Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-29
Elder c. W. Penrose Delivers a
Strong Discourse in Response
To Invitation.
NOT OPPOSED TO UNIoNIsM
Az the Same Time Holds View That
Freedom Of Thought and Action
are Rishts OF Everyone.

rose declared that "some people have
an idea this Church is opposed TO
union labor. and the organization of
men into labor societies. This is a
mistake. This Church does not OPP
nose the union OF laborers for any
GOOD purposes" The address was In
response to an invitation from the
American Federation of Labor. which
mad sent request TO the First Pres
dency to set aside one Sunday near
Inc first Monday in September as La
nor sunday, when the principles OF
labor might be promulgated from the
pulpit
- priest william McIachlan of Pioneer
stake had charge Of the services. The
choir sang GLORIOUS things OF thee are
spoken Zion, city of our Lord The
inyocation was given by Elder John
NJ Knight. after which the choir sang
the anthem. "Hosanna."
ELDER CHARLES w. PENRosE.
Elder Charles w. Penrose said in
mart: There is an organization in the
United states called the American
federation of Labor, embracing var
ious trades unions in different parts
n, thls republic. The leaders have
made request OF the Christian minis
ters OF the country TO set apart day
near the frst Monday I'm September
10 be called labor Sunday.' which
fhev desire be devoted to expoundlng
Manor principles AS next Sunday is
our regular Fast day and regular
asryices in the tabernacle are dis
ncnsed with, today will be devoted to
The cause, responding TO the request
,sceved by the First Presidency OF
Ge church.
Elder Penrosc then read the feoera-
,,on resolution; also the resolution
ndopted by the Ministerial Council Of
America in answer To- the American
Federation OF Labor request that such
Sunday he set apart.
"This church IS not associated with
either federation" continued the speak
or hut IL Is DESTROYS Of doing every
thing possible that Is right to bring the
question before the American public.
THE Latter-day Saints believe In the
dignity of labor II was the design Of
the Almighty that mankind labor for
the bread that perlshes. Elder Pen
rose then read from Genesis, chapter g.
where It says In the sweat OF my
face shalt thou eat bread etc. ana
again wherein II reads that the earth
was cursed bringing forth weeds,
thorns and thlstles, requiring man TO
toll in order to wrest living ftom the
ground II do not believe this was IN
reality n curse. but a blessing in dls-
e1liee" declared the speaker 1t is
5000 for man to labor; TO have some
thing 20 do-not to excess, but suf-
fclent To develop and bring out the
powers Of both mind and BODY, inst
he may live and progress. ldleness Is
not a good condition. II Is a far
greater curse than labor An idle brain
Is the devils workshop, II leads 70
crime. wickedness and excuses.
Every, individual who produces
somethinR, whether from the ground. or
is IN any way beneficial TO humanity
has dignhed occupation. IT Is the
idler who is ignoble, the man supported
by his fellows.
Some people have an idea that there
Il no labor except with pick, with
shovel. with anvil or with AK. That
IS a great mistake. There are many
who labor without using these tools;
those who abor with their brains. their
minds, putting all their energies and
being into their work Every man
who produces something good for hui
manty is worker. There is the dis
tributor and other workers MS well as
the producer. such as the merchant. the
navigator, the railroad man. the news
paper man, the minister, the magazine
writer tho novelist. II is not the mus
Cular laborer who should always he
denominated the worker In all these
various occupations there Is work to be-
done in the great field Of human labor,
Every person who labors should re-
ceive fair remuneration for his
work. There should be fair day
wage for fair days work
also fair days work for q
fair days wages. Wages can
not he reduced 20 a common level
Every man should he paid according
10 the quality OF his labor II there
are many laborers, wages go down; II
'laborers are scarce, wages go up
There are many instances whore
capital has been oppressive to labor;
the employer hard on the employed.
This is on account OF selfishness, with
which we are all more or loss afflict-
ed This reminds me OF a story Presi-
dent Taylor used 10 tell of the man
who prayed as follows: ooh, Lord.
bless me and my wife. my
son John and his wife us
But tho spirit of altrulsm Is grow
ing, and we no longer follow tho
advice of David Harum DO others
rs they would do you, and do them
hrst' but we are learning to do unto
others as we would have them do unto
us.
For years there has been feud
between capital and labor. II IL a
grand mistake. There can be no capi-
TAI without labor. no labor continued
without capital. IL the spirit of fra
ternity were put into the hearts OF
mon, giving them a regard for each
others rights, a great deal OF tho
trouble would be removed. At present
each faction contends for its own
rights only.
NOT OPPOSED TO UNIoNISM
Some people have an idea this
Church Is opposed to union labor,
and the organization OF men into labor
tocioties. This IL mistake This
Church does not oppose the union of
lanorers for any good purposes. IL
accords the right to all people every
where to worship God according Ia
their own dictates, and claims for IT.
self the same rights N men can COM
pine for reduced hours and better
wages consistent with the rights OF
capital the Church does not say you
must not. The Church itself has taken
no stand on the subject, but some of
It's officers have delivered their
opinionA Capital has rights as well
IS labor. and has the right TO COM
labor. II capital would only consider
more tho rights of the laborer, IL
would rebound TO the mutual benefit.
III men belonging 10 a union con-
sider themselves entitled 10 80 much
nay for so much labor. and Will not
work unless they get II. that II their
right. But when they attempt %
force men into their unions, then they
go beyond their human rights. No man
has right to say 60 another; You
a