The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-08-20
PROSTITUTES PULPIT
TO ASSA|L UNIONS IN
JOHN k|RBY'S TOWN

DAYTON, Ohio, Aug. 19.-Con-
siderable strong feeling has been
aroused here as a result of an anti
labor sermon delivered by Rev. John
D. Long. pastor of the Parkside
church, Brooklyn, and one time secre-
tary Of the Christian Socialist League
of America in the pulpit of the Men,
orial Presbyterian church last Sun
day. Trade unionists are thoroughly
incensed, and the pastor Of the
church, Rev. F. N. McMillen, has re-
pudiated the statements of DR.. Long
in letter to the Dayton Herald.
John Kirby, president of the Ma
tional Association Of Manufacturers
made arrangements for DR.. Long,
whilom Socialist, to preach one SUM-
day during the absence Of Rev. Nc
Millen on his vacation, with the un--
derstanding that he was to preach on
an evangelical subject.
With that understanding, Rev. Nc
Millen rendered the use of his pulpit.
In his sermon, however, DR.. Long
made bitter attack on the A. F. of
l.. A hornets nest has been stirred
up in the congregation.
In the letter which appeared in the
Dayton Herald on Wednesday under
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. eAE,redeEicl4s N :
McMillen the pastor says:
ITO the Editor of the Herald
Your issue of Monday last: containing
an account of the address delivered on
last Sabbath in the Memorial Presby-
terian church of Dayton by the Rev.
J. D. Long, reached me while absent
from the city on my vacation. Mr..
Kirby, president of the Manufacture
ers' association, asked me few
weeks ago to extend him the courtesy
of visiting Mr.. Long, who is q Pres
byterian minister though our records
show that he is not in charge of any
church,, and friend of his, to sup
rly our pulpit for one Sabbath during
my vacation. This our session at my
suggestion was glad to do. A few
days afterWard, gentleman, in no
way connected either with the Manu-
facturers' association or any labor
organization said to me that Mr..
Long was going about the country
attacking labor organizations and
agitating the, unfortunate questions
which have arisen with respect to the
disputes between employers and en-
ploye.
Kirby Gives Promise.
II went to Mr.. Kirby and told him
what had heard and said that I did
not think it wise to bring into our
pulpit any man who would be a spe-
cial pleader for either side of this
regrettable controversy, as the pulpit
is not the place for such a discus
sion. He assured me that Mr.. Long
would preach sermons along evange-
lical lines and make no reference to
these matters. Much to my surprise
and chagrin 1 read in the papers
that he was brought to Dayton by
the Manufacturers association and in
the Herald that he devoted a large
portion of his address to mooted ques-
tions concerning labor troubles.
Il desire personally to disavow all
responsibility for his utterances, and
the Memorial church, which has al
ways been regarded as "a peoples
! church, cannot be held responsible.
The Christian church to be true to
her divine mission must be fair to
and conserve the interests of all men,
poor and rich, employe and employer.
Congregation Sore
"A number of men who were in the
audience and who are neither employ
ers nor employees, but who engage in
other sorts of callings, have said to
me on my return today the address
was entirely too one-sided.' We
recognize the evils of boycotts, lock4
| outs, ETC., but there are evils also on
the other side, unfair and unjust
treatment Of laboring men, employ
! ment of child labor, the denial of
the right to organize for proper pur-
poses, the paying of wages. entirely
too small in view of the cost of liv-
ing, etc. With these views 1 coincide,
and surely all fair minded men will
say that If any man, and especially a
minister is to discuss such questions
he should be fair to both sides and
show and deplore the evils on both
c;1 Ar1+J.5