New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-01
MANY LABOR SERMONS
Social and Industrial Problems
DAYS Topics.

on the eve of the annual celebration of
labor sermons were preached in nearly
all the churches in the city yesterday on
the social and religious problems growing
out of the recognition Of the right oil
labor to be dealt with as body.
Ceremonies in celebration Of Labor Day
were held in ST Patrick's Cathedral the
Cathedral Of St John the Divine and IN
many other churches. In addition. at the
two cathedrals named special services
included the sermons which have become
a feature II the annual observance OF the
holiday.
At the Cathedral OF ST. John the Divine
the Rev. Or. Charles Kendall Gilbert
executive secretary OF the Social Service
Commission OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church and editor OF The Churchman'
preached the sermon. taking for his text
the tenth verse OF the tenth chapter vi
St John. Or. Gilbert urged the study o.
the churches of the conditions whlch SUI
round the man who labors, having IN
mind his bcttcrment
"All the energy Of the church said
Or. Gilbert. "wil! some day be directed
10 the solution Of the social and industrial
problems OF the world. This energy is so
great that no one can comprehend IT,
The great question which confronts us
to-day is. How can the workingman get
more abundant life? This problem re-
CURES OF the Church more than casual
interest. We must realize that the physl-
cal life OF man is concerned as well as his
moral life. We must realize that 1t is
Christian apathy which is responsible for
the fact that greed and avarice DEFY the
laws which should protect the life OF the
man who labors.
WHAT kind OF Church allows the lives
Of scores who work TO be destroyed by
I fire or carelessncss and does not try 10
| learn what should be done 10 better con
ditions and does not try TO learn how the
| lives Of the men and women who toll can
/ be safeguarded and made more sanitary?
THE only way for the Church TO get
the aid OF the people in the work OF bet
| tering the conditions under which hun
/ dreds OF thousands toll is TO show 10 the
/ people that the interest OF the Church in
I these matters is keen: that the Church
| has for its purpose-its great purpose
| the betterment OF human life and the
I solving OF questions which yitally affect
the great mass Of the people.
! And when such conditions arc met
| logically and with the proper interest
tho suspicious which have arisen without
| foundation in the minds of employer and
omploye will be eliminated
| At the vesper services at ST. Patrick
| Cathedral the Right Rev. Or. d. J. Nc
| Mahon. supervisor of Catholic charities.
spoke on the rights and duties of work
| ingmen The special services were be-
/ gun last year. The American Federation
/ OF Labor. the Central Federated Union,
the Allied Printing Trades Council and all
affiliated organizations took part
THE social question is more than that
OF hours and wages" said Or. Nc
Mahon THE duty dignity and cond-
lions of labor are shown from Scripture
and history. We in this country shed
much blood In a civil war - uphold the
honor OF labor by making all men free
to engage therein.
eft means. besides these. the upbuildng
OF character, so that selhshness. which Is
at the root OF most disagreements. snail
bc eliminated. The Church's duty Is 10
form character on immutable principles.
and Indirectly TO help In the betterment
OF economic conditions. so that good char-
acter may be better sustained.
"In the past the rights OF labor we're not
osteem.d. labor was looked on as COM
modify like to any other. TO be bought ana
sold I'm the cheapest market. This was
owing 10 the pursuit of mere material
1 a
welfare. Labor is something apart from
other forces Of production. as men gem
orally must, through the designs OF
Providence. gain their subsistence there
from.
"rhe legislatures are yearly banishing
the unjust conditions Of the past Woman
and child labor is restricted for the
physical and moral benefit of the race.
| Hours OF labor. wages, sanitation are
| benefited But there is one subject which
needs earnest thought and fervent
PRAYER II is unemployment for even In
the busiest season for all from 10 TO 20
per cent of honest workmen are unem-
ployed."
The annual parade of the labor unions
] to-day. under the auspices of the Central
( Federated Union, will start from the
Plaza at 10 o'clock and will go down
Fifth avenue. past the reviewing stand
, at Union Square. to Washington Arch
| at Washington Square. where 1t will dis
band A feature will be the parade OF
three thousand members of the Womens
| Trade Union League in the first division.
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uOcpITAI VICTIM IT'S GUEST