The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1906-09-07
The Wofkingman
And the Cnurch

Following is a synopsis of sermon
on 1.-The Workingmen and the Church, .
by Rev. B. NJ. Long, pastor of the Sec
ond Presbyterian church, on Sunday,
September 2:
Comparatively little can be said up
on theme so large and so important
as this in the brief space of thirty
minutes. l beg you withal, dear
brethren of the church and of the
trades union, to hear me.
My convictions are that the rela-
ton of the church to the labor move
ment is rarely understood, chiefly be-
cause this relation is viewed from the
wrong point of view, or viewed with
prejudicial eyes. A better understand
ing between these two great factors in
society would overcome many difficult
ties in the way of the progress of
mans betterment. This great ques-
ton must be met and considered We
cannot turn it down with the wave
of the hand and say, "Oh, it is only a
thing of a day.
We must make up our minds that
the trades unions are here to stay, and
we must also make up our minds that
the church is here to stay; therefore,
the best relations ought to exist be-
tween them; not by compromising any
features that make for Righteousness,
but by studying and aiding each other
in the great cause of humanity.
Many church people do not under
stand the work of the trades unions.
Many naturally associate them with
socialism, and even the worst phases
OF socialism, and at once barrier is
lifted between them and the trade
unions. Some phases of socialism are
all right, and on the other hand, some
phases are undeniably wrong and
avowedly materialistic, and are sowing
seeds of hatred instead of seeds of
love.
Socialism may be here to stay also,
and must be reckoned with, but it
must not be regarded as Synonymous
with the trades union Socialism is
undoubtedly growing in strength and
influence. 1t has swept over Germany
like a great tidal wave, and we may
expect that it will i'll some measure
sweep over this country. Unfortunate
ly, the sentiment is growing among
Workingmen. 1 say unfortunately! In
fact, some trades unions are going
bodily over to socialism. This is to be
deplored. The hostility of organized
socialism toward the church is such
that it openly despises the church, and
in some places the bitterness is so
manifest that no church member is
allowed to hold Office in any socialistic
party. But all workingmen are not
socialists. Far from it. Yet one must
not overlook the sad fact that some
of them are substituting socialism for
the church. 1t may be that some of
them honestly feel that socialism more
nearly represents Christ's teachings
than does the church. shall not pass
Germs me most is that the great mass
of workingmen who are not socialistic
in tendencies are not reached by the
church. There must be a reason for
this. The blame lies somewhere. 1t
may be difficult to find just where, but
somewhere. Would that both the
church and the trades union, before
trying to attach the blame would ask
per, Lord. is it II
Mr.. Charles Stelzle, who represents
the Presbyterian board in the interests
OF workingmen, says: Among the
two thousand mechanics whom knew
for eight years, only about five per
cent attended church regularly" He
says they were men who had keen
interest in social questions, especially
lem. The question is, Why did SO few
of them care for the church? Let
that be as it may, 1t is problem to
which the church cannot long remain
lIulncIcAI LII JAC ulSI pldCC, AAcAy
doubtless misunderstood the church.
To such the church must make its
position clear. In the second place.
and our faces blush as We speak, the
church has not done it's whole duty-it
has not lived on those principles that
Jesus Christ laid down by which His
church should be actuated. If we have
failed in any degree, let us confess our
sins and by the help of the Master do
better.
There is no use denying that great
many thinking workinSmen are alien
ated from the church. | believe, how
ever, that this is largely due to wrong
impressions. How those wrong inn