to speak up in meeting,
and what they have to say concern
ing the churches is generally said
without any frills or euphemism. So
Mr.. Stelzle hears many blunt criti-
cisms OF his cloth and Of the derelfc-
tlons of the churches in their rela-
tions with the men who toll He is
a self-possessed, jolly friar sort of a
person and takes it all in good part.
put ne seldom misses his opportunity
TO tell laboring men what he thinks
to be their duty in the matter.
AS a result of this experience-so
wide and varied that Mr.. Stelzle SAYS
he has not heard new question for
many months from either working
men or ministers-he has come to
the conclusion that the chief difficult
ty In the entire situation is that the
churches and the workingmen simply
fail to understand one another. He
thinks they should get together.
Nearly all the criticisms made on
both sides are due to misapprehen-
sions.
Therefore he has involved the plan
Of an exchange of ''fraternal dele
gates between the ministerial un-
ions OF the country and the central
labor unions. There are 500 cities
in the United States which support
central labor unions; almost every
one of these has also a ministerial
union, which includes the ministers
OF nearly all Protestant denomina-
lions. Now the fashion has been
started for these two bodies to ex-
change delegates.
Mr.. Stelzle thinks the labor situa-
ton in America is serious-even
critical and alarming. He is close
to such leaders as Mitchell and Com
pers, and he evidently believes that
they are seriously concerned for the
future, lest organized labor, realiz-
ing it's power, should follow after
utopian 'isms.'' Everywhere" saws
Mr.. Stelzle, thoughtful labor lead
ers are endeavoring to secure the
sympathetic interest of the church"
Out OF his experience he declares that
a preacher, coming in the right spirit,
is sure Of hospitable welcome at a
central labor union. The consent
OF the workingmen to the new plan
is assured; all that remains is to
arouse the interest of the ministers.