The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-30
WITH THOSE WHO LABOR
 IN THE LORDS VINEYARD
BY D. V. FRANCIS

New York, April 2s.-(Special )-what | is to be the relation of the church to the social unrest which is so marked a l feature of the twentieth century devel- opment? This is question which merits I great deal more attention than it is receiving at the hands of church people. l One of the men who does recognize it's vital importance and seeks with all his | might to impress upon his fellows the necessity for it's consideration is the Rev. Charles Stelzle, superintendent of the Presbyterian department of church and labor MT Stelzle says:
 The recent census returns indicate that the city will eventually dominate the nation. Whereas the country as a whole increased 21 per cent in population during the past 10 years, the cities of 5000 and over increased 55 per cent: while the population in the country districts is steadily diminishing. The city must solve it's own problems. It is folly to imagine that we may send the city S poor to the country. hoping that the country will do for us what we have failed to do for ourselves.
 Tt is a most significant fact that the church is slowly but surely losing ground in the city. where the masses of people live If the city is to dominate the na- tion, and if the church continues to lose in the city, it does not require a prophet
 
 churches. It means that they will be- come a waning influence
 An attempt has been made to justify the surrender of the churches in lower New York by the statement that lower New York is inhabited exclusively by foreigners. This is not true; but sup pose it were. We have been insisting that our gospel is a universal gospel, but, by our removal from lower New York, we are confessing that this gospel is eff fective for the foreigner only when it is exported to his native land, and that it is of no value when that foreigner comes to a so-called Christian country. A church sold it's property in lower New York because there were too many for eigners in the neighborhood, and then sent the proceeds to the board of for eign missions.
 "Is our gospel applicable to the needs of the crowd or is it's effectiveness di unfinished as the tenements increase? Can it give relief from the human woes of the masses, or must they look to the agitator outside the church for deliv- erance? These are questions which the church must frankly answer, for there are other forces which are challenging the church for supremacy in the hearts of the people. Principal among them IS socialism. The socialists In lower New York are conducting more open-air meet ings than all of the Protestant churches in the city combined. They are going after the people as the church has never dreamed of doing. Their literature far surpasses the literature of the church. It can be read and understood by the man on the street.
 "The spirit of democracy among the people is one of the most significant signs of the times. For many years the people fought for religious democracy and they won. Then. for 400 years they shed their blood upon many battle field as they struggled for political dem ooracy, and they conquered. Today, they are fighting the battle for industrial democracy and no human power can stop their onward march.
 Underlying this spirit of social unrest there is a deeply religious spirit. For workingmen are naturally religious, even though that religion may not always be expressed in the accepted orthodox man. ner It is important to remember that God is not dependent upon the church for the redemption of the world. It came as a severe shock to the Jews when 1t was told them that God loved the mis- erably despised Samaritans as he loved the Jews
 ''The greatest opposition encountered by such men as Luther, Wycliffe, Knox and savanarola was among those whose in-