Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-25
DIVINE RIGHT TO RULE.


The Christian Cyrosure. O. religious
ronthly published in Chicago in i's
issue Tor June has an account Of Tho
anniversary proceedings Of the Nation
al Christian Association. one N th"
principal addresses on that occasion
was delivered by Rev. John vs.. Brink
and is given the chief place in tha'
magazine. The topic discussed was
The Christians duty with respect TO
the present day labor movement The
speakers views Of that movement in rs
relation 10 labor unions are somewhat
vague. or nj least mot definitely eX-
pressed. But Ae argues that Christians
should ioIn in 1t without Joining o
union. The main point however. i'
that ut should be the aim OF The
Christian TO make this labor movement
,uhservlent 10 the Kingdom Of God.
In the course Of his lengthy argument
upon that basis. Nr Brink shows that
he regards the Almighty as the actuu
Kng and ruler OF this world, not mere
" in q spiritual sense but in tenn
porai and political way. We quote
the following paragraphs from his dis
course which are emphasized by Italics
IN the Cynosure;
.rhe first law which the Christian
must obey and enforce Is Thou shalt
acknowledge the absolute soyerelgnV
81 God In the industrial world Goa ls
the absolute pOteutato NJ the Wnoie
universe. There Is no sphere or hu-
man activity wherein He r. not th'
rower that rules. whose viii u aoso-
mte law. No department Of HE OF us
activity Is neutral 80 one IS exempt
from this rule: Il Is immatcrial where
or what or how he may be. God Us
the law-giyer VI ALL and that includes
the organizations Of labor They too
must DO His will and that voluntarily.
The Christian must make Il the great
aim OF his Efforts in The labor move
nont to have this absolute sovereignty
Of the Most High ACKNOWLEDGED M the
constitution and lived up lo ~ tho
practical life Of the union Inc union
IL not and must not become Tehgi"us
body. bur Il must confess the absolute
kngship Of God and honor THIS every
where. That is the Christians union
$50. too. there is a God. given au-
thority in the sphere Of labor ~ is
vested IN the employer. lie is tn'
commanded in his shop, store cue, his
viii is the law which the employ
must obey or suffer the consequence
Of disobedlence. This authority Us iol
derived from the employees; II j. MOI
the result OF q contract. but me az
polntmcut Of God. The employer u
The Great Kings representative ih mn
business This principle should De ue'
clared by the union to which th'
Christian belongs and should be con-
scientously lived out
We are inclined to doubt that labor
unions generally viii agree with the
preacher on the latter proposition ever
n they endorse the first In those quo
tatlons II should be understood thai
tho Cynosure and the association q
represcnts are anti-"Mormon," ane
terribly shocked because they imagine
"Mormonlsm" 10 inculcate smilai
ideas concerning Divine rule IN thing
mundane as those expressed boy Mr.
Brink. n they had been uttered by
"Aicrmon' preacher or published u
Mormon" paper tho Cynosur'
would doubles have Joined in the cr
that would be raised about n 'unlol
Of church and state" and am attomp
10 dominate 81 political affairs hy al
ecclesiastical power
Possibly that speaker and that pa
per would dispute any intention o
that kind on their part But less per
iinent expressions ~ 20 the piVin
rover ana rights IN the universe, b
Mormon speakers and writer's. hav
been interpreted 10 convey just such
meaning as that which iy warranted D
the uuerances 81 Mr.. Brink, but whic
were not intended as in any way 9
claim the right ~ this OF any othe
Church TO interfere in national or star
affairs or 10 dominate any labor ID
cietv or secular 90. tuition Moi
monlsm" stands Just as hrmIy for
separate maintenance 81 ecclesiastical
and political matters. and the cor
duct 81 private or corporate bus
ness as any other religious ot nor
religious organization upon the Gao
~ the earth. But % claims the rigi
10 regulate &C. own temporal afai
equally with tha, 20 direct its o0
spiritual a0airs yet does not attem
20 interfere with anything outside
Sc own legitimate sphere