Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-04-23

du1Ung our young
people,"
Il have a peculiar interest in the
young man" said Mr.. Townley. He
came to Bronson at my invitation in
the first place. and l feel that there Is
moral power in him If 1t could find an
outlet
HE has accepted a new position
which he assumes the first of the year."
answered the other. He told me yes
terday that he is going into the Office
of the Courier on Jan. 1. and he will
be the city reporter"
"Goodt- exclaimed Mr.. Townley en-
Enthusiastically. THAT Is a better place
for him than the railroad office. We
shall hear from him in the newspaper
world, I predict"
Having reached the Peoples church.
Mr.. Townley unlocked a side door and
ushered his friend into his handsome
study.
Allan Rutledge looked around In ad
miration.
"You have a fine den heree my broth
err" he exclaimed.
"StIll. ! am often lonely here an
swered the other. with sudden PEN
siveness, II seem like a hermit shut
up in my cell. When I want a real
sermon I have to go out among the
people who are fighting life's battles.
Since my return from Europe | have
been studying the social question with
a new enthusiasm. | was formerly in
terested in Biblical criticism, and |
learned German SO that l might read
the authorities in Germany more readi-
ly, but my visit to Europe has entirely
changed my outlook
what do you mean?" asked Allan
Rutledge.
I'm Europe, to my surprise. l found
the leading thinkers and scholars turn
ing their attention more and more to
the matter of social reform. In such
matters Europe is far In advance of
America. Some of the recent legisla-
ton in Germany and England would
be called rank socialism with us"
you mean the laws giving the gov
ernments control of monopolies and
the legislation providing for state in
surance. old age pensions. minimum
wage and such like?'
Eyes, answered Mr.. Townley. IT did
not know you were Interested in these
things at all. l am delighted to know
it. Do you know l think that the
church must stand still until we can
Christianize our social institutions in
America? | have been devoting more
and more thought to this phase of the
work of the church. We have been
spending too much time with the in
dividual and overlooking our duty to
society"
"There is truth in your statement
that we need social reforms in our
American life." answered Allan Rut-
ledge earnestly. II have studied the
subject of sociology for years, and ever
since my college days / have been con-
WINGED that our economic wofSd needs
to be saved. The church, the school
and politics have all been democratized
and Christianized in u modern life.
but the business world of modern times
is neither democratized nor Christian
lied"
'aThose are exactly my beliefs" re-
piled Mr.. Townley enthusiastically. 81
have just been reading in regard TO
that investigation in Pennsylvania,
where the great steel industry has a
plant. The report showed the darker
side of our prosperous country He
took up a pamphlet, from which he
read:
Here are the facts about the big
strike in Pennsylvania. Nine thousand
men are employed In the immense
| plant making steel for a wealthy cor
poration which is paying 40 per cent
dividends. These enormous profits are
In part possible because more than
half Of these workers toll twelve hours
a day. most Of these working seven
days in the week. Over 80 per cent Of
these men earn less than $1.6S for this
long day of labor. Three men protest
ed to the management against b Sun
day labor. They were at once dis
charged. and this caused the strike.
The wage scale makes the herding Of
men together the only method OF living
possible for them. Under such condi-
lions decency is impossible. to say
nothing of Christianity
"a report like that" continued Mr..