Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-11
THE FREEDOM OF THE CHURCH.

THf FKFknuM ot THE tHi XIII
shall labor unions control Ameri.
can church activities and priestls
thought?
shall business interests contro
American church activities'and priestlS
thought?
ur shall the church's representa-.
tives assert their right to preach
Jesus Christ and Him crucifed" with
out hindrance from any class-con-
sssous group OF men7
These questions were answered IN a
mastcrful presentation of Christianity
SUNDAY. May -. 10y the Rev. DR.
Alhan Richcy. rector OF St. Johns
Epincopai church. who said in part:
Propaganda such as that Of the
Employers Association Of Pitts
burg and tho Lusk Committee of
New York compel that the voice
~ CHRISTIAN conscience be heard
IN the land declaring on the one
hand tp capitalists and employer
that the church is not for sale
when "biE business" threatens to
muzzie thu pulpit for protesting in
Christ's namc against the tyranny
~ trade Nor will she quail be-
fore those who would brand her
as rcd when she breaches the gos-
pei % the Master of Men-that A
man : ne cpnsisteth not in the
abundance Of things which he pos
sosSscth. and On the other hand she
must notify those who seek To
Cumm., hcr tn any socal programs
~ doubtful political philosophy,
who ~uuld capitalize and monop-
ali-e tho claims of the name
w,srkcrS- that as her Lord and
Master refused tn listen To those
Who sought To make Rip, a Judge
and dsv rts~ of earthly inheritance
he. Hschcy rightly rlacessE the Chris
tran csnwreh over and above all IN
sifr~trisi warning rroupS.
TThis is not the first time that a
strrpne-rninted clergyman has taken
that stand. From time to time the lead
cr~ " vsrious denominations have felt
called ur-on 10 demand a halt when /,
wa. evident that certain forces in
our national life were seeking to cap
ture nc cnurrh's influence. and use II
to further their economic schemes
Sometimes Il was capital which was
gfa.spinE-aEain II was labor.
Some years ag>p the late Cardinal
Gibbons was forced 20 warn a GER
tain interest that II could not use the
Catholic church as a means OF ex-
plotting its Industrial ideas. The Car
dinal was severely censured at that
time hy certain persons, but time
proved that he was correct in his
v,~rs n.
IN Pittshurs. Pa the members OF
thc Ministerial Union and the clergy
of the Protestant Episcopal Church
have, according 10 press dispatches
-joinch in an unanimous protest
against the action Of the Employers
Association in i>suing to the business
men of the city and affiliated as
-ocatrnns a series of communications
intended 20 persuade them not to sup
port the Young womens Christian
Association. the Federal Council OF
Churches OF Christ in America and
e~rtafn other religious organiza tions.' :
r~rtion Of the resolution which the
Pittseurr clergy adopted reads:
Resolved. That we. the Pitts
bsre Ministerial Union, resent
this attempt OF a commercial or
eanization 10 prescribe limits
within which alone the church and
other organize tons may move:
that we reafffrm the historic right
and the duty OF the church to
procssim the WHOLE truth in
christ as revealed in the scrip
lures and as applied under the
Holy Spirit TO every relationship
in ME; that we deny to any po-
iitical. commercial. Industrial. or
any other group or agency the
right 10 set any restrictions on the
freedom OF the Christian church
or It's agencies 10 apply the spirit
and standards OF the kingdom of
God - the whole OF life; that we
declare IL our solemn duty and
purpose 20 defend this liberty of
the gospel
The church in America must be M
more muzzied than the press. JUS
as a free press offers an groups tbs
opportunity 20 express their polit.
icai. economic and socioIogfca
Thought. 30 should the church rernair
unsnackied. SO that men OF all walk,
of life may feel free TO enter and seel
that spiritual consolation which wa.
offered 10y Christ when He said: "Com,
unto Me, all ye that labor and ar,
heavy laden, and 1 will give yor rest