South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-06
LABOR AND CHURCH
SUBJECT OF TALK
BY LOCALPASTOR
Rev. B. ID. Beck Tells Workers
That the Church is Back
of Them.

In the sermon TO Labor at Grace
Methodist church, Sunday morning.
the pastor. Rev. B. d. Beck. elabor-
ated on the social creed Of the
churches as what the churches stand
for IN the industrial world. His texts
were Luke 22:27, II am among you
as one that serves" and Luke 1857,
The laborer is worthy OF his hire.
The preacher said. These texts tCXts
have two principles in them that
have had and will have more TO do
with bettering labor condition than
anything else. The one sets the Ia
borer right in his attitude TO his
work and the world around him ana
the other sets the world right to-
ward him.
The social creed Of the churches
is the expression of these principles
and others like them in their appH-
cation 20 industrial problems. IL
was formulated by the Federal Coun-
ell of the Churches of Christ Of Am
erica, which comprises nearly all
protestant denominations.
Much Progress.
More progress has been made in
bettering labor conditions in these
twelve years than in any hundred
before The history OF the progress
OF labor is mighty poor food for
pessimist. The accusations that the
churches are indifferent TO labor.
and have no fixed stand is false.
That kind OF thing Is believed by
iaborjng men who have fcrsaken the
church for labor halls and are
taught by radical leaders who have
substituted socialism for Christian
ity. Laboring men who are a large
L. Hae hn
church is their best ally They also
know that the head Of almost every
big business in America is a church
man and that these men have been
going 10 school TO the church where
this social creed is preached and the
better things are promoted as a re-
suit"
Methodist Creed.
The creed as revised by the Meth
odist General Conference last May Is
this. The churches stand for: l..
Equal rights and complete justice
for al men In all stations Of life.
?. The protection OF the family.
BY a single standard Of purity. uni
form divorce laws. proper regula-
tion OF marriage and proper housing.
3. The regulation OF the condi-
tons OF toll for women as safeguard
the physical and moral habits OF the
community.
(. The fullest possible develop
ment OF every child. especially by
the provision of proper education
and recreation. and by the abolition
OF the child labor.
g. The abatement and prevention
OF property. (1) by the protection Of
the individual from the social, &c
onomic and moral waste OF the drug
traffic and the LIQUOR traffic, and CD
~ the conservation OF health and
the protection OF workers from dan
gerous machinery, occupatonal dis
cases and injuries.
6. The right against encroach-
ments OF every kind.
:. Suitable provision for the
workers IN old age for those incapa-
citated by injury.
8. The principle Of conciliation
and arbitration in Industrial dis
putcs.
.. a release from employment
one day In seven.
10. The gradual and reasonable
reduction Of the hours OF labor 10
the lowest practicable point. and for
+ that degree OF leisure for all. which
I IS a condition of the highest human
life.
II For a living wage as a mini
mum in every industry, and for the
/ highest wage that each industry can
afford.
u. For the most equitable divis-
/ ion OF the products OF Industry that
I can ultimately be devised.
Is. The right OF employees and
/ employers alike 10 organize.
Il. 4 new emphisis upon the ap-
pNCation OF Christian principles 70
/ the acquisition and use OF property.
The creed carries with IL these
further suggestions for the Chris
tianization Of industry
Every industrial group must full