Montana labor news., 1937-09-23

masses.
while there are millions of wage
earners in our churches, yet many
of our congregations have drawn
their membership, by reason of loca-
ton and association, chiefly from the
more comfortable middle classes,
Many church members see the world
from a point of view quite different
from the point of view of the labor
ing masses.
GAS a result of belonging to a class
that is relatively secure, many of us
tend to fear the very social changes
which we should welcome because of
the ethical demands of our Christian
faith. While protesting against any
thing that accentuates class con-
seriousness, we fail to realize that our
own point of view is largely con-
trolled by the bias of class.
Our first need is for self-knowl-
edge and repentance, and sincere de-
sire that the same mind may be in
us which was in Christ Jesus who
counted not privilege and power as
things to be grasped, but emptied
Himself in the service of man.
Wider Issues Involved
There are many parties to indus
try. The demand of the hour is for
greater tolerance, understanding and
fair play among them. Voices have
been raised among employers urging
modification of the older attitudes of
many toward organized labor. Lead
ers of labor should realize that with
increasing power, the labor move
ment must accept greater response
bility, not only fulfilling its tradi
ltional ideal of a fair days work for
a fair days pay, but also taking a
broad view of the economic scene as
a whole.
1.-THE achievement of increasing in
dustrial wages alone will not solve
the total problem. A balance be-
tween agriculture and industry must
be attained. Prices to consumers
must be taken into account. Labor
and consumers in many countries
have been quick to grasp the advan-
tages of consumers cooperation as a
vital part of the movemnt toward
a better day.
Comprehensive collaboration of
all groups is urgently needed. En-
ployers, labor, consumers and the
government must work together to
provide for the economic needs of
all the people. We must create also
such cooperative relations among the
nations and such access to raw ma
terials for all as shall promote inter
national peace.
End of Economic Insecurity Asked
GAS industrial and economic life
becomes more complex we discover
increasingly urgent need for more
personal conservation of individuals
to the religious life. For religion
will always be Indispensable not
only for the soul Of the individual,
but also as social cement to hold any
society together in the bonds of peace
Selfish struggles for prestige or pow
er on the part of individuals or
groups can become divisive forces in
any society.
There must, indeed, be such a re-
organization of our economic life as
will remove the fear of economic in
security on the part of men and ma
tons which now leads to inter-class
and international conflict, but there
may still remain in individual lives
those destructive and socially divi-
sive forces of sin and selfishness, of
Jealousy and pride and intolerance
which would tend to tear apart any
social order.
"The Church must therefore con-
tinue to serve society by proclaim
ing Christ's gospel of justice, love
and reconciliation, and by insisting
that both individuals and economic
and political institutions shall con-
form to the will of the God of JUS
tice and love-"