Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-10
CHURCH SHOULD
COOP crate With
LABOR UNIONS
Plea for Closer Association Be-
tween Two Organizations
Made by John Lennon.
PREJUDICE IS DRAWBACK
Proper Sympathy Seems to Be Lack
ins-EHeellent Meeting Held at
Broadway Church.

That there should be a closer union
between the churches and the labor
organizations was advocated last ev-
enlng In an excellent address at a
joint meeting Of the Mems Fedora
ton Of the churches and the Tri-City
Federation Of Labor at Broadway
Presbyterian church by John Lennon
OF Bloomington, treasurer of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.
Mr.. Lennon is one of the best known
Industrial workers in the country to-
day. He is also a prominent member
OF the Presbyterian church and his
connection with both organizations
has taught him that the church needs
the laboring man and the laboring
man needs the church.
{. d. McLane, president OF the
Mems Federation, presided. PRAYER
was offered by Dr.. W S. MARQUIS of
the Broadway church. Mr. Lennon
In his address declared his interest in
social problems from the time Of boy
mood until the present He is now 81
years OF age and declared that he had
joined the union as a young man be-
attempting 20 solve social problems
Il have long thought Christian men
and labor should cooperate in the So
luton OF social difficulties" said the
speaker. organized labor sDrang in
TO existence because il is an absolute
necessity and not to give some one a
Job or make someone a lot OF money.
Under our industrial conditions. II
was impossible for the individual to
secure his just rights. The unionx
are here to maintain and improve a
standard Of living On the standard
OF living depends, in a large measure,
the moral. social aud intellectual life
OF the people.
JUDGED ny SERVICE.
Men and institutions are now heinz
judged by the service they render
humanity. II the church fails to help
improve the condition Of the race. then
a change will come; if the labor
unions neglect to aid those looking to
them for assistance. then some other
organization will supplant them"
The speaker then told of his con-
nectiOn with the Federated Council of
Churches and Of a resolution which
that body, composed Of practically all
the evangelical churches. had passed.
declaring for shorter work day. one
day of rest in seven, the settlement
OF labor difficulties by arbitration and
for general improvement of the con-
ditions under which labor is compelled
TO work. He then said: But organised
labor has a right to expect more than
resolutions Our Christians are meas
ured by what they 10 and not by what
they preach or pray. The great prob
lem Of the church is how to bring the
laboring classes to Christ. There are
two great duties before the church. the
duty to God and to our brothers. The
church has paid too much attention to
the spiritual side and not enough 10
the temporal affairs OF the people;
and the laborinE classes have been so
busy earning living they have not
had time to attend 10 their spiritual
natures.
Il want TO call your attention for a
moment 10 the Catholics. Their lab
oring people 20 TO church. And why?
Because when they get out Of a lob
they do not 20 TO an employment
agency; they 20 70 the priest ana he
gets them work. In this way the
church has strong hold on the peo-
pie"
Some OF the commemorate things
for which the unions are standing
we're mentioned, among them being