The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-19
LABOR LEADERS
PRESENT CAUSE
GREAT MASS MEETING rs HELD
IN AUDITORIUM.
Rev. Charles stelzle Speaks on "I.a-
boris Champion, - Jesus Christ
Mary Mcdowell Speaks for Women
and John Mitchell Points Out Short
coming Of Churches Toward Labor.

Three labor leaders spoke at the mass
meeting for workingmen at the Audi
torium yesterday afternoon. These
were Miss Mary Mcdowell Of the
Chicago University Settlement house,
the Rev. Charles Stelzle of the Presby-
terrain church and member of the
machinists union, and John Fl. Mitch
M W. president en- Of the u1ted MINI
Of the First Presbyterian church pre-
sided, and Professor Phillips of, Macal-
ester college sang number of solos.
Mr.. Stelzle,, the principal speaker,
spoke on "Labor's Champion, and in
his address he portrayed Christ as a
social reformer, the friend of all man
kind, and the one person to whom all
should look for guidance. He said in
part:
Christ Claimed by ALI.
Graphically every social reformer
claims Jesus Christ as the champion of
his particular social theory, even tho
these theories be as extreme as the
poles. Whatever else this may indi-
cate, it proves that the Christianity OF
Jesus Christ is a broader thing than
any ism. Nobody can prove from
scripture that Jesus Christ was the adj
tenn, and yet Jesus Christ was a social
reformer, But will you note his meth
cd. He lived in an age when social
conditions were infinitely worse than
they are today. He denounced these
conditions as no other man has ever
dared, but instead of trying to change
the form of government, he began to
change the man-not that he did
not believe in better government,
but he believed that the best way to
get good government, was, first of all,
to get good men.
J" Jesus Christ introduced certain
Getty, Which, his enemies mics Hd declared ed
were turning the world upside down.
These principles will keep on turning
the world upside down until this old
world is turned right side up. In the
end, there will be not one answer to
the social question, but many, but all
will agre in this-all will be religious.
History has prophesied it; labor lead
ers are coming to recognize it; present
reform measures indicate it.
"Surely, one who could present such
wonderful truth as Christ presented.
must have been unique in his person
and in his character. Infdels may scoff
at the arguments of Christian scholars.
but the person and the life of Jesus
Christ have stunned them from the first
century down to tie twentieth.
'.What is it that gives Jesus Christ
such marvellous powers First of all,
it is his superiority as a, teacher. He
scribes taught as tho they had learned
scripture. Christ spoke as tho his
words were scripture. He never quot
ed any other authority. When he used
the words 'as it! is written it was
simply to show that prophecy had been
fulf led. He never argued. He simply
ann tnced great truths. He never spec
ulated. He did not deal i'll non-essen-
trines which were fundamental and
which make character. He revealed
only essential truth. And Yet the sim
plicity of his. message was such that
we are told that 'the common people
heard him gladly The profoundest
truth was made simple and easy Of COM
prehension. With all this authority and
power, he was sympathetic: He came
as a brother. He revealed God in a
new way. He made men see that back
Of the arm Of omnipotence is the great
heart Of loving father.
Message Ever Fresh. &
ellis message never grows old. The
world has never come up to Christ e
teaching. It is just beginning to get
a glimpse into the tremendous, signif
canoe of his words. New truths flasf
out of even his most familiar expires
sions. 4
Ellis religion comes directly from
God. Christianity is the result of Goo
seeking man. All other religions ard
the result Of man seeking God. He mo-
only presents great truths. but he give;
men power to live them. Some men havf
given us beautiful systems of ethics
but they have left out of their schemi
altogether, mans, depraved human ma
ture. Only perfect men could brinS
about their plans for society. Chris.
takes the vilest men and women am
gives them power to live pure, clear
wholesome lives. No other teacher hal
ever dared promise this power. II
els it not a great thing to have sucl
resentatives Of labor. but the men VIII
needed their message most Of all pal
no attention to them. Here is ma
to whom everybody will listen, even tht
oppressors of labor. Take your stan
behind him. Permit him to speak fo
you. You need never again quote TIL
political economist. Quote Christ. Ney
er has any man more bitterly denounce
the oppressor. Ask him to loin yop
your platform. Take him into you
councils. If you do so, you are sure t
win, for Christ is sure to win. If. I'd
any reason, the capitalist or anybod
else has taken Christ away from us. let
us again lay claim upon him, for he fl
our man.
Pleads for Working Women. III
Miss Mcdowell made a plea for i;
terest in the working girls and 5womei
They are unorganiZed, uneducated ar
helpless, she said,- without power oil
lcgislating for themselves. They all
I doing men s work for one-half of VIII
man would take because necessit
| forces them into industrial work. No
withstanding the faults of the lab
unions, the only hope for labor is III
organization, and this applies to wol
| en- as we'll as to men.
Mr.. Mitchell spoke very briefly, sa
ing
"The criticism is too often made
churches and church workers that tht
| lack sympathy with the labor NOV
ment But the church is not Oppose
to the labor movement; the only ju
criticism is that the church fails
give more pronounced expression HI
its sympathy If the churches do NJ
take firm stand, denouncing: the az
full evil of child labor as it exists hesi
today, how are we to expect TIL /.
working men and women will feel al II
sympathy for the churchill Bill