Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-09-06
LABOR DAY is THEME
AT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH


Labor Day In Grants Pass. the closed
window at the postoffiee. the drawn
shutters at the banks, quiet and ser
entity at the county court house, and
a general closing of places of busi-
ness in the city, being the only mark
of the holiday
The fact that there are few labor
organizations here was the reason
for no public demonstration,
In several of the churches Sunday,
Labor Day and the cause of the la
borer in general was the theme of
the sermon AT the Bethany Pres
hyterian church, the pastor, Rev.
Robert Mclean preached from the
text: Come unto me all ye that la
Dor and are heavy laden and will
give you rest" He said in part:
THE question of the mutual rela-
tions of the church and the laboring
class is the vital one for both today.
fhe early church was made up large
ly of toilers. Jesus Christ, the great
head of the church, came as labor
er. He chose his disciples from that
class In the early church the preva-
lent spirit was that OF brotherly
helpfulness. The sick and the un-
fortunate were cared for in that spir-
II. Today the laboring class is large
ly alienated from the church; and
that is due, unQuestionably to the
fact that the church has turned over
to the state her highest privilege and
her mightiest for winning the world.
1t Is true that the spirit of philan-
thropy that causes the state to as
sumo the care of the unfortunate, is
due to the practice and teaching OF
I the church,; but the church should
have held philanthropy brotherly
kindness toward the unfortunate, as
her own right and duty. Today the
unfortunate are turned over to the
tender mercies of professional poll
ticians, and are often made victims
of all the attendant graft and abuse.
We need no further illustration OF
the wrong of this than a recent case
in our own county home, as reported
through the press, where poor, sick,
dying unfortunate was suffered to
lie among maggots. The man re-
sponslble for such inhumanlty to his
fellow man should not be permitted
to retain that position for one hour;
and those In authority who, with
knowledge of the facts, would permit
him to retain his position, should be
impeached.
MEN turn from the church to the
labor unions because In times OF
sickness or misfortune they know
they will receive support in return
for the dues they have paid In. The
church gives charity, but does not
recognize the obligation. No manly
man wants charity, but he does want
the touch of brotherhood.
Through the surrender of this
her highest privilege, there has
been opened a gulf between the
toilers and the church, a gulf across
which the member of the union looks
often with longing eyes. The union
may furnish the material aid, but 4
is in the church, I'm union with Christ
that there is found the spiritual foot
necessary to every normal soul ant
the comfort that can only com'
through the great Comforter Th'
church should do all that the labo
IOTBanlIdtlOHS uo AT thelf UooI uh'
then do all she is now doing in car
ing for the spiritual nature of maj
when she is doing her best. Th'
membership should be largely mad'
up of those who, like the Master arr
= the children of toll. Her very exist
ence depends upon the re-assumptioI
Of the spirit and obligations Of tn
primitive body; and it should be
must be, not patronage, but brother
hood She should be the voice 0
Christ sounding out through tn
1 world of toll, saying Come unit
= me all ye that labor and | Will Civ
! you rest.