Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-29


"Multitudes are deprived, by what
are called economic laws, of that OPP
portunity to which every man has a
right. When automatic movements
cause injustice and disaster, the auto
matte causes should be destroyed. That
to these impersonal causes are added
the Jcrueltles of greed, the heartlessnes
of ambition and the cold indifference
of corporate selfishness, every friend
of his fellows must with grief and
shame admit. The unemployed are an
army.
Widows and Orphans
1.-THE accidents of factories and rail-
roads crowd our institutions and tene-
ments with widows and orphans. The
stress of reckless competition, which
loads manhood with oppressive bur-
dens, levies on the frail strength OF
womanhood and turns sunny childhood
into drudgery, dwarfs our stature, saps
our vitality, crowds our prisons, vi
tiates our virtue and darkens our old
age. The homes of the wage earners
in our great cities are an indictment OF
our civilization. The meager income,
which is easily reckoned sufficient by
the fortunate who are not forced to
live upon 1t, is without warrant of rea-
son.
1.-The helplessness of the individual
worker, the swift changes in location
of Industrial centers the constant in
PRODUCTION of labor-saving appliances,
the exaction of landlords, add uncer-
tainty to privation. The hazards Of the
mine, the monotony of the shop, the
poverty of the home, the sickness of
the family, the closing of the doors of
higher opportunity react with dreadful
precision on temperament and mar
character.
"That workingmen should organize
for social and industrial betterment be-
longs to the natural order. The effort
of the worlds toilers to secure better
conditions of work and larger possess
sion of themselves is welcome evidence
of divine call within them to share in
the higher experiences of the ,intellec-
tual and spiritual life. 1t is their right.
as 1t is the right of man everywhere,
within the laws, to combine for COM
mon ends. Both church and society
should cease to talk of 'conceding' this
right. 1t exists in the nature of things.
We do not confer 1t. But we welcome
its exercise.
Masses Profoundly Moral
"The vast multitudes of working peo-
pie have vital share in reshaping the
moral standards of the times They
are at heart profoundly moral in their
ideals and desires. Their demands are
an influence on the conscience of the
nation. Despite the errors of individu-
ais and groups, the false spirit, the i'm
perfection of methods, and, in some in
stances, most deplorable results, organ
lied labor Is to be regarded as an in
f1uence not hostile to our institutions.
but potent in beneficence. When guided
from within by men of far sight and
fair spirit, and guarded from without
by restrictions of law and of custom.
against the enthusiasm which works
injustice, the self-interest which ig-
nores the outsider, or the practices
which create industrial havoc, trades
unionism should be accepted not as the
ehurch's enemy, but as the church's
ally.
"The church believes in the gospel of
Christ as a reality in this world, to be
realized by the furtherance of social
justice. 1t may not adopt as final well
advertised panaceas, but it intends to
study and understand fully the situa-
ton. 1t is not content with announcing
abstract principles, but means to work
definitely and steadily toward the
translation of these into concrete con-
duct.
I'm this theory of its mission it can
not be other than hospitable to the CO.
operation of any individual or organ
lied force, springing from the very
heart of the need 1t seeks to under
stand and meet. 1t may we'll accept as
it's chief responsibility, without abating
its efforts to remove immediate and
palpable evils, the creation of that at
mosphere Of fairness. kindness and
good will in which those who contend,
employer and employee, capitalist and
workman, may find light and warmth,
and, in mutual respect and with fra
ternal feelings, reach the common basis
of understanding which will come to
them not by outward pressure, but
from the inner sense of brotherhood.
Makes Earnest Appeal
"The committee on the church and
modern industries makes earnest ap-
peal that this federal council for the
churches of Christ in the United States
give utterance by appropriate resolu-
lions to it's convictions touching the
Industrial conditions which concern the
multitude to whom the churches are
appointed to present and~represent our
Lord; and, further, that without ig-
noring points of sharp divergence in
opinion, without Endorsement of pro-
ceedings at times strongly condemned,
without commitment to a specific pro-
gram, this federal council extends to
all the toilers of our country and to
those who seek to organize the work.
ers of the land for the furtherance of
industrial justice, social betterment and
the brotherhood of man, greetings of
sympathy and confidence in the name
of him who was known to his neigh
bors as the son of the carpenter; of
him whom we follow and worship as
the Son of God"
Rev. A. c. Smither spoke of the work
of the local federation and opened his
remarks by saying that the Los An
geles federation was on as good work
ing basis as any in the United States.
He said:
1--WE have accomplished much in our
federation and have a splendid spirit
of fellowship and cooperation. why,
we can sit down together and make
love to each other until you can't tell
a Methodist from an Episcopalian or
a Baptist from a Presbyterian.
sour federation has accomplished
much from civic standpoint. Nathan
Newly and the committee on civic
righteousness are the legitimate grand
parents of Uncle George Alexander,
and we are proud OF our offspring.
Mayor Alexander is Methodist, by
the way"
Rev. Mr.. Smither made a statement
of the work of the federation and
asked for contributions to carry on the
work.
During the afternoon Miss Fannie
MARBLE and Miss w. V. Goodfellow
gave vocal selections, DIR. e. e. Davis
leading in the congregational singing.
At the close of the service hundreds
of people went forward to shake hands
with the new mayor.
WEDDING TAKES PLACE AT
unME mr. PRJnE,c PARENTS