El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-12

! to the people and they chung to the
clergy the people, deserted by every
one except their clergy, were ruInless-
~ plundered, murdered and hunted like
wild beasts from place 10 place Their
only friends were the clergy
The Church in America.
In America facts might be deduced to
snow that the church has been, Tor the
most part, the friend Of the common
people Through the long period Of
slavery agitation there were mighty
men of God who increasingly proclaimed
liberty toathe captfves. Only the men Of
small caliber and little influence have
catered to the rich and powerful. The
masters of pulpit elOquence, IKE Henry
Ward Beecher and Phillips Brooks and
later Washington GLADDEN., have ever
raised their voices IN the interests or
the masses.
But someone Is saying What OF the
churches tOdayg" In reply may say
the church was never more alive to the
situation than It is today, and II was
nver more active I do not wish TO
OverState the case There would be no
advantage in that But IN all con
servatism 1 may say that the social
program of the churches Of America
and Great Britain is larger and more
promising to the people as a whole
than ever in history. We are all Of us
acquainted with the social legislation
that has recently been enacted In Eng
free churchman, Lloyd George, who pro-
fesses that he got his inspiration and
learned his lesson In the little church
of the Disciples, of which he is still a
member and in which he often speaks
In all Of this. Sylvester Horne, a Con-
gregatiOnalist minister and member
Of parliament at the time Of his death
recently and R J. Campbell, OF the
city temple in London, have been his
earnest friends and supporters
Proof of Assertion
II we turn to America, shall need
only to call your attention to that
splendid announcement issued a few
years ago by the federal council Of
churches Of Christ, representing 81 dif-
ferent denominations and over $4,000
600 Protestant christians, TO show you
where the leaders Of the churches Of
America stand today on the question
Of the rights Of the men who toll
There is scarcely an item in the pro-
gram Of the American Federation Of
Labor that is not reaffirmed and sup
ported. Besides this, let me tell you
that practically all the leading Protest
ant denominations have social service
commissions, with secretaries and an
increasing volume Of literature, seek
ing TO promote this democratic, social
movement in every way possible Those
who are familiar with the facts know
how earnestly the work is being prose-
cuted and how broadly human IL is.
Not Pleading For Church.
I do not wish to indulge in specious
pleading for the church I know how
far short Of her duty she has often
fallen. but I think I know. too. the
inner heart throb Of the churches life,
and 1 believe il beats in unison with
the heart Of Christ and in sympathy
with the masses of the people. Every
informed labOrer knows that Christ is
his friend and. II he will look carefully,
he will see that the church, too,
throughout her long history, has in
times of crises at least been true to
the spirit OF Christ and has sought JUS
tee and mercy and righteousness as
he- choicest diadems-