New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-26
MRS. CAMPBELL's GOOD WORK.
DISCUSSION AROUSED By HER ARTICLES ON
PRISONERS OF POVERTY"
WHAT DRs. ARMtrAG.. CROSBY. RAIvsFoRD AND
MGLYSN SAY or THE CAUSE AND C URE
OF The EVILS woRKiNGwoMgN

EVILS WoRklN0WpMEN
GRnAV UVDxR.
The contributions 10 THE TRIBUNE by Mrs. Helen
Campbell In regard 10 the condition OF workngwomcn In
New York City have had the eject Of turning the minis
of many thoughtful and chartably disposed citizens To
cons deraton OF the subject Tho sermon OF tho REV.
Charles r. Eaton mt the Church Of the Divine Paternity
on SUNDAY of last week. called forth much comment oy
reason OF some OF the startling facts and figures which
he gave With THE TRIBUNE articles as n basis
and guide Mr. Eaton carried the subject with
him into pulpit aud with appalling directness pointed
out tn his congregation the Shortcomings OF society in Its
treatment OF wo riding women and girls.
But the articles OF Mrs Campbell have also led TO
much discussion within the wide circle In
which they have read Different theories are al
vanced that produce the dark facts which
these stories unfold How far women themselves con-
tribute to their own misery through their individual
pride and aversion certain kinds OF work for which they
afe especially tted question freely debated There
are citizens prominently identified with phanthropc In
stutions who while they have the utmost sympathy with
the sufferers baked the threshold Of their efforts 70
relieve them by the disincinaton OF women themselves
abandon ovcrcrowded ds OF laborn exchange for oc-
equations less degrading and far more profitable
Herewith are given the OF several clergymen on
the treatment of the evils forth graphically by Mrs
Campbell and the cure OF them.
DR. ARMITAGE on WHAT THE CHURCH CAN DO.
The Rev. Dr. Thomas Arnitage, pastor of the Fifth
Avenue Baptist Church. said:
1.-THE oppression Of the poor working classes by any
means. but particularly by the fraudulent methods Of
their employers is serious evil that 1t demands the
attention all persons and especially Of those who may
be able assist in rcmedying the wrong. but who are
inactive because they don't care or don't know
cannot. Ofhand. exact remedy. The question
has qualifications that reach through all society and go
very basis OF social system You do
Ing excellent work through Mrs Helen Campbel's
In tn nd
csson the way Is cleared up for the application Of the
proper remedy Whatever that remedy s To lie. as de-
ternined by che careful study there can be no
doubt rs to where IL shall be applied We strike at
the root Of the trouble. II man has sore shin
paster fastened the spot give relief bur it
will only temporary. To the disease the mcaus
must strong and radical. and perhaps applied to the
blood
What part shall tho Church playf None except to
stimulate and educate the publ mind 1t Is mistake
to conceive Of the Church instrument for Ia cor
recng such social abuses result from unfortunate
conflicts between labor and capital That matter Tor
legislation The Church is spiritual agency. IN better
mems morals lift up the wicked from To right
reclaim mankind to Christ and tho only influence In
tho Church organization have IL in
teaching her members what should be the relations he
tween the employer and the employed n neither the
cheated sewing girl the interruptions shirt mupfsc
urer in my congregation then my church can nave ohy
that Influence which results from the effect upon Tie pub
showing a good example and denouncing meanness We
doing now world Of good bni IL u inPsslnie
for a church. through chnrrh society 10 90 ~
rerly 10 the scene oI acton anu ,erieIe 'iie
dishonest grasping Sirtaker and the unfortunate sow
ing even though the mannfacturer may compel
her 10 advance Is centa express charges for the ev
cry the unmade material at her lodgings and credit
urer allows express company OF that Is only IL
cents There is In this, as Mrs. Campbell declares.
kind Of ILLEGAL profit for the manufacturer but "a
church cannot step in and prevent it. Nor can any
church take action against that shirtma1ng urn which
IN refus IN he
half dozen garments as fine for single mperrecty
ress and misery yet the cannot outright from
any church And finally. though there must be talk at
the outset talk will not answer as a remedy"
DIR. CROSBY SAYS BUM is THE CAUSE OF MISERY.
The Rev. DR.. Howard Crosby said:
This question in which the Church has no business
to NEEDLE It would he going outside its sphere. That
is ridiculous nonsenscal idea that the Church has any
right to attempt control influence things temporal
1t Is an idea derived from the medieval belief which
expression in the Roman Catholic dictatorship In
matters political and purely individual. In the effort to
rule politics and government and do the thinking for the
people The Church Is a spiritual organization. It's prov
ince Ia wholly with the soul Our duty is to Christian
he not to civze. The public and the newspapers seem
to think every congregation machine which may be
turned a work any material evil But 1t is
view. Individually Christians should do that aud
they do it through denunciaon Of wrong methods
through practising the good theories thoy preach and
absurd look to the Church institution directly
concerned with things other than spiritual. with work
other that OF bringing souls Lord Jesus Christ
wherever they may Ia found aud In whatever condition
Of worldly wealth or poverty.
Moreover all this hue and cry about much destitu
ton and misery and the INSCRIPTIONS greed OF employers
Is gronndless am convinced that than onehaIf-
yes fully three quarterso the pauperism OF which
heard much In the late campaign exists solely the
minds OF the Georgetes The picture drawn OF New York
misery is coored ard It's inspiration Is In the dstort
eel imanations OF the George fanatics. True, there Is
heavy strong indictment against these times but when
you look things through and through the decision be
that the rumhoes the OF all the misery, and
degradation and suffering and want Yes repeat 1t :
The trouble is inemperance have been watching for
hiryfve years. and in all my Investigations among the
never yet found family borne down by poverty
hat did not its fall TO That's il. and there's
where the remedy be applied. We make the |
legislatures act: the churches can't do any than
hey doing Make the Legislatures shut up the
ocs that fathers and mothers viii have incomes and
here will not be many stories of sewinggr working
starvation wages and then being by factory
don't conceie that the evil Is widespread
he hue and cry OF sensation makes ii is the destu
ion great the wrongs OF labor many But,
ven surprising all these things were 30, the Church
not going to Jump up and call out to rascally
oycr, Here, you stop that = for have authority
step in between the employer and his help and alter
Interpret the contract agreed 10 by them between them
elves Even whore there unjust prodts and unjust
extorted by the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for example the
hurch cannot, either through Itself or through any
egous society, remedy the wrong and punish the crime.
Tor would it be proper for the Church to do so were
ossible.
would advocate the extension OF the system adopted
the Womans Protective Association. That prevents
IMPOSITION by mean masters. poor working people,
le diligent girls who these are cheated Of their
lst earnings. society should accord them of ro
without cost Of prosecution to themselves, without
)ss OF time. Let there be q special court To
ttend these disputes, a court composed OF honor
BILE men - phanthropists If II Is best = who
hall stand between the prisoners OF poverty and tie
acory Lett be their duty TO watch for attempts
deprive wageearners OF fair and contracted price for
york. and check abuses possible, before complaint
made, somewhat In the same way as societies here To-
ay protect children and dumb animals from cruelty.
There Is this other point about the fear OF ageved
Orkers making known their grievances lest they be dis
Missed al once from work in the establishment against
exnctions they complained. There rs little weight
that claim don't believe hat girl who would re-
ort nu injustice 10 court and would provo her case