The Washington herald., 1909-05-10

The labor unions need the churcheS
and the churches need the labor
unions" was the central thought running
through a remarkable sermon OF The
churches and the labor unions" preached
last night by Rev Charles z. Guthrie.
pastor Of Hamline Methodist Episcopal
Church.
The church was filed 70 overaowing
and there we're many union men in the
congregation. Mr. Guthrie spoke with
considerable emotion It was evident he
had given the subject serious study and
that he appreciated fully the labOring
mans point Of view.
What do We know about labor
unIonsg' asked Mr. Guthrie. The charge
is made repeatedly that small minority
known 70 have membership IN the
churches"
Makes FOur AffirmztfOBs.
Regarding the unions. wish 70 make
four afirmations: They are numerous;
they are estranged from the churches;
they are enbittered, and they are pow
erfui
quote one statement familiar 70 every
man in the ranks Of organized labor. and
which, when IL was uttered originally,
was eheered BY 1900 men who heard
Eugene V. Debs make the remark. He
vas addressing the union men on Labor
I Day in Chicago, and. paying MS respects
/ TO the ministers after his usual fashion.
I E.rrfEs
wooden churches and granite ministers,
/ bat in these DAYS they build granite
churches and wooden ministers. X was
chesred 70 the echo because Il touched
/ responsive chord
7 say the labor unions are powerful
! No group OF voters in the last campaign
gave The political managers more unoeas-
/ ing anxiety than the crowds represented
/ by Mr.. Gompers. Mr. Mitchell. and the
officers Of the American Federation oi
I Labor.
This aggregation. which is numerous.
estranEed. inbittsred. and powerful
makes up what ! call the labor move
Elsnt. and my contention - tonight that
/ the labor movement needs the church and
ths church needs the labor movement. II
4 i a great economic. philsathropic, and
political movement, and We need 10 know
about IT,"
Taken an Advanced stand.
Mr. Gutherie pointed out that the Meth
odist Episcopal Church has taken al sd-
vsnced stand on the labor movement, and
81 It's last general conference in Bslti-
more r. May. 1915. had adopted = plat
/ fern recognizing the rights OF labor. The
/ platform, he said. called for equal rights
fors AL men. for protection of ire worker
against dangerous machinery. FOR the
suppression of child labor and the sweat
Ing system. for work for all for living
wage. and for an equitable division Of
the products Of labor.
He spoke Of how. under our present in-
I drstrisl system. labor was regarded as a
mere commodity. and that = factory vii
advertise for so many hands
/ Jesus Christ he said. would not u.s.
that word in speaking OF the children ot
God He would speak of 50 many msr
o. women.
Nj GutheTie declared the sntaECuisn
of the labOrinE man was not toward re-
lgion. but against the churches and thc
minister's
don't like the parsons he said. Blu
we are not enemies. and we must not b,
enemies. The worst thing that can hap
pen 10 the churches and 70 the labo'
Unions IS that they should remain es
trsnged- II is upon this condition OF az
fairs that the most dangerous forms o.
socialism feeds
} The pastor pointed out that among
great many people the churches q t0-da,
are regarded as the friends OF the rich
and that while IN many OF them muci
:, is said about the excesses of the labo
unions little comment IS made upon n
shortcomings OF the rich he made
! strong plea for a democratic church. an
= declared that as the church is for all n
; people. il must not fail 10 recognize n
labor movement as an economical an'
b political force, which must be reckone
! with.