The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-25
BY LAMEs n. MORROW.
londence The Washington Herald

SIAN Tone loDdence The Washington Herald.
New York. Dec. 24-Having heard the
odd and wonderful story of Charles
Stelzle, a skeptic would say that he was
taken from the mechanics bench By
peculiar climax of events so unusual as
20 suggest an accident.
Dogmatists. greedy for controversy,
would argue for and against environ
ment. meaning the power Of surround
irgs and training, or their utter impo-
tency 10 shape and direct a human life
But John Calvin, were ne alive, would
aver, especially on Christmas morning.
that the case indisputably proved the
doctrine Of election or the aristocracy Of
piety, as formulated by Paul, the tent
maker-who studied law but became an
evangelist while on the road to Damas-'
Gus under spectacular circumstances-in
one OF his learned and celebrated letters
TO the ThesSalonians.
The reader of the interview that fol-
lows must judge the matter himself. I
asked Charles StelZle for the view he
took Of his own case. He looked across
the tops of many buildings toward the
mysterious and potential East Side,
where he lived in Indebtedness while a
child and was silent. But there was a
look in his expressive gray eyes that
said. ! now feel sure, Cant you see
the finger OF God?''
Charles Sickle and His "JOb.7
Every workingman in the United States,
almost, either knows or has heard about
Cherries Stezle, the machinist who turned
preacher and is now trying to take the
church to labor, instead of attempting to
harpoon OF trap labor and drag it into
the church.
Even so. there is no upward slant to
Charles Stelzles eyes, no quiverings In
Charles SteIzie's manly voice, no eccles-
iastic cut to Charles StelZle's coat or
vest. He is a workingman yet, without
cant, JUNCTION, or effeminacy, and speaks
Of his employment as being his Job.
Nor Is he acting down or talking down
TO labor-Charles SteiZle Is not a religious
demagogue Nor could labor be deceived.
II is wide-awake all of the seven days IN
every week.
In speech, Charles Stelzle is an edu-
Gated man. In movement, he is nervous,
alert, and intense. in preparedness, he
is equal TO his task. Ii was so when he
worked at a lathe or peddled newspapers
and oranges in the streets. He has
studied socialism here and has investi-
gated II abroad "Once, at a meeting
some sOcialists-able men-tTied to make
a monkey of me-" he said. I answered
them. When they read a part of para
graph from a book, l insisted that they
read it all. The point was quickly turn
ed against themselves. l knew the book
you understand. Since then socialists
have let me alone when / am on my
feet, working in my own particular
line"
Industrially and religiously, joining
two opposite and hostile worlds into one.
Charles Sickle is the most eminent and
original specialist in the United States
Labor, looking at him in the beginning
with puzzlement, uncOncern, or levity,
now takes OF its hat in admiration and
respect The church finally admits that
he Is right.
A deer cannot be caught with a lure
that will convince a sheep or goat. the
hunters OF souls have learned. Charles
Stelzle takes the field afoot. Every de-
nomination is watching his methods. and
his own church now declares with en-
thusi:Tsm that success has followed his
doubtful attempt So Charles Steizle IS
a revolHtionist, a Martin Luther-having
a handy ink pot, but only one thesis
within the Protestant Church. His per-
s0nal history has more of the elements
OF drama than the biography Of even
j very extraordinary man.
My mother and father were Germans
by birth, he said. However, / was born
in New York. Ny maternal grandfather
prospered in business. He owned a
bakery and sent his wagons all over
town His rye bread especially was in
great demand. When my mother married
her family cast her of. My father owned