Evening star., 1925-02-22
CLOSER UNION is URGED
FOR CHURCH AND LABOR
Lynch, Typographical President, Praises
Attitude Being Taken by Religious
World-Says Matter Warrants Study.

Lynch says. "It has ever been a
source of disappointment to Ameri-
can labor leaders that so many clergy
men have chosen to ignore the case
of the working man or, worse still,
to applaud the social program of the
exploiter. Fortunately, powerful men
in the churches are coming to give
their attention to the labor movement
and consequently to sympathize with
the aspiratio of organized labor.
Prelates Are Praised.
Labor is quick to reciprocate this
interest. In New York we find Bishop
William T. Manning expressing from
his pulpit appreciation of aid offered
by organized labor in raising funds
for completion of the great cathedral.
In Toledo, Ohio. the Council of
Churches has invited labor leaders to
address meetings of the Min 'sters'
Union. Out in Bakersfield, Calf.
Bishop L. Sanford. preaching at st.
Paul's Episcopal Church, deprecates
the 'disgracefur manner in which the
Better America Federation attacks
the trade union movement
Fear is blamed by Bishop Sanford
for the unrest and unhappiness in
our economic and social life. Each
week, the bishop told his hearers, a
the Tabor-hating' organization. = in
Weighing against combination of
workers in their own defense. g Such
bitter words, so full of hatred said
the bishop, could only. create the
trouble against which they protest
Must BE Good VIII. ~
with exceptional sshrewdness the
bishop has laid his finger upon the seat
of the. social malady. Men live and
work together in happiness only when
there is a mutual sense of security, and
when good will rules. There is a fight
ing spirit in men that precludeS peace,
while men suffer injustice at the hands
Of their fellows. The capitalist who
hopes to crush labor into humble ac-
ceptance of want and defeated aspira-
tions is only heaping fuel on the fires
of combativeness. This type of capital
ist is usually kept by his personal con-
Germs from gaining an understanding of
philosophy, psychology or any other
branch of knowledge bearing upon the
task he undertakes. 1t is proper that
preachers and all others, whose train
ing and understanding fit them for the
job, should show the way.
And it is gratifying to forward-look-
ing labor leaders, who would like to be-
lieve in the erudition and sincerity of
many preachers are attempting to bring
reason to bear on the capital-labor con-
troversy.
Condemns Anti-LabOrftes.
1.-THE Rev. Oren H. Baker, pastor of
Baptist church in Morgantown, w.
Va, has arisen as champion of la
| bor's right to organize. In his State
some organizations have demanded that
labor organizers be driven from the
State The church is bound to con-
denim these proposals of certain busi-
ness interests this minister declares.
Let it be remembered that individuals
cannot maintain harmony with God un-
til they have succeeded in efrecting
proper adjustments to one another
,, Some historians credit Moses with
being the first labor leader, because
Moses arose in behalf of his enslaved
people when he saw an Egyptian boss
beat Jewish workman. Moses slew
the boss and stood forth from that time
as the champion of down-trodden and
suffering race. The Old Testament is
concerned almost wholly with the en-
deavors of common people to maintain
their freedom against the tyranny of
the labor exploiter. AS for the New
Testament certainly the exponent of
wealth through exploitation, can find
little comfort in the words of Christ,
who came on earth to relieve the suffer-
ing of the many, not to assist a favored
or fortunate few in monopolizing life's
blessings"