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Show . The Church and the Laborer. One thing is very certain. There is a great deal of unrest, the present state of things is extremely unsatisfactory, not merely to the commonly called laboring men, but to men of thought, and to many above any fear of immediate want. And at this juncture it becomes a question what attitude the church ought to take with reference to these matters. It can- not stand aloof, for they touch things in which it is especially interested, the rights and happiness and prosperity of men and women. The questions are largely social and moral, and the poor man wants the church to define its position. Even if he does not go to church he knows onough of its preaching and pretensions, enough of the spirit and teaching of its founder to know that it is bound to be against all oppression and injustice. In his mind there is more than a suspicion that it is feebly conservative, and is secretly and really in alliance with the wealthy, upon whom It must depend for material support, sup-port, and so he scorns it as false to its principles and regards it as a thing for which he has no use. Rev. John K. Allen, of Tarrytown, N. Y. |