Presbyterians and Proletarians

Like the Church of England, the Church of Scotland is becoming social-minded. Today 90 Presbyterian parsons act as industrial chaplains in Scotland's shipyards and factories.

Promoter of their work is the Rev. Robert Mackintosh, secretary of the Church's Home Board. Leading organizer is Dundee Minister William Bodin. Employers were not encouraging when he first approached them. They doubted that workers would like to have a parson round the shop all the time. Said Mr. Bodin: "If we help your workers to do a better job, then we help you."

An industrial chaplain generally has some sort of improvised chapel (often it is also a lending library) where he holds services, talks with workers who want advice. But his ministry is not confined to the chapel. Often he goes to the factory canteen, holds a brief service (hymns, prayers, address, question-&-answer period) after meals. He sometimes holds services in the shadow of a ship's hull, perhaps during the night leads a few hymns and some prayers in the factory air-raid shelter.

Like his brother in the armed forces, the industrial chaplain looks after personal problems of his people. He visits the sick, straightens out family troubles, mediates in such worldly matters as wage disagreements, accident compensation.

Like the owners, workers were at first skeptical, sometimes antagonistic. A common suspicion was that the Church was trying to keep the workers quiet. Typical comment now: "Thank God the Church is doing something at last!"

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