The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-24
Scientist
Criticisms Of the Church
BY THE REV. L. e. MURRAY

In this article ] want to say some
thing in support of the assertion in
last weeks issue that the church is
in sympathy with the program OF or
ganized labor as set forth by leading
advocates of labor interests. 1 cannot
do better than state the social service
program adopted by the Federal Coun-
Gil of Churches of Christ in America
in its Chicago convention in 1912 and
reaffirmed In the st. Louis convention
in 1915. This organization represents
thirty leading Protestant denomina-
lions. Here is the platform in full:
Equal rights and complete justice
for all men in all stations of life
THE protection of the family, by
the single standard of purity, in uni
form divorce laws, proper regulation
Of marriage, and proper housing.
"The fullest possible development
for every child, especially by the pro-
vision of proper education and recrea-
ton.
1.-The abolition Of child labor"
"Such regulation of the conditions
of toll for women as shall safeguard
the physical and moral health of the
community.
THE abatement and prevention of
poverty
The protection of the individual
and society from the social, economic,
and moral waste of the liquor traffic
The conservation of heath"
''The protection of the worker from
dangerous machinery, occupetional
diseases and mortality.
''The right of all men to the oppor
tunity for self-maintenance, for safe
guarding this right against encroach-
ments of every kind, and for the pro-
lection of workers from the hardships
OF enforced unemployment.
Suitable provision for the old age
of the workers, and for those incapaci-
tated by injury
THE right of employees and employ
ers alike to organize, and adequate
means of Cancellation and arbitration
in Industrial disputes"
"a release from employment one
day in seven.
THE gradual and reasonable reduc-
tion of the hours of labor to the low
est practical point, and for that degree
OF leisure for all which is a condition
of the highest human life.
"A living wage as a minimum in
every industry, and the highest wage
that each industry can afford"
"a new emphasis upon the applica-
tion of Christian principles to the ac-
QUESTION and use of property, and for
the most equitable division of the
product of industry that can ultimately
be devised"
Thus the church speaks for herself
as to her attitude toward the misses"
/ can not feel that this criticism
against the church has been quite
fair. At least it has been too broad
and general. Some churches may still
fail to stress this social note but it
cannot be truthfully charged that this
is generally true. In the message of
the pulpit and in the organized acttvi-
ties of the church the social gospel
finds constant expression. Criticisms
at this point often come from people
who are wholly ignorant of the pres
ent-day message and methods Of the
church. The church should be per-
mitted to speak for herself and define
her attitude. The above platform may
be taken as the social creed of the
church. 1t finds more general express
sion in the voice and life of the church
today than any of the creedal state
ments of the past.