B. S. Hardman, the editor of _The Advance_, the official journal of
the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, gives us his opinion regarding the
religion of labor. "It lulls the social underdog with a sham consolation
for the oppression and exploitation which are his lot, and furnishes the
exploiter and oppressor with graceful distraction and absolution from
his daily practice and meanness. This is the actual basis of Church
activity to-day. The religion of labor is godless, for it seeks to
restore the divinity of man."

James P. Thompson, the national organizer of the Industrial Workers of
the World, heads his article for Jerome Davis, "Religion is the Negation
of the Truth," and in his militant manner proclaims "This organization
designed to praise God and help him run the universe is known as the
Church. The established Church has always been on the side of the rich
and powerful. Its robed representatives, pretending to be Godlike and
favorites of God, having special influence with Him, have ever
functioned as the moral police agents of the ruling classes. At one time
or another, they have asked God to bless nearly everything, from the
slave driver's lash to murderous wars. Thus they strive to extend the
blessings of God to the infamies of men.

"To-day, under Capitalism, they teach the working class the doctrine of
humility: tell them that if they get a slap on one cheek to turn the
other, and, 'blessed are the poor.' They tell us to bear the cross and
wear the crown, that we will get back in the next world what is stolen
from us in this. In other words, they try to chloroform us with stories
of heaven while the robbers plunder the world. For this support the
ruling classes donate liberally to the Church. The organized robbers and
organized beggars support each other."

James P. Noonan, vice-president of the American Federation of Labor,
asks a pertinent question, "Labor observes an increasing tendency on the
part of the Church to regulate what man may eat, drink, or smoke, where
and how he shall spend his Sundays, the character and kind of amusements
he may participate in, and various other activities, many of which seem
more or less trivial; all of which leads the average worker to ponder
rather seriously just why it is that the Church can vigorously advocate
and promote legislation seeking to curtail his liberty to enjoy, in his
own way, the limited number of leisure hours at his disposal, and yet
turn a deaf ear to th