The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-02-22
|HulA I n. !. & T.. \.
=. LABOR. 1 4 | |. QUESTION.
Seventh Paper Of the Series: on
Above Subject by Rev. =
-' Charles stelzle.. -
Advocates Having = Chaplain in
All Central Labor Organ

Recently attended a; meeting; Of a
Bartenders' union. The group of men
assembled in the lodge room were in
telligent and alert,-rather above the
average in the trades unions Of our
| country. But the thing that almost
startled me was the fact that this
was the first local labor union meeting
that I had ever attended which was
opened and closed with prayer. by a.
regularly elected chaplain The chap
lain in this case was bartender. T
was later Informed that this was the
custom in Jere Sullivan's organization.
throughout the entire country.
There is, Of course, pretty good pre-
cedent for this office. Practically
every benevolent order, as, for in
stance, the Odd Fellows, woodmen,
Masons Legion Of Honor. Royal Ar
| canun,n etc., have such officials. The
United States congress- the senate and
the state legislatures have their chap
lains.' Every man-of-war and every
regiment has its chaplain. Even a
circus recently appointed minister as
it's chaplain, who willhere after travel
about with the group of a thousan nd
employees.
A number of Central Labor bodies
have also appointed such officers,
electing the ministerial fraternal dele
gates to the position. Several state
bodies during the past few years have
requested local ministers to open their
meetings with prayer. and the last
two national conventions of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor were SINH
larly opened. I recall that, at the
conclusion Of the prayer offered at the
Minneapolis convention, President
Gompers remarked that ne was glad
that the day had arrived when a min
lister Of the gospel could ask for Gods
blessing upon labor convention. And
why not? It's far more consistent
with the fitness Of things to ask God
to bless labor meeting which is
working for peace and prosperity. than
to pray for the success of an armv
which is bent upon mission OF
murder.
Why not extend and elaborate the
plan? Why not have every central
body appoint as chaplain the fraternal
delegate from the Ministerial associ-
aSAOA4. Lie HlO1llellI Ut TWO ENGAGED
in quiet when we should pray for the
Almighty's blessing on the proceed
ings of the session will help more ma
terially in the betterment of condl-
tons thar some other preliminaries
III some labor bodies. This chaplain
might be enlisted in many other ways,
There are special occasions when his
p-esencs and influence will help decid-
edly in promoting more harmonious
relationships, both among the men
themselves and as between the local
trades unionists and 1.-The general pub
lic.f He might assist in the obligation
OF new members. He could preach an
annual sermon. to trades unionists
and their friends, particularly on La
boris Memorial Sunday" on the second
Sunday in May, as. suggested by the
last American Federation Of Labor
convention. He could be secured TO
give special lectures on labor subjects.
Why not, then, have a chaplain in
every central body? The office might
be passed on from man to man. There
are few ministers who would not feel
honored to occupy such a position in
the great labor movement which is
coming to mean so much for the well
fare Of the people.