The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1905-11-24
THE EVERYDAY CHRISTIANITY

Rev. Charles stelzle Says if the Church is
Not Interested in the Abolition of Sweat
Shops and Unsanitary Conditions, He Win
Leave 1t and Stick to His Labor Union
An Earnest Preacher Talks Straight From
the Shoulder.
II he church has great social mission. If
telt that it not interested in the every
day affairs Of men-n the abolition Of the
sweatshop and of child labor; in the secur;.,o
OF better sanitary conditions for WORKING neo-
ple-l would cut out the church and line m
with the trades union even more STRONGLY
than do 1t is because l believe that the
church is concerned about these things that
shall continue to work through the church
tor the securing of better things for work;r,p-
men and their families
II IS an institution which not only prepares
men Tor death, but, more important still. It
teaches them how to live. Unfortunately
some Worklngmen have thought of it as some
thing which has to do only with the sickness.
death and cemeteries, and that the preacher
was mandy man to have around in case of a
funeral 1t IS interesting to note by the way.
that the average preacher usually responds te,
such call
Christianity believes in brighter homes. bet-
ter schools, more beautiful cities and cleaner
governments. If Christian men were in the
majority in our great cities, more of the evils
FOUND IN them would be wiped out. They
are not in the majority, however, and never
have been. This is sometimes forgotten when
the church is sneered at by its enemies. who
ask why it is that after SO long trial il has
not succeeded in Christianizing the cities
While much has been done through its sinflu-
enee 6, Christianity has really never been tried
ne churches have become centers for Ahe
intellectual life of the people as well as for
the development of their spiritual life Open
every night and nearly all day. as many of
the mare, for concert courses and lecture SER
les, tree dlspensary and savings bank sewing
school and cooking class, boys clubs and read
ing rooms, mems clubs and library music
classes and womens clubs, and everything
else that is helpful and inspiring (so far as
their means will permit and the community
demand) these all indicate that the church; has
vital interest in the here and now as well
as in the hereafter"
Sometimes Workmen have said that the
church is not doing enough for the needs OF
certain community. They forget that as a
rule the particular church which they are crit
lclsing is composed of their neghbors who
are better off than themselves, but who are
striving to supply church privileges for the
people living in the district. If the average
workinglnan believes in this work Of the
church, he can render his fellowrnen a great
service by helping it through his personal eff
forts. For the question of helping the people
in the neighborhood is not so much question
OF money as it is problem of flesh and blood
viz: the willingness fmen to give themselves
to the work of helping others. The high
thinking workman best understands the needs
of those with whom he associates and he can
suggest many things to the minister who, with
his cooperation, can carry out his practical
plans for the betterment of the whole com
munity. Almost any minister will gladly talk
over with workingman any plan that he
may have for helping his felowmen.
Anyway, try it and see how he will respond.