Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-15
CHURCH MAY BACK
TRADE PEACE PLAN
Active Role Urged on Episco-
pal Clergy for Better In
duStriaI Relations.

a DOIG program IN the neld OF IN
dustrial relations is urged upon the
Episcopal Church in report presented
to the General Convention this morn
ing by Rev. DR.. Charles N. Lathrop.
secretary of the Department of Chris
tian social Service or the National
Council.
The outstanding recommendation is
that the church take the initiative in
calling conferences of representative
churchmen who are employers in such
basic fields as the steel, textile, coal.
automobile and leather industries Ito
discuss the implications of Christian
principles in industrial relations"
The report is the first made of re-
search study of the proper field of the
church in industrial affairs. Mr.. La
throp's recommendations are under 10
heads.
Program of Research.
/. That the church. through its di-
vision of industrial relations, carry on
a program of continuous research into
the fundamental problems of modern
industrial relations, and provide lead
ership and advice to the clergy and
laity in dealing with these problems.
2. That each seminary be asked to
include a course or courses in indus
trial problems which shall be studied
by every student.
8. That the division of industrial
relations be a clearing house of in
formation on industrial problems.
4. That series of Summer schools
60. ala zoI
colleges where current developments in
the field of industrial relations can be
studied.
S. That parish classes for the laity
be established for the study of the APP
plication of Christian principles to i'll
dustrial and social questions.
6. That the clergy of each parish
get in personal touch with local trade
unions.
z. That the church take the initiative
In calling conferences of representative
churchmen who are employers to dis
cuss the implications of Christian prin-
ciples in social relations.
8. That representatives of union labor
be asked to address congregations each
year on the Sunday proceeding Labor
days.
g. That the clergy Of each parish
try to get into personal touch with en-
ployerS and employers associations to
express the concern of the church for
the problem of human relations in in
duStry.
10. That the church formulate a
more specific statement of the funda-
mental Christian principles upon which
industrial relations should be based,
without seeking to present the partic-
ular methods by which they shall be
translated into service.
The gospel" Mr.. Lathrop said, has
its social implications, which must be
interpreted in practical terms. The
competence of the church to deal eff
fectively with the question depends
upon continuous study under leaders
adequately supplied with reliable in
formation.
Average Parish Conditions.
"The average parish includes both
the employer and the employed, al
though in cases of absentee ownership
the employer may attend church in
another parish Often in industrial
cities there will be an uptown church
which Is attended by the employers
an managers and chapel or two In
the mill districts where the workers
worship. In such cases the chapels
are under the direction OF the veStry
of the main congregation, which is
usually the employer group. In those
cases where the parish meets under
single roof workers in the vestry are
rare. Only in one parish studied were
they in the majority, and in that case
over 90 per cent of the laymen were
union coal miners.
I'm situations where there is disorder,
bad feeling, low wages or long hours
of work there is usually found
tendency towards irreligion and i'm
morality. Low wages and poor living
conditions are seldom the soil in which
an appreciation of Christian faith
grows. In many cases, even in indus
trial parishes, the rector is uniformed
as to industrial problems and the labor
movement. This ignorance often re-
suits in distrust from the people of the
parish"
The department Of missions of the
General Convention asked for total
budget for 1929 of $3,300,000.
This is the time" said John w.
Wood, executive secretary, when the
worlds need of moral and spiritual
leadership is unparalleled. The service
made possible by this budget means the
creation of Christian empires It is not
merely a question of saving people for
some future heaven, but of saving them
and degrade the life of Gods family"
The budget was defended by the mis-
sionary bishops. Right Rev. Frank w.
Creighton, Bishop of Mexico. discussed
the present situation in that country
by which religion is brought under
government control.
Position in Mexico.
t'These laws" he said, ARE a part OF
the philosophy of the revolution. All
clergymen must register with the gov
eminent before they are allowed to
off1ciate in the republic. Rather than
submit to them some religious bodies
have withdrawn from the country. We
elected to remain. If the only way to
preach the Gospel in Mexico is to obey
the law, then it behooves us to obey
the law. The Mexican government is
not opposed to religion. per Sc. I have
never found any opposition to preach
ing the Gospel"
The church in China is passing an
era of persecution, said Bishop Graves
of North China, so violent that the
cross has been torn from affairs and
the picture of Sun Vat Sen put in its
place. Despite this, he insisted, the
Episcopal Church has elected to remain
and its work has been so well done in
the past that it probably would survive
even If every missionary was withdrawn
Church advertising in newspapers was
Endorsed by Rev. @. Warfield Hobbs in
the report of the committee on publicity
submitted to the convention.
1.-The truth is" said Rev. Mr. Hobbs,
''that the press is not on trial before
the church. Our experience proves
that both the great press associations
and individual newspapers stand ready
to publish news of genuine public sig
nificance. The, church has no real
comprehension of that commodity called
news. Its chief clamor for space is
often to exploit individuals, panaceas
or proclaim to the public an incense
quential mass of information built