The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-11-23

nelu ltS annual meeting IN chicago, OCTOBER
9th and 9th, elccting an active and efficient
board Of management tor the ensuing year.
The president, Mrs. Helen Ekin Starrett, a
lady Of fine literary ability, and q promi-
ncnt and popular lecturer has in The
Western Magazine (of which she is the &C
complished EDITOR the following pertinent
salutatory:
SOCIAL SCIENCE.
"The present month witnessed the meet
ing in Chicago of large and influential
body Of intelligent and earnest women
known as the Social Science association Of
Illinois. This was the third annual meet
ing, and the papers read and the subjects
discussed were unusually able and inter
esting. No one could attend the meetings
and listen to the papers and discussions
without realizing how much the thought Of
women is enriching the world, and how
broad is the scope of their interest in the
organization and welfare of society. The
subjects discussed included methods of
education, sanitary science methods of dis
pensing charity. industrial organization,
cooperation and finance.
The Illinois Social Science association is
composed wholly of women Its methods
and objects, however, are the same as those
of the American Social Science association
which is national in its scope and is com
posed of both men and women. Such as.
ISOLATION are new, the first having been in
augurated since the war and the abolition Of
slavery, and many seem quite unable to get
any clear idea OF what is meant by the term
Social Science, or of the object and aim Of
Social Science associations. 1t is indeed diff
cult to describe or define in brief but per-
haps 1t is fair statement to say that
Social Science seeks to discover what great
natural laws affect the growth and organi-
cation of society; to trace all social effects
to their true causes; to gain knowledge
OF the conditions that produce health or
disease in the body polite and by the ap.
plication of this knowledge to strive to
make better the condition of the human
race. The social scientists believe that
these great natural and moral forces are
largely within the power of man to control.
Without exaggeration we may say of So.
clal Science in its highest application that
it is the special providence of modern CIV
ilization; it Is the new theology it is in a
profound sense a search after divine truth.
Its object is the most unselfsh that the
world has ever known its devotees are
those whose whole souls are filled with the
enthusiasm of humanity; whose labors
are for the best good Of others, and whose
benevolent projects compass the welfare Of
generations yet unborn.
Everything that relates to the social vel
fare and happiness of man is the special
subject of interest to the social scientist.
Is pestilence abroad in the city' While
some appeal directly for aid to the super
natural power, the social scientist seeks to
discover the broken law that breeds the
pestience and causes desolation and
death. He examines the sewers
and labors to have sewer gas pre-
vented enters the dwellings Of the poor
and degraded snd commands that the free
air and sunshine of heaven be admitted,
and they come, bringing healing on their
wings. The pestilence departs and the
social scientist is no less rcverent than the
humblest worshipper who returns thanks to
God for removing it by special interposition,
when he ascribes the work 70 human agency
through discovery of and obedience to the
laws of health.
Crime is rampant in certain districts,
and the religionist prays that the spirit of
God may be poured out and the people
converted from sin. The social scientist
goes into the districts; he tears down
crowded and unhealthy tenements; he es-
tablIshes schools he makes accessible the
comforts and conven;ences of life; he EN-
ploys the laborer and pays him honestly and
fairly. Crime dimlnishes; the people are
and the social scientist ascribe the
work to the Divine spirit much more, in
and devoutly than the man who
merely prayed. This is the science of an
swering our own prayers; it is the revela-
ton of good will towards men that is
shown by the discovery that the divine
laws, like countless all potent agencies,
surround US on every hand Among them
we live and move and have our being, and
when we would accomplish certain results
we need only to understand and lay hold
upon these mighty forces, and 10! the
power to remove mountains is in our own
hands.
The Social Science association is the
flower and fruit Of all other human associa
tons. 1t is possible only in the most
civilized and enlightened and humanized
society. The benefits that flow from its
work are as all-pervading as the sunlight
and air, which bless alike the evil and the
good, or the ram that falls impartially upon
the just and the unjust
It is purposed by the board of manage.
nent to hold several meetings in different
parts of the state during the year, one of
which will be held in Cairo at any early
late. 1t is expected that number of the
prominent ladies of the association, in Chi
,ago and other cities will attend and fine
literary programme will be presented on
hat occasion. The hearty cooperation of
Ill persons interested in the organization and
welfare OF society and the elevation, intel.
actually and morally Of social life, is cor.
lially requested. Ladies DESTROYS of
Identifying themselves with the association
MN do on through the aecrotary Mrs IT RI