New-York tribune., 1879-02-24
TIL PTLPIT ND TIE POOK.

The New-York pulpit, great as its services
have been to the poor of this city, and to the
helpless and suffering of all classes has
never engaged, IL is safe to say, III
more practical movement in their behalf than
that which was inauguratcd yesterday. For
this seems to be prominently the ccrgymen's
agitation. Well-knOwn leaders in charitable
work, physicians and capitalists are aiding the
movement but the pulpit Is the lever which
is to do the work. The preachers OF every
creed are asked to force upon their hear
ers the fact that for large share Of the
population of this city a pure and honest life
is almost physical impOSsibility. 1t is en-
inently fitting that the churches should seek
TO reform the tenement houses for in the filth
and degradation of many of these swarmingn nests
of humanity, the churches have found an IN
s,lrmOuntablo barrier. AS DR.. Vincent put 1t
In his sermon Yesterday, "the devil has the
"church at a disadvantage when Sabbath IN
'Auenccs are offset by six days OF life in the
"sdualor and confusion and poisonous air and
"demoralzing associations of the tenement
"hOuse.'
That very old saying, that One-haf OF the
world does not know how the other half
lives. proves to be bitter truth in the case
of this city. Certainly One-half OF the people
of New York will be astOnished to learn
that the other half lives in tcnement-houses.
Yet such is the literal fact. There are
many other startling figures scattered
through the addresses made Mt last
nights meetings, and the sermons Of
DIR. Vincent and DR. Kramer 1t must surprise
the average citizen to learn that New York, IN
its overcrowded districts. has much denser
population than is to be found i'll any part
of London. Certainly there are many who
have read c0mplacently the travellers and the
noveli,t's descriptions of the vile and swarm
ing regions of the greatest city IN the
world, without any thought that here,
at our own doors, there WAS such VILE
ness and crowding of human cattle aS
London had not seen. Or the dreadlul
death-rate which is the plain and inevlta-
bic result of system of life which sets
at defiance all the laws OF health, some
thing WAS universally known, because our
whole people had shown an interest in the
various projects to rescue poor children from
the fatal summer heat; but how short-S sighted
policy-to strive to check disease without
olco striking at its source!
ntlc are IcUhSuIlHR lnultallOnS tilal pllpllC
sentiment is already quickencd upon this sub
jrct. The recent competition in plans for
model tenemcnt-houses, described in The
TRIBUNE "a few days ago. attracted IA remark
able degree OF interest in all classes Of So
cicty. and the carncstness of these meetings
and addresses proves that there will be action rs
well rs talk. one gentleman present last night
at the Madison Square Church stood ready
10 subscribe $4,000 toward the building
of an improved tenemcnt-hOusc. Let
the pulpit, which keeps the conscience
of the community. push the work.
Much may be done by reitcratng
the solemn truth that every human beng
Is entitled to Il chance for decent life. And
the capitalist who hesitatcs at the expense of
honest structures may TeassuIe himself with
the old. corrupt proyerb, " Honesty is the best
"policy.n Honesty would pay, even III tcne-
ment houses.
The police deserve credit for breaking up thc
HVbt ot IIreyOOrt Hall on FRIDAY night between