Policy and Program of the Protestant Churches

Abstract

THE last two decades have witnessed what amounts to a revolution in the attitude of the Protestant churches towards industry. Prior to that time, the churches as a rule took little account of the organized human relationships within industry, and had few purposeful contacts with its great affairs. They had scarcely begun as yet to examine its unchristian aspects and the effects of these upon the happiness and well-being of the masses. Only its adventurous minds were at work on the concept of an industry motivated by a concern for human welfare and organized on Christian principles. But manifestly a new dayhas dawned and a new spirit is in the churches. It came so quietly that few were aware of its presence, or that the churches had struck their tents, until the summer of 1920, when the Interchurch World Movement issued its Report on the Steel Strike of 1919. Then came, a few months later, the Pastoral Letter on the Open Shop Movement, issued by the Federal Council of Churches, and a similar protest from the National Catholic Welfare Council. Industry awakened to the presence of a new force in its midst and of what seemed at first to most business men an alien, uninformed and unfriendly force, although it is to be hoped that this feeling will pass away and is passing away. In these and subsequent actions by the churches, a remarkable thing had taken place. Leaders of great industries found themselves called to account by their spiritual advisers, and their amazement and indignation were naturally unbounded. A violent controversy ensued, which, while regrettable, was inevitable and necessary if the Church was to have permanent influence. An unfortunate effort were made to stifle