The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-01-07
Can THE CHURCH
STAND FOR LABOR
ABLE DISCUSSION OF THE CUES
TON, CAN THE CHURCH STAND
FOR ORGANIZED LARoR-EAcH
ONE HAS ITS OWN PECULIAR
FIELD FOR WORK.

The following editorial under the
caption, Can the Church Stand for
Organized Labor? appeared in a re-
cent issue of The Continent, a leading
Presbyterian paper:
In the church's approach to labor,
we must frankly face the problems of
| the poor. On this point there can
be no evasion and no compromise.
Christ did not try to get away from
the questions that were being asked
by the people. He did not always
answer these questions to their salts
faction, because of their prejudice and
their pre-conceived ideas, but He new
er failed to lay down the principles
which He would apply to the case un-
der discussion. And this must be
the attitude of the church toward the
social questions Of the day. What
then should be the position of the
church with regard to organized la
bor2 Shall the church, and particu-
larry the minister. accept all the prin-
ciples for which the trades union is
contending, in order to make good
with labor? Must the church always
stand with organized labor in its fight
for the union shop, the boycott, the
minimum wage, the shorter work day?
Church In Its Own Province.
We may set it down as a funda-
mental principle that the church can
not advocate any economic system,
no matter what it may be. The
church is purely voluntary organiza-
ton and is composed of all classes.
including both employers and en-
ployees. The church cannot assume to
legislate for its members on matters
which are clearly outside of it's prov
ince, and concerning which men have
right to disagree, and in which no
direct moral principle is involved.
Ecclesiastical bodies have right to
demand obedience from a minority
when the question has to do with &C.
clesiastical affairs, but they may not
assume to dictate to minorities with
reference to matters which are purely
economical or political
However, when the working man is
making fight for better living con-
ditions, a. reasonable number of hours
Of employment, a living wage, and a
square deal in every other particular,
he has right to insist that the church
shall come out clearly and specif-
cally and take it's stand with him in
the struggle The church must stand
with organized labor in its contention
for conditions which every unpredju-
diced person must recognize as just
and fair. but the approval of the
church Of the methods whereby these
conditions are to be obtained should
be given only when they are lawful
and moral.
But here the church cannot afford
to stop at the point of passing reso-
lutions. It should seek in every prac-
ticable way, By agitation and by its
influence on public sentiment and on
civic legislation, to improve the con-
ditions Of the toilers. 1t is too late
In the day for the church to declare
that It has nothing to do with mems
bare backs and empty stomachs'-
that its mission Is purely the saliva
ton OF mems souls. III the church
does not care for mems bodies. which
It has seen, how can It care FOR mems
souls. which it has not seen?
But In cCntending for the improved
conditions. it need not necessarily
stand for other organizations which
are seeking to secure the same con-
ditions- The church may work with
any other society, insofar as their
purposes are similar, but there can be
no just criticism against the church