The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1953-09-11

Seyenty-one years have passed
since the observance OF the first
Labor Day in the United States.
Those years have seen tremen-
dous improvement in the lot of
the working man. Higher wages,
shorter hours, greater safety and
other humane provisions, some
security against the hazards of
accident, sickness and old age,
a more favorable public opinion,
a generally more considerate al
titude of employers, all these
betterments bring us together
this morning to count our bless
ings, to thank God for them and
10 examine how our continuing
gratitude can best be expressed
in the times ahead.
Now | am going to speak to
you today as parish priest. |
realize that this occasion has
seen here a number of our ex-
pert social economists. You have
heard representatives OF the
NCWC Social Action Depart
ment, professors from Catholic
universities and journalists who
have written learnedly in the
Catholic press. Believe me, your
present speaker does not pose in
any such expert capacity.
II was his LOT however 10 have
been born in industrial surround
ingS where organization was for
hidden. He was raised in the
face of privations which, thank
God, most of your children have
never known. AS boy he often
pondered just what was really
the Creators wish in and for the
workaday scene. He was thrown
as student into a labor con
flict where he got his first look
al state militia with rifles on
their shoulders and bayonets al
their belts. That year he entered
a major seminary. He was prlyi-
legged there 10 be a member of
the first class specifically deyot-
ed TO Catholic industrial ethics.
There he was introduced to that
great document, glorious for
ever" the RERUM NOVARUM,
the first Labor Encyclical of Leo
XIII. Three years after his priest
ly ordination came the first Of
ficial American adaptation of its
teachings. Eleven years later in
1881 appeared the second Labor
Encyclical, the QUADRAGESIMO
AMMO of Pope Plus Nl. There
followed in 1910 second Off
cial American adaptation entl-
tied 1.-The Church and the Social
Order" Meantime our present
Holy Father. Pope Plus XII, had
begun his long series of indus
trial announcements, still hap
PLY continuing and ever re.
adapting the social teaching of
oGr Church.
The vital content of all these
documents, issued over three
score and three years have
humbly tried TO present in SIM
pie language in the parish pull
pit and over the radio. | have
frequented union halls in peri
odS of industrial peace and visit
ed my parishioners and their fell
lows on picket lines in industrial
conflict, The things | say, there
fore, are said as by a pastor of
souls, who reioices over the
blessings you recall and who
would make few timely obser-
vations and a concluding sympa-
theue recommendation.
Now the observations concern
unionism, communism. what for
want of a better name | shall
call a threatening federalism and
the final aim of our effort. CON
ciliar industriallsm.
As for unionism, my friends,
| trust that each of you, who is
an hourly worker, is an active
member of his respective avail
able union. II has been some
times questioned whether a
worker is bound to belong to a
union. The answer with our NOR.
slists goes more and more TO.