New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-21
THE UNION OF CHURCH AND LABOR
Description of Work Done by Presbyterians
Under Lead of Charles Stelzle.
the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: For many years the Church Association for
the Advancement OF the Interests OF Labor Gan
Episcopal Church society has far in the lead
in the effort TO bring capital and labor to-
gether and church people in closer touch with the
leaders Of organized labor. but the Presby-
terrain Church, with its department OF church and
labor. which is under its Board of Home Missions
and organic part OF the church ITSELF has forged
far ahead and by its fraternal delegate system is
doing work widespread and influential. Through
its labors. under the wise direction OF Charles
Stezle we may now be assured Of Christian influ-
ences and sympathy among wage earners more ex-
tended than has ever been known. The Congrega-
tionaI Church also is advancing steadily along these
same lines
Experts in every department OF social economic
science are being employed and sent into every
trade union centre and every congested slum to
find out what Is needed 10 assure something of
social betterment. however deficient and degraded
the conditions.
AS ever on the church's side yet true friend OF
organized labor. I rejoice that each is meet
the other in counsel through duly accredited dele
gates and we work for social betterment
through we'll organized instrumentalities. Let
Episcopal. Congregational and Presbyterian forces
coordinate and each church cooperate with the
other in bringing capital and labor to be friends
rather than enemies. No socialist revolution is
needed while we have such factors as these at
Stelzle tells there are in our labor unions
today six times as many men not reached by our
cbHrches as are in ali of the Presbyterian churches
To these must be added the masses Of non unionists
who affiliate with religious organization. Then
we have thousands of Hebrew workers whose only
religion is socialism, and even among our American
wage earners are socialist preaching services
and SUNDAY schools in which Christ is held up
as n great socialist, and ''class consciousness
which develops into class hatred All this is a step
backward and no little two by four scheme will
solve the problem, but only just such broad minded
scientifc sociologists I have mentioned, with
a clearing house OF information behind them and
a press bureau which sends out leaflets full of
IA AFFILIATED information to anxious minister's teach
ers and millions of wage eaTners, will enable
combat the evils which now menace us
There are more than three hundred labor papers
I'm this country, and they all closely read
as was the New Testament by the sarly Christians
To these papers are sent excerpts presenting the
Christian point Of view Of the labor question. and
by this intelligent audience or at least ten MILL
ion persons is reached.
No better work for the church could be devised.
and this with the hour shop meetings, Is
gradually and surely enabling church and labor to
see each other with clearer vision and 10 accom-
pIsh social economic and civic reforms which
only a short time since seemed utterly impossible
Church. which started this work years ago 70
put the Church Association FOR the Advancement
OF the Interests Of Labor. which has labored so
earnestly and under such disadvantag eous condi-
TONS in rightful place under one OF the Church
boards or give IL the means ana authorization
which II SO richly deserves. - ,,1rpr,,r
Cathedral Heights New York cty Oct H. 1909