Evening star., 1928-09-24
BISHOPS TO STUDY
LABOR PROBLEMS
Miller to Lay Proposals Be-
fore Episcopal Con-
vention.

Labor and its problems will find az
important place in the program OF th'
General Convention of the EplScopa
Church. which will convene i'll Wash
ington on October 10, for suggested
labor policy will be laid officially before
the assembled bishops and deputies BY
Spencer Miller. jr.. secretary for lnduS'
trial relations in the social service de-
partment of the church, together VIII
a report on the problem OF modern IN.
dustralism. william Green, president
Of the American Federation OF LABOR
will address mass meeting IN Me-
mortal Continental Hall on the evening
of October IT, under the auspices Ci
the social service department, and pre-
sent the side of labor, while speaker
Vet to be selected will tell Of capltalS
Church officials yesterday made pub
lie the suggested labor program Tor the
church. one of the salient features OF
which is the proposal that the cnurch
take the initiative in calling conferences
Of representative churchmen ana EN-
plovers IN industries such as steer, coat
shoes. textiles and automoolleS 10 us
Cuss the implications of Christian prln-
ciples in industrial relations"
To Invite Speaker.
Another item in the suggested pro-
cram proposes that in recognltloh o.
fhe constructive function of the TRACE
union in modern industrial life an ef-
fort be made at least yearly on LABOR
Sunday or some other convenient tlme'
to invite representative of the tradc
union movement to address the congfe-
cation or their representative group III
each parish on The Relationship U
Labor to the Church.
Other suggestions ere that courses IN
industrial programs be given at all the
olopical seminaries; that industrial m
stitIltes be held annually for the clergy
on current developments in the tleld
Of industrial relations; that tutorlal
classes for the laity be established Tor
the same purposes; that an effort pe
made by the clergy in each PARISH 10
come into close touch with employers
or EMPLOYERS associations ito express
the concern Of the church for the
problem of human relations in indus
try a.,
Finally it is demanded that "the
church formulate more speclfic state
ment of the fundamental Christian
principles upon which industry and m
dustrial relations should be based,
without seeking to present the partlc-
UldE ul6ttlOOS Wy winch eAANS SAA'NA- ~
translated into practice"
Other monographs on the subject OF
the relation of the church to indus
trial affairs are in preparation.
Protest Is Made.
"The church, if it is to function eff
fectiyely in the modern world" says
the report, must function in and
through an industrial order of So
ciety"
There was a protest that the church
should not meddle with social prob
lems," says the report in another place.
"Yet we have lived to see this interest
of the churches in social problems re-
garded as an appropriate concern for
the application of Christian principles
to social life. Today another problem
confronts the Christian Church-the
problem of modern industrialism. And
again we hear the solemn warning that
the church must not NEEDLE with the
industrial problem or concern itself
with industrial relations. But the prob
lem will not rest until it finds sound
solution. Industrialism itself has be-
come so pervaSive-So much the very
breath of our noStrils-that it is no
longer question whether the church
will concern itself with industrialism.
1nduStrlallSm mas become the CHAR
acteristic feature of contemporary civil
iZation. and if it is to function effec-
lively in the modern world the church
must function in and through an in
dustrial order of society"
Summarizing some of the results of
q study made of five widely separated
dioceses, Mr.. Miller says:
"Often in industrial cities there will
be an uptown church which is attend
ed by the employers and managers and
chapel or two in the mill districts
where the workers worship. In such
cases the chapels are under the direc-
ton Of the vestry of the main congre-
cation which is usually an employer
group. In those cases where the parish
meets under a single roof workers on
the vestry are comparatively rare"
Copies of Mr.. Miller's report and
program are being sent to. the bishops
and clerical and lay delegates who will
attend the convention.