The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-06
TIE RICHMOND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sEpIEMBER 8, 1s1s:
PROBLEMS AND BLESSINGS
OF LABOR is HIS SUBJECT
Rev. Lloyd Wilson In GraceStreet Baptist Church In Flo
quent Sermon Declares the Master Sanctifed Honest
Toll BY His Own Hard Work.


Yes, yes, Carpenter: same trade
as mine.
1t warns my heart as I read that
line.
can stand the hard work. can
stand the poor pay,
For I'll see that Carpenter at no
distant day
How like our Lord are the words
of the "Logia' found in Egypt few
years ago. Lift the stone and thou
shalt find me: Cleave the wood and
there am l."
These words have been interpreted
in a beautiful poem by DR.. Henry
Van Dyke. The poem represents
young man seeking for Christ. when
after a long and fruitless search.
Christ appears to him and says:
Where the many toll together there
am I among my own;
Where the tired workman sleepeth.
there am I with him alone;
I, the peace that passeth knowledge,
dwell amid the daily strife:
I. the bread Of heaven. am broken
In the sacrament of life.
Every task, however simple. sets the
soul that does II free;
Every deed Of love and mercy done
to men Is done 60 me.
Thou hast learned the peaceful Sc
cret; thou hast come to me for
rest;
With thy burden in thy labor, thou
art. Felix. doubly biest.
Eevermore thou needest seek me: I
am with thee everywhere.
Raise the stone and thou shalt find
Me: cleave the wood, and I am
there"
If you do not have this sympathy
II is your own fault. so I am re-
minded of these appropriate lines:
This is the gospel Of labor-ring II
We bells Of the kirk
The Lord of -fov~-care- dewn- from
above to live with the men
who work.
This is the rose that he planted. here
is the thorn-cursed soil
Heaven is blest with perfect rAst,
but the blessing of earth is toll.
The Problems OF Labor
What about the problems. the
troubles of labor? If labor is such
blessing why SO many troubles
over it's problems today? What about
the other side of the picture?
grant there are troubles over many
problems especially between labor
and capital. but they are not always
bad signs by any means, Whence
come these troublese
Labor troubles" come as an ad-
vancing civilization Social unrest Is
sometimes an indication Of social
progress. There are no labor trou-
bles in Darkest Africa" Therefore.
the cloud on the industrial horizon
has it's silver lining. II one will but
look for It,
Many are the signs of development
on the, part OF the workingman. but
most hopeful Is the spirit OF pride
that he is taking In his position as a
worker and as citizen. Whatever
may be said as to the condition of
the toiler in some industries or In
some countries. his position, as a
man on whom rests the prosperity
and the happiness of the whole peo-
pie. Is more and more recognized.
The brain Of the country Is paying
tribute to the Drawn. That being so.
the workingman will soon come to
his own. 1t In In this respect that
he has for himself that he Is win
ming the respect Of others.
All toll is sacred and we need to
learn that in truth there should be
no distinction between secular and
religious work. Christ never made
any difference. He was just as d.
vine as carpenter as when healing
the sick. In every case he was car
rying out the will of God.
Now when all men reach this high
ideal our labor troubles will cease.
but not till then. so we must only
strive to meet them and settle them
s they come. remembering that our
highest duty is to do the will OF
God and point all men to Christ.
who alone can bring perfect order
into the world.
The Utopian age will not come as
a result of Federation or Socialism
however much good these things
may bring to us. That age is to be
brought about through spiritual en-
deavor only. Christ himself will
usher in that glad day, so 1t behooves
us, one and all. to be earnestly en-
gagged in Fastening his coming by
striving to carry the gospel to the
elect of earth that the fullness of
the Gentle may come in, Israel ac-
cept Christ. and take her place at
the head OF the nations. and the mil
lenium age begin.
1t Is well and good to be evermore
striving to better social conditions,
but there is danger lest we neglect
the deepest truth and give all our
time to better earthly conditions and
neglect the things that make for our
eternal happiness.
The safest way to better our ma
terial conditions is to look we'll to
the spiritual. Matt. $3.50.
All problems between labor and
capital will be solved when they fully
accept Christ.
They need him for a quiet mind.
They need him as a burden bearer,
They need him as an Insurance agent
against all loss,
They need him as umpire OF their
lives. -
They need him as arbitrator OF their
differences,
They need MIN as enricher Of their
lives,
They need him as the hope OF the
future
To all men. rich and poor. He Is
the hope OF eternity. No cloud can
darken that hope. no storm can
sweep 1t away. no earthquake shatter
i. no philosophy can confuse 1t, no
enemy can destroy it.
Theft of Clothing Alleged.