The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-07-28

"The Duty of the Church of Christ
in the Present Industrial Crisis was
the subject of a sermon preached by
Dr.. w. A. Stevenson at the First
United Presbyterian church last
Sunday morning in Spokane. In dis
cussing that theme DR.. Stevenson
said in part:
DR.. Stevenson is delegate of the
Ministerial Association to the Spo-
kane Central Labor Council, and was
also a delegate to the State Fedora
ton convention in Bremerton.
with 100000 miners striking;
with 100000 from several of the
railroad crafts out and possibly sew
eral thousand to walk out tomorrow
there exists a real crisis today.
recently read book entitled "What
Would Jesus Do in the Present
Hour?" written by DR.. Sheldon. The
sociologist has his remedy; the
economist has his remedy for the
ills of the day, but what is the Bible
remedy? What is Gods remedy;
what is Christ Jesus remedy? If
we ascertain what Christ would do
we will ascertain the right thing;
for he taught as never man taught,
for he taught with authority.
LET us look for moment at what
the Bible teaches as to the duty of
the church; or, rather, what her
duties are. In Luke 7:1829 we have
a record that John the Baptist, then
in prison, sent word by two of his
disciples to Jesus, asking, Are you
who should come, or look we for
another?' At that time Jesus was
surrounded by lot of sick people
who had come to him to be healed.
He first healed these, and then turn
ing to these messengers, he said:
Go tell John the things you do see
and hear; the sick are made we'll;
the deaf hear; the dead are raised;
the lame walk; the blind see, and
the poor have the gospel preached
to them
"By his deeds and by his words
Jesus definitely taught that the first
duty of the church is to relieve hu-
man suffering. He always put that
first. See how he made the mes
sengers wait till he had healed those
who came to him as sufferers. After
they were all healed, from the
youngest to the oldest; rich, poor,
any one-then he took time to give
the word for John for which these
messengers came.
1.-The church has a duty in the
present hour, and that duty is to
relieve suffering and to preach.
What should it preach? The church
is commissioned to preach the ten
commandments. The ten command
ments have never been abrogated
thew are vet in force: they still
stand. "Thou shalt not steal is a
part of the gospel message of today.
"What are the miners striking
for? For a living wage. Is their
wage a living wage? l find that
among the bituminous miners in
1921 the average laborer worked II
days and the average wage paid was
$3.50 per day, making an annual in
come of $93750. Is that sufficient
to support family of five (the av-
erage) and send the children to
school? If you will consult Professor
Osburn of Columbia University, the
United States government expert on
the cost of living, you will find that
his estimate is as follows: Food for
year for family of five, 1918;
clothing for man, SIG; clothing fol
woman, S55; eldest child, $40; sec
ond child, $33; youngest child, 500
rent. $3.50; fuel and light, $62; in
surance, $40: organization, $12; re-
igion. 81; street care fare, $40
papers. books. ETC., So; amusements
tobacco, ETC., $50: sickness, $50
dentists fees, glasses, SO; furnish
ings. $S5; laundry, 81; cleaning sup