A WARLESS WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 129, 3 June 1922, Page 7

A WARLESS WORLD

TREND IN SOCIAL SERVICE

INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCHES

The part played by the American churches before, during, and after the Washington Conference is not inconsiderable. It is doubtful whether President Harding would have ever called the Conference for the limitation of armaments had he not been pressed by the churches. Other causes were at work (writes the New York correspondent of Melbourne Age), but the influence of the churches was one of the determining causes.

Among the churches, the chief part was doubtless played by the> Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in North America, which is composed of all the Protestant Churches in Canada and the United States, whose membership would approximate 25 million adherents, with headquarters at 105, East Twenty-second-street, New York. In the early part of 1921 pressure began to be put upon the churches by the council, in calling attention to the "cost of war," that the present was the time to "press for a warless world,'" that there should be a" "war against the war system." The quarterly and semiannual meetings 6i the different Pror. tes*»nt denominations during the year contained appeals and resolutions for disarmament. Im some States of ...the Union there were campaigns, similar to political campaigns, the purpose of which was to arouse the people to the evils of war, and to act for its abolition through disarmaments. In consequence, petitions by the thousands flooded the White House, and President Harding began to feel the moral sentiment of the country was calling for action—and the action in calling the arms conference was the result partly of the work of the churches.

Among other efforts the Federal Council sent out a 16-page printed appeal to the 250,000 Protestant clergymen, praying them to hold a week of special meetings beginning Sunday, 6th November, suggesting programmes and topics, such as "The Visfon of a Warless World," "The Staggering Burdens of a Warring World," "Causes of the Big Armaments," "Problems before the Conference for the Limitation of Armament," "What the Church can do in Establishing a Warless World," and "The1 Necessity of Reducing.. Armaments."

\A "oreed" for believers in a warless world was sent to all the churches, among its articles being: "We believe in a world-wide association of nations for world peace. We believe in equality! of race treatment. We believe that nations no less than individuals ate subject to God's immutable laws. We believe that the spirit of Christian''brotherhood can conquer every barrier of trade, colour, creed, and race.' We believe in a warless world, and dedicate ourselves to its achievement."

The Roman Catholic and Jewish churches were also active, especially after the Conference was under way, although it may be justly said that 'the Federal Council, with Dr. Charles Macfarlane and Dr. Sidney L. Gulick, as executive^ secretaries, was the prganis:: ing centre of the religious forces of America for peace. During the Conference the power of the churches was felt upon/the delegates more than once. Through the watchful mind of the Federal Counci^, letters and telegrams would be showered upon President Harding or upon the members of tn*e American delegation, so that more than once public sentiment, as voiced by" the churches, brought about revision of purpose on the part of the Conference. . „'.■.-.

When the Conference completed its; work in February, the Federal Council sent broadcast to the churches a fourpage summary of the treaties, resolutions, and declarations adopted, which is tho begt summary I have seen in print. With it was sent an earnest appeal that the churches should „urge the United States Senate to ratify the treaties, that it was the duty and opportunity of the churches "to do this heartily and promptly." The Eoman Catholics joined also in this movement, by sending out a letter from the National Council Welfare Council stating that the Conference as a whole, and its general results, had worked for the peace of the world. The United Synagogue of America rejoiced that so great a forward step^had been taken, looking to the promotion,'of international goodwill, and prayed that "the Senate will see fit to give its consent to the treaties." Besides the agencies mentioned, considerable influence for disarmament was exercised by, the World Alliance for International Friendship ' through the churches to Fifths avenue, New York, and by the Church Peace Union, founded by Andrew Carnegie. . .. THE EFFECT OF UNITY. The work.of the churches of America before, during, and after the Washington Conference is evidence of what the churches of a nation are able to do if united in one enterprise. There^ is probably no ...class of people of wKbm '■politici .ins are more afraid, and will act e'ede to more quickly, than -a united body of church people. The Federal, i Council of the Churches of Christ of ! North America , declares that it is out for a warless world. It is generally believed that the churches can get what they actually go after. Social service in America has been performed generally by State and municipal agencies or by unsectarian voluntary agencies. The method of survey, for a score of years has played an important part. The American mind seemed-.to^call for investigation and survey before it determined what to do. Not infrequently social service stops with the survey, but often the survey )f a city, for example,- is made the ■basis^'of fine\work. The leading social service magazine is called the "Survey," illustrating what is characteristic of the American method.

Let me tell of some of the trends in social service in America. In New York there is a society called the Society "for the Improving of the Conditions of the Poor. "It has been battling with poverty and distress for 78 years. ' The general director, in his last report, states that the experience of the organisation, though its many years of work, is that, "sickness is the greatest single factor involved in poverty," and tlfat the amount of sickness and poverty has a correlation with an adequate standard of living. More and more' the attack of this great charitable organiaatipn is directed upon sickness. About one-third of the funds have* been expend'cd for the relief of families where there was- tuberculosis;' and more than 'onelialf for families in which there had been the death of the bread winner. The most fruitful attioks upon preventable illness and poverty are those upon tuberculosis and ill-health of children. The director states that it is "uselessto undertake) educational and preventive work in tuberculosis families unless thero is adequate income" to give the essentials of a well-lighted and ventilated home, adequate food, clothing, and the other things that make a decent living."

The experience of. an older city like New York may bo of value to Melbourne's social workers. ' Another trend in social service copperas probation.. As a result of sensational stories published in tho press that "crime waves" were

due largely to criminals on parole or probation, the Erie County (N.Y.) Probation Court made a study. The cases chosen for study were* the first 200 that came under supervision in 1917, during a period of fou* months. >|t was thought that a sufficient period—four years—had elapsed for a fair test of the probation system. Homes,' relations, employers, and acquaintances were visited; letters were sent to agencies in touch with the individuals; institutions were consulted for official records. Of the 200 studied, 10 were still. active on probation, 154 had been discharged with improvement, | 14 had been rearrested and committed, | 9 had absconded, 4 had been discharged without improvement, 5 had died, 3 | had removed to other districts (with permission), 1 had been released to Federal authorities. Where there was failure, it was traceable to • feeble--! mindedenss, insanity, drug addiction, or bad companionship. Where there was improvement, as was evident ■in the large majority, it was due chiefly to' an improved. economic life. The improvement df a number was traceable to their physical condition or in their spiritual or social activities. The friends of'probation regard the study as proving the comparative, efficacy of the method. Another trend 'in social service, as shown in a survey of the city of Minneapolis, is the plain necessity of co-op-eration on the part of the "case" working agencies of a city. Some especially church agencies, shrink from, revealing the identity of "cases"; their work, it is said, being of the "nature of pastoral oversight rather than charity." It is seen, however; by the social workers of all agencies that duplication of effort is wasteful and often defeats the aims of social service. There were found "cases" that were being 3ealt with by t several societies. The trend, therefore, .in social service, is towards co-operation, with showing of records to each other, and instituting inquiry from a central office before a new family is, taken on—all in the interests (f efficiency and real charity.