The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1914-04-22
CHURCH CALLED UPON TO DO
IT'S DUTY.


that city:
"Reverned and Dear Sir:
you are probably aware that the
working people of this city have or
ganized labor bureau, but | have
not had the pleasure of seeing yourself
among us. Perhaps you do not know
when and where we meet. We have
fitted up the last building on the east
side of Railroad avenue. near the cor
ner of Division. for Labor Temple.
A handsome sign will assure you II
you will look for It, SO many OF our
members are employed ten long and
strenuous hours every week day In
their usual avocations, and rest and
recreation from so arduous toll de-
mands so fully the rest OF their secular
time that we have chosen Sunday as
our day of meeting. Our carpenters,
single weavers. sawmill hands and
timber workers feel that Sunday Is
II is the very day set apart by custom
and tradition for remembering Him
who was their elder brother, who
wrought with their tools and at their
trade and who was n workman that
"needeth not to be ashamed" But we
meet at . o'clock in the afternoon
an hour which, we believe. does not
conflict with any church service. And
we invite the attendance and interest
of yourself and your fellow church
members.
I'VE certainly believe our work for
workers will appeal to you. We are
now fitting up the Labor Temple for
a rest room and meeting place for all
toilers. We intend to keep constantly
on hand craft papers and wholesome
literature. We are remote from places
where strong drink is sold and we
will not permit it upon our premises.
We are endeavoring to wean the
workers away from such environment
and associations. No gambling will
be permitted. Cleanliness of life and
limb will be encouraged. In this eff
fort for the advancement of the King
dom of Uplift among the lowly you
and your people can materially help
The End in View.
The conditions of labor are not
easy. AS we see it, they are hard
and growing harder. We do not now
speak so much of wages, as of envir-
onment. We fight for camp and home
sanitation, for shorter hours and more
spiritual and intellectual opportunity.
In this we are but the local end of
worldwide struggle. This fight is be-
ing made just now all over the land.
Strange that in so-called Christian
land people should have to fight for
such things so needful and so con-
sonant with the Book upon which
your profession is founded, but you
must remember the uplift of the work
ers may and generally does mean
restriction of profits for parasites and
partial parasites. The teachings of a
greater Worker than we was so dis
tasteful to the rich (see Luke, 6:24-25)
that they were willing to give thirty
pieces of silver for the privilege of
mailing him upon a cross; and we find
our efforts hindered often by the mod
ern representatives of those very
hypocrites who Of old frequented the
places of worship one day in the week
and dashed labor to its tasks the other
six. In other places, merchants and
business men have fought against the
betterment of tolls hard conditions,
using pickhandles and guns, and en-
ploying for that purpose armies of
provocateurs recruited from
slum and brothel in order to drive the
workers like dogs back to their vomit
and like the SOW that is washed back
to her wallowing in the mire. We
arc CoHllueuL IudJ you ana your
church will not approve such bestial
conduct, but that you will join with
us to rid the temple of our times of
the money changers whose little fling
ers are becoming harder and heavier
than their fathers loins. If you will
now help us with your influence and
the potency of your open sympathy
and encouragement, we are sure our
great and good work can be drought
without any physical strife. The
strike, which a few weeks ago seemed
imminent, has been put by in the de-
sire for one more effort to peaceably
secure an eight-hour day. Will you
come out in your pulpit and give us
your help?
All Producers Welcome.
eve do not confine our membership
to unions or organized labor. With
the broadcast spirit, we welcome all
manual workers and all whose produc-
tive toll is helpful to the world-all
who can say in truth as the Carpenter
said: My father worketh hitherto
and / work
Kindly write me how you feel