The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-08-17
MINISTER'S VIEW Of =:
:. UNION LABOR MEETING
Rev. Charles stelzle Tells How
One Ministerial Delegate
Was Received.
Impression Gained BY A Preacher
After Attending Union Labor
Meetings.
by the Rev. Charles Stelzle.)

w SAAS 4SSV. NudT1tS olS1A4c.j
My friend was big-hearted
preacher. I was sure that he would
make good with the boys, even though
ne was the pastor of the SWEETEST
church in town-made up largely OF
employers.
He did lots Of good, too. I shall
not take space to tell about it, because
want you to know about the well
come that he received by the Central
Body. This is about the way that he
told me about it:
Il had been told that the labor
unions were ,hotbeds of infidelity;
mad sat In meeting of Socialists
where preachers were referred to with
scorn and the name of Jesus was re-
ceived with cheers When our Minis
terial association appointed me a fra
ternal delegate to the Federated
Trades Council, T wondered what
would happen when 1 presented my
self for admission Would they
sheer? Would they treat me with
studied Indifference? 1t is revealing
AAO AAAApOA IoA4I ScC16l VI IIC COullC1I
chamber to say that when I crossed
the Threshold there was round OF
applause, and that I was escorted to
seat on the platform next to the
president.
l served as fraternal delegate for a
year. 1t involved no little sacrifice;
but it paid-paid big. I became a sort
of chaplain among the workingmen
they invited me to visit their local
unions and to be present at their
social gatherings and publ: meetings.
When they asked me to speak at their
annual outing in the amusement park
they inquired somewhat tjmidly If |
objected to participating in picnic
where there would be a good deal of
dancing and shooting the chutes. !
said No, most decidedly. 1t was a
great day. I simply preached to the
men. I did not try to get them to
come to my church. I did r ct pose in
print as friend of the laboring men,
l simply went to the Councl' as a dele
gate to help in any possible way. ]
did not even think it necessary to re-
mind the Council that I represented
alton. They, of course, understood
that. I did say something on the
subject Of religion on one occasion
1t was banquet They asked me to
give one Of the addresses. I, tried to
give them some idea of the service
the church could render their cause
| In some such way as this: Laboring
men are demanding Justice, not char
ity. Every true minister is urging
this every Sabbath. Laboring men
are emphasizing the brotherhood OF
man., This is the >commonest theme
Of the pulpit. Laboring men are
struggling for what they conceive to
be their right as to property and leis-
ure. We are eager to give them our
help. And it Is our mission also to
remind them that they have souls as
well as bodies, that there is a God
and that heaven is just beyond.
When I sat down, the man at my
right said: We ought to have some
thing like that once a month"; And
the man at my left said: i've been
member Of the union for Is years
and I never heard anything like that
before. It's all right"
I have found labor leaders intelli-
gent, fairminded and dead in earnest
The ministerial delegate who will go
to them with a modest, genuine de-
sire to help, will get from them more
than he can give