Church Association for the Advancement of the Interests of Labor, commonly known as "CAIL", was an American Social Gospel organization founded in 1887, in New York City.
The Association was one of the pioneer agencies in introducing arbitration of industrial disputes in this country and actively combated the sweat-shop system, notably in New York.
[4] In his pastoral letter of May 15, 1886, the Right Reverend Henry C. Potter, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, addressed his clergymen in no uncertain terms upon the question of Labor.
Inspired by Potter's burning words, a number of Episcopal ministers met at the clergy house of the Order of the Holy Cross, New York City, on May 18, 1887, in response to an invitation given by the Rev.
The meeting was called to order by Father Huntington, who addressed the gathering on the labor question and the interest that both the ministry and the laity should take in it, declaring that the time had come when the clergy should act through definite organization and place themselves in active sympathy with the working people.
At a subsequent meeting, the new organization was named the Church Association for the Advancement of the Interests of Labor, which was better known by the shorter title of CAIL.
[3] At a public meeting on June 22, 1887, as a basis of work for the society, it was enacted "that the clergy and laity of the Church should become personally interested in the social questions now being agitated, should inform themselves of the nature of the issues presented, and should be prepared to act as the necessities of the day may demand;" while its methods were declared to be: "(1) Sermons setting forth the teachings of the Gospel as the guide to the solution of every question involved in the interests of Labor.
In 1894, when the committee was enlarged to fifteen members so as to include representatives of the public, Capital and the labor unions, Bogart was chosen secretary, in which capacity he served for several years.
[1] More than sixty bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church were honorary vice-presidents, whose efforts for the betterment of the industrial interests of all sorts and conditions of people in the promotion of conciliation between capital and labor were of worldwide influence.
[1] It was made the duty of each member to take, or read at least one journal published in the interest of Labor, and to devote a certain portion of his time to the social questions of the day.