Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-12-15
FoRcEFUL APPEAL FOR SERVICE.
Address by Rev. Dr. John S. Lyon Be-
fore Congregational club-Socallsm
and Trades Unionism Explained.

An exceptionally strong appeal to men
for cooperation and service-an eloquent
and forceful address with sympathy and
helpfuness as broad as humanity for it's
central thought-was made before the
Brotherhood of the Congregational
church in the vestry Wednesday evening
by Rev. DR.. John = Lyon of Holyoke,
Mass, son of South Londonderry and
widely known as a preacher and lecturer.
a regular supper was served at $50 which
was well attended, and shortly before
730 Rev. DR.. Lyon was introduced by his
brotherin-law, Clarke c. Fits, president
of the Brotherhood. He spoke an hour,
but closely was the attention of the
audience held that the time passed all
too quickly. Possessed of a keen intel
lect, a wide grasp of social conditions,
the power of forceful expression and a
pleasing personality, DR.. Lyon made a
deep impression upon his hearers, who
included a number of women who came
at the close of the supper to hear the
address.
AS visiting delegate to the Central
Labor Union of Holyoke Dr. Lyon has
come in contact with representatives of a
great body of men who are not affiliated
with the churches, although accepting
their fundamental beliefs. AS a rule
these men do not feel a common bond of
sympathy with the Brotherhood and
other church organizations because they
side of capitalism. While admitting
some of the weaknesses of the churches,
the speaker held that this impression
was erroneous to a great extent; never
theless, the criticism exists and must
be met. The aim of the Brotherhood to
enlist the sympathy of these men was
the theme of the speakers address.
The crucial thing about Socialism, DR..
Lyon said, is the question of value, and
the value of a commodity is the joint re-
suit of its usefulness and the limit of it's
supply. The Socialist believes that labor
creates the value of an article and that
labor is entitled to that value He be-
lieves, a a means to that end, in public
ownership of industries, which would
wipe out the capitalists. Because the
churches do not advocate that doctrine
he holds himself aloof from them. The
main contention of the trades unions is
that they do not obtain their fair pro-
portion of the value of the product Of
labor, but they are willing to take it in
increased wages and shorter working
hours. That the world is greatly in
debted to the manual toiler- DR.. Lyon
admitted, but he said that there was an
other great force in producing value, and
that was the directing mind behind every
enterprise the mind which correlates
and systematizes the working forces and
without which chaos would result.
1t is the problem of the churches to
bring these two forces INTO closer mar
mony and they can do it only by making
brotherhood as broad as humanity, by
making it mean cooperation, for the
greatest thing one can do is to help
man, and by regarding men as solidar-
ity. The speaker finished by showing
that the work of the Brotherhood will be
measured by the work of the individuals
composing it, and each mans motto
should be do it now; do it yourself.
Long continued applause marked the
close of the address.