The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-12-30
"BE CONTENT WITH YOUR
WAGES"
BY the Rev. Charles Sickle.

by the Rev. Charles Stelzle.
1t was a great preacher that said
it originally. There probably never
was a greater than he with the ex-
ception of Jesus Christ. At any
rate Jesus said of him a few days
after he preached that sermon,
Among those that are born of wo-
men. there is not greater prophet
than John the Baptist"
But what did he mean? Did he
imply that there should never be q
strike or a demand for better con-
ditions? Some unfair or ignorant
agitators have insisted that the Bible
and the church teach that doctrine,
and they have flung into our faces
with scorn the text of John the Bap-
tist, declaring that it is vicious and
degrading. Some employers in his
tory have also quoted this scripture
passage, in order to point out that
the Bible teaches absolute subser-
vience on the part of the employe to
his employer.
l am reminded in this connection
of the smart young man who insisted
that the Bible itself salys: There is
no God" But when he was COM
PEELED to look up the reference, he
discovered that what the Bible really
said was: "The fool hath said in his
neart-there is no God"
Something like this Aleck are the
men who twist the Scriptures so as
to produce all sorts of economic abb
surdities, warping out of their true
meaning the greatest and most bene-
ficent teachings of Christianity.
But let us look for moment at
the circumstances under which the
words were spoken and the persons
to whom they were addressed. The
story Is found in the third chapter
of the Gospel of Luke. The fearless
preacher-who afterward was be-
headed because he dared denounce
the reigning monarch for his sin
was speaking to great multitude
that had come out to hear him. The
burden Of his message was summed
up in the single word-Repentence.
And it was noted that this repent
ence had particular reference to sins
committed against men. AS the
preacher proceeded the people began
to ask What shall we do then?'
He answered, HE that hath two
hath none; and he that hath meat,
let him do likewise" VIII you
note, by the way. that he said two"
coats, not "six." Then came the
publicans-the government grafters
Of the day-and said to him, MAS
ter what shall we do?" The preach
er answered, Exact no more than
the law demands" Finally came the
soldiers-often the brutal represent
tatives, the policemen; of a foreign
government; men who were follow
ing the examples of their superiors
BY robbing the working. people. st. II,
was @a#case Sof graft which was very
much worse than anything unearthsd
in our day. And what shall we
do?" they asked. "And John the
Baptist answered.: "Do violence to
no man; neither accuse any falsely:
and be content with your wages"
The emphasis was upon the word
wages"
It was not intended to teach that
workingmen in every generation
should be content with their wages.
II was intended to teach that these
brutal, consclenceless soldiers should
not demand from the masses of the
people upon pain of bodily injury,
that which did not rightfullY belong
to them, in order that they might
add this money to the wages received
from the government. The words,
"be content with your wages must
be viewed in the light of the spirit
of the entire address. No one, not
even the most radical agitator can
successfully deny that the preacher
was making fight for the poor and
the oppressed.
And so, instead of degrading the
toiler, this Injunction is actually a
plea for fair treatment for the man
who was powlerless to resist oppres-
sion.
u HEAR VT PRINTERS