Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-11-20
LABOR TROUBLES
GAN Be AVOIDED
When Employer and Employe
Realize That Men Are Only
Stewards of Gods Property,
Says DIR. Ralph S. Cushman
SPEAKS TO CLERGYMEN
The Essentials Necessary to Re-Avak-
ening OF Christian Spirit Told by Able
Speakers Mt Third Days Session OF
Vermont Trimming Conference

Labor troubles can be avoided by the ac-
acknowledgement by both the employers and
employees that God is the owner of ali
things and man is the steward placed in
charge of the administration of affairs
according to Dr. Ralph s. Cushman. head
of the stewardship department of the In
terchurch World Movement who gave
one of the addresses last night at the
Vermont State conference of the Inter
church World Movement in session at
the First Church. Following the ad-
dress on Stewardship an address on the
enlistment and Training for Life" was
given by DR.. J. Campbell White, one OF
the associate general secretaries of the
movement. He estimated that 400, 900
trained leaders for Christian activities
throughout the world would be required
during the next five years. In addition,
he said there will be needed about 100000
volunteer leaders for the work of the local
churches to promote the spiritual and
community program to be adopted by the
denomination after the results of the
survey of the Jnterchurch World Move
ment have been presented to the churches.
During the address on the stewardship
idea, DR.. Cushman sad that it was never
, the plan of Jehovah that man should re-
gard himself as the owner of things. He
said that man was paced in charge of
the affairs of the world and that his en-
joyment of tine fruits of his labor was
to be on an unselfish and not on "A selfish
basis.
1T is because men and women regard
themselves as the owners of property that
there is so much selfishness and trouble
rf,,'' Il rlla
labor troubles are due to the fact that
there Is not a recognition of the princi-
pie of stewardship. The acknowledge
ment of this principle on an uuse,fish ba-
sis will solve most of the labor troubles
and 1t will also solve the church trou-
bIes"
TO SEEK 100000 STEWARDS
The speaker said that during the cam
paign for enlistment of Christian stew
ards which will follow four weeks
campaign in the churches that 10000 900
Christian Stewards will be sought who
will acknowledge the principe that God
is owner of all things ard man is stew
ard. These will be ash ed to give physical
evidence of their acknowledge by setting
aside proportionate amount of their in
come for the promotion of the gospel in
all the world and the support of hospitals
and educational purposes at home and
abroad.
I'VE will not say that the tenth is the
proportion that men should give" said
DR.. Cushman. I'VE will emphasize the
principle of the tithe as a convenient
way of solving the proportionate giving
or paying problems. There are many who
will not be satisfied to pay only one-tenth
of their income for benevolent purposes
because of their acknowledgment of the
! fundamental principle that God was the
owner Of all things. One-fifth is the
proportion that some have definitely set
aside while others pay as much as one
half. 1t is not for any one to say how
/ much or how little of the amount of il-
come another should set aside but the
principle of proportiorate giving or pay
| ing should be acknowledged. This prin-
clple of proportionate giving is indicated
In the Scripture by reference to satting
aside the first fruits.
! The setting aside of a. proportionato
amount Of the income for the advnnce-
ment of the ,Kingdom Of God is a sure
| safeguard against the prevailing sin
of covetousness. 1t Is this sin of COW
etousness that breeds abuses which
cause revolts of one kind or another
DR.. Cushman continued by saying
| that the acknowledgment of the prin
ciple of proportionate giving will lead
/ to deeper appreciation of spiritual
truths and result in a revival of re-
| ligion such as has not been seen IN
| this generation. He said that the
money test was the real test of the
| sincerity of mans religion.
To promote the ten million league OF
stewards in this country and in the
/ iS Si lan |ne III
| that stewardship and study group.
were to be organized in all the
churches, the stewardship literature
would be systematically distributed. a
| four weeks program, involving pulpit
messages on the stewardship of life OF
prayer and Of possessions would be
submitted to the churches; that stew
ardship programs would be sent to the
Sunday schools. the young people
societies, woman's societies and the
mid week prayer services and that the
whole program of education on the
subject would be followed by the en-
listment for the ten million league
THE FIRST ESSENTIAL
| DR.. White in his address said that
| the first essential to progress in any
| line and particularly In the line of ad
vance for the churches depends upon
! the leadership OF the separate units
hence the denominations comprising
the Interchurch World Movement have
definitely arranged to have the plan
| for the enlistment of future leaders
1 presented to all the colleges and high
schools of the country. The importance
of the country unit of the movement
was emphasized for each unit was to
be IA recruiting station.
"To recruit and train an adequate sun
ply OF the right kind of leaders is prob
ably the greatest problem of the church
/ to-day" DR. White. "Our expand-
ing program can he CARRIED out only as
rapidly as qualified leaders are found or
developed.
SHORTAGE OF CHURCH LEADERS
"There s now an acute shortage of
church leaders. This shortage Is sure
to be greatly accentuated during the next
few years when the program of the church
is RAPIDLY expanding both In volume and
i'm var ETY. of work being undertaken"
He said that the Methodist Church alone
estimates that they would need 1900 new
eempioyed leaders to carry out their pro
gram of expansion which is part of their
centenary program