Show churches and forums T MIZE las been much criticism of the protestant churches and the 1 young mens christian association of detroit for denying the rep of union labor the privilege leg of dibe discussing industrial questions ions in their pulpits and on the bingo of the latter bitter this may or may way not be just criticism criticise critic ise it all depends upon the motive ve bui the spirit back of it detroit is what r i known as an open shop town 11 it is assumed by the critor crit og that the permission or invitation whichever it was for nr the labor leaders to speak was withdrawn because of tho the protect of industrial manage rs E even on that would not condemn it unless the reasons for heeding lice diug the protest were bad if it were but a matter of balancer balancing advantages the support of th church or ino tit ution by protesters of means as against the lack lacic of support by visitors from other cities or labor unions la detroit the action is what tho the arltz assume however there is another aspect to this matter which should be considered and if it did not ent cair r into the action it should have done primarily a church is for the woi hip of god and the promulgation of religion it ie is not a forum for thu 0 of public and social or political questions whenever it becomes such it loses logos its special character as a place of worship and at the same thre time suffers a loss in religious power and influence the catholic catholics know this very weil well when they dedicate a church to god itce it remains mains so dedi bated and used for a hodge podge of services and entertainments it is a place of worship and inspires reverence on the part of every member of that faith and organization who 00 enters it they go there for DO no other purpose than worship likewise the pulpit is reserved lor for religious exposition and instruction and not for a discussion of locial and political problems if the churches in question and the Y X C A had always pursued this course and had told the union labor leaders that their church auditoriums and pulpits were held sacred to worship there could be no just criticism but if this has not been their policy or custom I 1 but they closed them to labor leaders for discussion of tie same general nature as hive been held in them bedfor though ta necessarily from the same viewpoint then criticism is rope prope and an unworthy motive might fairly be charged this does not mean that church members should not take a deep interest m social problems their very religion should lead them to do so and from the christian boiu of view which is that of the brotherhood of man as common children of the same divine father that interest might well be shown by listening to a presentation of all sides of a pi eblem affecting the social relations of mankind and the common welfare such a discussion might even be beld in buildings owned by a church and used in its work it would bo be a fine thing if more of this were done but no church is subject to criticism for holding its dedicated auditorium as sacred for worship only |