Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-11-08
THE l. W. W. AND THE CHURCH

Members OF the Industrial Workers
OF the World, an anarchist organic
lation, have decided TO take what they
wapt without working for II. They
are on a level with the villa bandits,
only they haven't the courage of tho
Mexican ANARCHISTS. After tearing
down the American flag and trampl-
ing II under foot in san DIEGO, they
whined because the law didn't protect
them from tho vengeance Of the out
RACED citizens.
In the writings ana speeches Of the
l. w, w. propaganda we constantly
meet with yelled or open filings at
the Christian church ns an institu-
ton and at church members Of the
social body.
BY certain OF these writer's :he
church is looked upon not merely as
an object Of passing hostility, but as
n barrier to the aspirations Of tho
working classes. They point to GER
tain church members as have risen
to positions OF power and affluence
by renting their property for un-
righteous purposes aud by heartless-
ly exploiting their employees,
SO long as such changes were mere
" sporadic filings from dissatisfied
individuals, there was little call for
reply But when they become the Of
fetal uttoranccs Of a class, whether
uttered in a mob spirit or not, they
call for serious answer on tho part
Of the church and for reliable proof
of their falsty.
without aermonlzing, the riots at
Everett, washington, and in the hop
fields Of California, and about the
silk mills OF Paterson, n, j., all of
them at the nsugation Of the 1. w.
W leadership, which Processes athe-
ism as substitute for religion, are
but the legitimate results Of atheism
in action When it Is known that the
T. w W. numbers it's members by
the hundreds Of thousands and is a
growing organization we can under
stand why many leading members Of
the Christian church are concerned
over what seems to be the growing
hostility Of the working classes to-
ward the churches,
These church workers. see growing
up among the laborlng classes q
sentiment which makes little Of mat
ters of the heart, but emphasizes ms
supreme the comforts, the Injuries,
even the dchauchcries, which may
come with wealth
For a good deal OF this feeling. tho
church lis responsible. In most of
the cities churches are merely hish'
toned clubs whore the well-to-do
meet on stated occasions, show their
good clothes, listen 10 a high-prieed
choir and hear high -nrioed preach
or compliment them on their good
ness and the fortunate circumstances
In which God has seen Tit to place
them,
when these high toned Christians
wish to stir the masses, they hire a
.Ionting rovivalst who pulls off a
vaudeville show, for which he gets a
fancy price, and then things so on as
they did before.
Serving God is an idea that may
vary in meaning in every human
mind. but the fact has been estab-
llshcd that real service TO God can he
demonstrated only through service to
ones fellow man,
Wrong doing is not an inspiration
of any devil outside Of us Il is the
product OF ignorance mostly--only
now and then due to hcredity-and
can ho radtcatcd largely by appealing
TO tho host impulses Of the individual
That appeal is most effective when it
ls made with deeds Pious words are
usually worse than worthless on men
Who wear their piety on their sleeves
and proclaim It in their voices, This
rs "a time FOR practical work by the
church