Evening star., 1925-09-25
LABOR SEEKS LIFE
MORE ABUNDANTLY
BY William Crssn,
Pfes.. American Federation Of Laber.

BY William CYesn,
Pres.. American Federation Of Laber.
In the beginning 1t WAS ordained
that man should live by the sweat Of
his brow. The Bible records that God,
In the exercise of His wisdom. or
dained that man shall earn his bread
by the sweat of his brow. God said,
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou
eat bread" There can be no escape
from compliance with this Divine
command. We must work and strug-
Gle and serve in order to sustain and
prolong life.
1T Is significant that with this man
date there was planted within the
human breast a longing for the en-
Joyment OF q higher material and
spiritual life. Discomfort has ever
oeen the basis of human endeavor.
IL has caused men to dream. to plan
and TO achieve. 1t has moved men
and strengthened their purpose and
determination to succeed regardless of
cost or consequence. No man or
group, of men actuated by motives
OF intelligent and constructive dis
content will count the cost or meas
ure the sacrifices which must be
made In rea aching out for the realiZa :
or noble purpose. Who will say
they are not inspired? Do men who
are not moved by lofty purposes face
privation and distress and death
wearing the smile of undaunted cour-
age and exultant heroism? The Di-
vine command requires the sweat of
inc brow in return for daily bread.
Have the words Of God been given
n new mea ming and q new definition
which requires not only the sweat of
the face, but the blood of the heart?
Striving for Happiness.
The workers yearn and strive for
happiness and the realization of hxed
ideals. They know that there are
many privileges and blessings which
they do not have. Their longinEs for
the enjoyment of the blessings which
they are daily denied are deep and
intense. They have vision and they
see. though perhaps dimly, the golden
rays OF promise and the radiance OF
hope. Gazing into the future. they sec
dawn of q new day, day in which
dreams will come true and disappoint-
ed hopes will be fully realized. Hav-
ing glimpsed the unmistakable evi-
dances OF that new and better era to
which sli creation moves 1t Is but nat
ural that they should seek to bring
about acceptance and enjoyment of
this better day and better life.
Christ said: Il am come that they
might have life, and that they might
have II more abundantly." When
these words were uttered He was
speaking TO the Pha risees, but He was
referring to His followers. Many OF
them were workingmen, and the com.
mon people heard him gladly. We are
permitted TO know that He lived in a
humble home and that he was known
az the Carpenter. 1t is fair to assume
that during His early manhood He
worked and served as laborer and
experienced the lot of a workingman.
We cannot believe that the Master
had in mind a life degraded and
toll. Such a life is not an abunda mt
life. Nor do we believe He meant that
through such a mode of living we
could develop the higher and more
abundant spiritual life. We believe
that the Master meant that through
the application of the principle of JUS
tice and fair dealing. which lie re-
peatedly announced, the great mass OF
the people, through all the genera
tions which were to come, would be
permitted to enjoy life and to enjoy it
abunda
Physical Needs Not All.
Life. as He interpreted il, mea mt the
satisfying of the physical needs and
the development of the spiritual forces
Of the soul. 1t is significant that He
was mindful OF the physical needs Of
tho people in that He fed them before
He preached. Life without full and
NlAtn Of nf a n
the desire for clothing and physical
comforts is wholly incomplete But
that IL not all The intellectual, the
cultural and the spiritual phases OF
our lives require opportunity for com
plets development. The material and
the spiritual elements of life so in
termingied that they are inseparable
The highest attainment Of our spirit
ual lives can be reached only through
the establishment of humane living
conditions.
Life is precious and potential. One
cannot properly measure or appraise
the value of human life. AS a flower
unfolds its petals to the sun, diffusing
fragrance and portraying beauty. so
life expands and grows beautiful in
the warm sunshine of golden oppor-
tunity.
with reverent care. let us consider
the language OF the great Teacher. Il
am come that they might have life
and have it more abundantly." Men
and women who toll in the mills. fac
tories and mines Of our Nation are
fighting. struggling and sacrificing for
the realization and enjoyment not
only of life, but of life abundantly.
Sound Judgment, common sense
and the interests of all the people
throughout the land call for the
manifestation and exercise on the part
of all the elements which form indus.
trial life, of spirit Of cooperation,
understanding and good will. 1t is to
the achievement of this purpose that
organized labor Is irreyocably COM
nitted 1t 10 only through tho exercise
of these virtues and qualities that
the great mass of mankind can be
brought nearer to the enjoyment of
life. Not life of oppression, of limi-
tation. of ignorance, Of want; not a
life of drudgery and excessive toll:
not a life from which is eXacted every
ounce of vitality and energy, but an
abundant life--R life of freedom, OF
self-expression. of spiritual beauty. of
educational advantages and opportu-
pity for honest toll, with leisure. rec
reation and material blessings. This is
the life the Lord declared He brought
to us. the life for which we strive and
pray.
Copyright 19251