The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1935-09-06
BY A. F. of L. News Service.

A ringing declaration that social
service instead of maximum profits
should be the underlying motive in our
system of wealth production and dis
tribution characterized the 1885 La
Dor Day message issued by the COM
mittee or social and industrial rela-
tions of the Board of National Mis-
sions of the Presbyterian Church in
the U. S. A. The message, signed by
I. Guthrie Speers, chairman, and John
Mcdowell, secretary of the committee,
was issued from the committees Of
fee in New York city.
Among several facts in the pres
ent social and industrial situation
which magnify the necessity and inn
portaEce of religion in terms Of spir-
itual leadership" the message in
cluded the 'insistent demand that the
church must stand for a social order
in which there shall be no locked
doors between groups" and that EVERY
opportunity" shall be opened and
every talent shall have an equal
right to earn another talent" add
ing:
Profit Motive Criticized
Fair profit as a return for neces-
sary and important contribution TO
an undertaking is a morally defensi-
BILE reward.
The Christian life is not life un-
concerned with possessions and profit
but one in which the profit is subor-
dinate to service, in which, if neces-
sary, profit is sacrificed in order that
service may be more complete.
Therefore, the profit motive is de-
fensible only when it is subordinated
why should it be thought incred-
ible that the man of business and in
dustry should put service before profit
as we all expect men in the so-called
professions teachers and
ministers-to do?
AluiHdii iSiCo uelUIe plOpeICY
rights, liberty and equality for all,
distribution of the fruits of labor on
the basis of service rendered, society
grounded on the principle that no one
has right to the fruits of labor who
does not render to society an equiva-
lent return these are the foundations
of the social order demanded today,
and such an order is the logical prod
uct Of the application of Christian
ideals"
Church Must Voice Social Justice
Contending that in "such a chal-
longing situation" as now confronts
America "the church surely cannot be
silent or Indifferent the message de-
clared Christianity must stand for
social justice and social service" !"
adding: Let others voice special in
terests if they will. The Church of
Christ must voice the mind of Christ
frankly and fully on all matters per-
tanning. to social and industrial rela-
tions." To this end, the message said,
the Presbyterian Church reaffms
its previous deliverances favoring.
Assumption by industry of the bur-
dens caused by industrial accidents,
disease and DEATH and the vocational
rehabilitation of injured workers.
Right of both employers and em-
ployes to organize and bargain col
lectively.
Reorganization of the social order so
that mo man shall live on the fruits
of another mans labor and no man
shall be denied the fruits of his own
labor"
A living wage, "by which is meant a
wage adequately to maintain the
worker and his family in health and
honor, and to enable him to dispense
with the subsidiary earnings of his
children up to the age of sixteen"
The practical application of ack-
nowledged Christian principles to the
acquisition and use of wealth; sub
ordination Of profit to the creative and
cooperative spirit; observance of such