The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-10-07
REV JOHN FAIRIES !.
on D. ORGANIZED |: LABOR I
He Very Clearly Defined What
Should Be Church's Atti-
tude on Labor. III
Unionism He Regards As
Struggle BY Labor for the
Right to Live. r

john A. FAIRIES, pastor of the Glen
Avon Presbyterian church, at last
Mondays meeting of the Duluth Min
isterial association. From rhetori-
cal stand point the address was a
masterpiece, and the sentiments ex-,
pressed were in entire accord with
the philosophy of the trades union
/ movement. ,.'
| He deplored the fact that al idea
was being propagated in certain
quarters that the church was an in
stitution largely, If not wholly, do
minated by the: capitalistic class, and
could not therefore be regarded as
a friend to the cause of the labor
ing man. ;
THE church at all times and in all
ages has been the friend of the toll
ers, and If in recent years there is
manifest any degree of indifference
or apathy on part of the church to-
| wards the workers, we may we'll be
alarmed at what would inevitably re-
suit from a continuance of such at
titude.'
The toiler needs the consultations
| of religion to sustain him in bearing
those Ills which have been forced up
on him by Ubiquitous industrial con-
ditions, for which many of the men
who sit in our cushioned pews are
responsible"
Zone cause for suspicion is a lack
of genuine sympathy upon the part
| of the church for the working class.
The fact that our churches are open
so little during the week, and minis
ter in such small degree to the
! largely multiplied needs which mod
| ern conditions make it necessary that
some institution with the aims and
means which the church possesses
should supply"
Under modern industrial conditions
it Is necessary that labor should be
in a position to make a collective
bargain with the employer
| "The history of the trades unionism
is a history of a struggle for the very
right to live.
! 1T is really a protest agaianst I'M
just conditions in hope to bring to-
| the wage carriers a chance to enjoy
the large and deeper life which Jesus
Christ came to bring to all men,
| The speaker then very fully dis
capital and labor, and concluded by
saying that it : is only as: labor wins
| by moral means IAN Its victories be
sure and permanent.
He then called attention to some of
the things that organized labor is
striving to bring about, and submitted
that they .merited 'othe support Of
every Christian man: Quoting from
John Mitchell he enumerated them as
follows:
! L.. A minimum wage which; will
enable men and women to live in a
manner conformable to American
standards, to educate their children,
and to make adequate provision
against sickness and. old age.
2. The eight hour work day, which
\ will give opportunity for the Guilt
walton of home life, the enjoyment of
books, music and wisely employed
leisire.
3. Legislation making it unlawful
for children Of tender years and frail
physique to be employed in gainful
pursuits. =:
! 4. Laws providing for the safe
guarding of the lives and limbs of
| "O4n CIS engaged III dangerous occur:
atoms and for compensation for in
| juries. / ErE s."..,
! 5. The progressive Improvement
of tie sanitary, working and hous.
ing conditions of the wage earners:
and ~ ~ -"
| 6. The preservation of the consti-
! tutional guarantee of free speech and
g. free press. y '@.<'
Continuing the speaker said:
| 'Not only is, leadership demanded
in these things. but fearlessness up
on the part of the ministry to pre-
l sent the modern Ubiquitous Industrial
conditions from the pulpit and with
the directness of the Prophet Nathan
to say to the man in the pew who is
| winning his dollars from the shame
and degradation of his employees.
Thou art the man." When We make
the pew so hot that some self-rigkt-
eous sinner will get out of it, the la
boring man will not complain that the
the church is cold J.. ~.
1 Asw~--u. -