The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1922-02-11

Methodist Pastor Gets Lesson Out Of Egyptian BGmakels
Strike; Moses Wa First walking Delegate Compares
First labor Movement with Present. McEWen Speaks.

avenue west ana 1HlrQ street. was
packed to the doors last Sunday
evening, the congregation consist
ing largely Of workingnen and their
families, when Mr.. Charles Nelson
Pace, the pastor, delivered a re-
markable sermon, on: "A Labor
Movement That Changed History"
1t was the first sermon on labor
ever delivered from a Duluth pulpit
within the memory of the Oldest
labor man that seemed to give full
expression, without equivocation, to
the philosophy Of trade unionism as
taught by the American Federation
Of Labor. There were no apologies
and no trimming. Hundreds of
workers stepped forward after the
services and congratulated DR.. Pace.
The story of the Isrealites in
bondage was graphically related
by DR.. Pace. He described the
Egypt of that day, wealthy. strong
and arrogant. Pharaoh was the
master of human destiny. His peo-
pie We're rich, but indolent. They
had made slaves of the Isrealites
who were employed largely as brick
makers over whom taskmasters had
been put. These may be compared
to the speed setters'' in modern in
dustry.
The Isrealite brick makers were
each given a certain number Of
brick TO make each day. If they
hurried and made the required num-
Der before sunset they were then
nn1nd11o1 ~ into f;o11
gather straw for the next day. The
bricklnakers worke faster and com.
pleted their task while. vet there
was light in the heavens. They then
went to their tents Where they coun-
seled with each other and discussed
measures, as the workers do today,
for their relief and freedom.
These ''conspiracies' We're report
cd to Pharaoh Whereupon he issued
orders that the brickmakers. should
gather UP the stubble as well, any
thing to keep them busy. to pre-
vent them from meeting during the
day, thus robbing them Of time for
education and collective thought.
Moses was the first walking dele
gate, according to DR.. Pace. He
was business agent for the Brick
makers union of Egypt He had
several conferences with Pharaoh, in
each of which the ancient employer
promise relief but he failed to keep
! one promise. After many disap-
pointments the only thing left for
the brickmakers Of Egypt to do was
to strike. and that strike, the flight
OF the children of Isreal from Egypt,
the first great labor movement. in
the world, changed history.
DR.. Pace, eloquently referred to
the. labor movement Of t.ais day. He
read declarations. of the: Methodist
church on the labor question. He
/ defended collective bargaining and
preached for democracy; In industry.
He contended that the, workers
should have the right without inter-
ference to select their own repre-
sentatives. saying that it was I'M
portant that they should be- flesh
Of their flesh and blood OF. their
blood"
He insis: d that the, workers
should have a voice in. determining
the conditions under which they
the to work, and as to. the value OF
their labor. =: J u.
Preceding DR.. PAGES sermon, W.
D. McEwen, editor of The Labor
World, gave a 10 minute talk on
"W!1at the Church. Can Do For La
Dor. He spoke as follows:
"Cain. where is Abel. your bro
Their? Am L my brothers keeper?
That question has resounded through
all the ages. And the voice from
the wilderness answers today as it
| did then. Man is his brothers
keeper"
THE enlightened, the fortunate
and the prosperous can not. Iecape
the responsibility for injustice. ig-
norance or poverty wherever they
may abide. God has done his part.
He has given us world of plenty.
There is richness m the soil and the
waters; in the valleys and in the
forests; and on the plains and prair-
| les; in the mountains and hills, and
in. gluches and lowlands. There is
sufficient to supply, humanity for
all time. None need hunger. None
need want, if natural laws, the laws
of God, are obeyed.>
| when the strong and the crafty
cheat Gods law, make their own
rules and regulations instead, corral
the wealth of nature for their own
selfish gain and lock it up against
others. then countless thousands
are made to mourn. The denial of
Gods law and the substitution there
for of the law. of the tooth and the
fang,'-the rule of ,might,-is the
chief cause of human suffering. re-
sulting from poverty, irregularity of
employment, low living standards,
insufficient, compensation for serv-
ices rendered, long, unremitting
hours Of monotonous toll, unhealth-
full working conditions, injustices to
women in industry and the awful
crime Of child wabor. -
! 1.-THE denial Of Gods law and the
injustices and wrongs that have fol-
lowed in the wake of it's denial, have
created all the so-called social and
economic problems that have ever
faced the world: The situation Great
ed by the denial Of the law Of God
is a challenge to the church, and
if the signs of the times mistake not,
the church: has accepted the chal-
lenge. -. -.
For evidence read and study the
program for industrial relations
Recommended by the Federal Coun-