South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-20
LABOR|NG MEN SPEAK
IN METHODIST CHURCH
Third Discussion in Series on
christianity in the Life of
Today" Brings Out Large
Audience.

Three representatives Of the ranks
Of laboring men were the speakers
last evening at the Methodist Memoir
ial church when the third discussion
Of the series on christianity in the
Life of Today" was participated in.
The fact that laboring men, two mem
bers of the church. and the third
nOn-church member, were TO be the
speakers, drew out a large attend
ance, the main auditorium being
crowded and a number sat in the gal
lery and in the Sunday school room.
Following the devotionals and the
announcement of the pastor, the Rev.
DR.. Loren NJ. Edwards, that on next
Sunday evening he would deliver the
final address of the series on the sub
ject, christianity and the Church"
the first speaker of the evening was
introduced, in the person OF Charles
Weir, an employe of the Mishawaka
Wooden Manufacturing Co. He spoke
along practical lines on the theme OF
the evening. christianity and Labor.
He cited how in the time as far back
as Moses, efforts were made to solve
the problem, and showed that today
the Christian religion is the leaven
that must bring capital and labor to-
gether.
Mr.. Weir referred to some persons
whom he had heard express the idea
that all the church wanted men there
for was so IL could pass the hat TO
them He showed the fallacy of this
opinion and dwelt on the fact that
religion does not cost so much in dol
lars and cents as some folks think it
does. He also held that the church
is not antagonistic to labor but that it
is the friend Of the working man.
The second speaker was A. j. Hen
wood, an employe of the badge Man
ufactouring Co. He spoke along the
same lines as the preceding speaker
and asserted that Christianity and the
working man cannot be separated.
He showed that Christianity does no
harm to anyone but is
benefit. He cited the man who IN
childhood was taught by his mother
to pray and had much to think of and
that if the religion Of Jesus Christ
was good enough for his mother 1t
certainly was good enough for him.
The Rev. Mr.. Edwards explained.
in introducing the next speaker, that
a number of persons had suggested
that the speaker be given the privi
lege to give one of the addresses of
the evening. 1t was stated that Mr..
LockriGge was not a member Of any
particular church, but that he had
been given the opportunity of deliver
ing one Of the addresses.
Mr.. Lockridge, who was a candidate
on the socialist ticket at the last cleo
ton for the office of mayor, stated in
opening his remarks that it was true
he was not identified with a church,
but that he hoped to be able to show
in the progress Of his remarks that
his principles were Christian. He
succeeded in holding the closest at
tention throughout his address and
when he reached his closing sentences
explained the reason why he did not
go TO church. He said he had always
been taught by his mother to be hon
est and that a man could not be a
Christian and steal at the same time.
He said that a man must either work,
beg or steal and then closed his re-
marks by stating he could not sit in
the same pew with a certain element
whom he felt was not living up TO
their profession.
Mr.. Lockridge spoke at length on
conditions of today. laying special
stress on the fact that satan is in the
midst of things and is at the bottom
Of much that is working inroads
against the workingman. He spoke
OF the evils attendant upon the trusts
and showed the necessity of living
the life Of a Christian every day.
The speaker declared that certain
things demanded by the laboring man
chiefest among them being shorter
working hours. the elimination of
child labor. sanitary working condi-
tons. safety appliances in the factor
les and the adjustment of the sweat
shop. AS specimens Of the manner
in which the demands OF labor are
being met he referred to the conten-
ton at the coal fields in West Vir-
ginia and what followed: the difficulty
at the Calumet, Mich, mines; the
Lawrence, Mass. textile strike, and
other happenings OF recent months
He said that when satan displays him
self in such a manner that one cannot
gain livelihood he has right to de-
mand it
STUDY GLASS TO MEET.