The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-23
The New Organization
for Better Morals.
GREAT FORCES WILL UNITE.
All Will Then Work Toward
Common Purpose.
WHAT 1T HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH
A Meeting In Metropolitan Temple
VIII Be the Beginning OF a
Grand Movement.

The movement which 10 just now efys-
taIIizlng throughout the length ano Dieao' J,
OF the land in the Union ior fiactca'
Progress" seems TO have behind IL sSnii-
ment which has been long in forming ana
which was only waiting for something 10
call 10 into action. II has at once leaped
into a position OF such prominence and
developed such proportions as TO challenge
the attention Of every thinker.
It's progress Is unparalleled. Less than
year ago u. O. Flower, editor of the
Arena, IN an article published in that mag
azine, suggested that il union of the
various movements looking to the better-
Ing of humanity's condition could be eff
fected, the com bined energy for moral re-
form would develop power which would
become almost resistless, and substantial
results might soon be hoped for. He
pointed out that tine common object was
being sought along many different lines,
and that each movement took little or no
notice Of other crusades against wrong.
Soci cites for the suppression Of in;emper-
ance and organizations which champion
social purity were working entirely Inde-
pendent OF each other, when a com blBa-
tloD OF forces would not only result In a
broadened view for the Teformers, but give
each movement the moral backing Of num-
ber5. Iu quite another sphere students OF
sociology lay all the lille and hsrdships OF
humanity 10 system of taxation, or TO
something in government which must un-
deIgo radical change.
MIR. Flower pointed out that these yaFi-
Gus movements were striving for COM
mon goal. and that while all Of them wer=
necessary TO accomplish what each one
aimed at none OF tnsm, uDsssIste0. could
ever hope 10 bring 1t about, and he sug-
gestsd that they might pool issues" with
the hope not only Of sooner bringing about
the grand purpose for which they labored,
but also Of broadening every mind until il
really comprehFnded the brotherhood OF
man.. La the new union that he proposed
'the churches were also to take a part
along with the other bodies, TecOgBIZln g
that that Christianity was the best which
did most for the uplifting OF fsllow-msn.
The article set people TO thinking. Ii
was followed by Other writers, among
them Henry Frank, who Is now IN this
city. and who IS assisting IN the movement
toward permanent organization. News
paptrs took up the theme, and IL soon be-
came one Of the questions # the day 10
the East Finally Rev. Walter Vroomau,
q Congregational minister OF Philadelphia.
took up the mat er in the Quaker city.
Churches became interested. Moral re-
formers gave it their ear. Men who were
struggling for cleaner politics paused, and
lwo months ago there was organized in
that city union for practical progress"
which has eDgendered the most sweeping
movement that PHILADELPHIA has ever
known. On the second Sunday of last
month. from every pulpit In he city. with
out regard 10 denomination, the tenement
house question was discussed, aud On me
foIt n vrT uO m he na
eighteen pages to the sermons and the city
was shaken to lis very center. and more
practical results are now IN sight than
decade past has Witnessed. Other cities
are also found ripe for the movement
Boston is astir, Chicago is being aroused,
aud already over 100 unions have been
organized, and in few short months the
country viii be feeling the effects of the
work to IS fsrthest boundaries.
The meeting In Metropolitan Temple to-
night is tbs beginning in San Francisco
II is proposed TO enlist the attention and
support IF every Individual who feels
duty toward his fellowman. In doing
this the one object Of the union Is to
obtain the cooperation of existing societies
aiming TO advance THESE ends. 1t knows
no creed, no sect, no nationality, no sex.
1t welcomes all who will work TO make
this world happy home for nobier
humanity"
cation. 1t will be the first work of the
union TO thoroughly inform its mem bers
upon the various subjects to which atten-
tion will be given, ana in thb 1t hopes TO
accomplish its greatest results. The
proverb that ''one-balf the world does not
know how the other half lives" furnished
abundant reason for the existence of the
movement Its Information will be OBJ
tanned from most reliable sources. and by
persons who are in no sense alarmists. and
when the plain truth is told about many
of the wrongs which now curse the land,
the battle for their determination will be
almost won. The facts abant life IN tene-
ment houses and the Toll OF child labor are
to say the least, but dImly understood.
The union is to embrace a number of
smaller organizations, such as the Arena
Club, through which the work is to be
done. The central organization will map
out the work, planning the course of study
which Is to be followed and providing the
Information which 1t desires shall reach
the members. The sentiment thus formed
will have its effect in bringing about the
reforms which are hoped for. This will
be the only way in which the union will
get into politics-through the sentiment of
its individual members. As an organiza-
ton it will never be known ar the ballot
box.
The meeting tonight, which in pre,imi-
nary, has the Endorsement of such we'll
known persons as DIR. A. C. Hlrst, DIR.
Voorssuger. DR.. Stebbns, Rev. L. w.
Sprsgue, Mrs. John Vance Cheney of the
Woman's Congress, and the Laurel Hall
Club, the Helping Hand Hebrew BeDevo-
lent Society, Ladies of the G. a. R.,
Daughters Of the Good Shepherd. Saliva
ton Army, Federation of Women,
Women's Alliance. Sanitary League and
Rabbi Nietto's congregation. In addition
10 these the labor organizations have been
asked to take part and it is expected that
Metropolitan Temple will be crowded.
George L. Gaden. secretary OF the Con-
gress of Religions just closed, will pre-
side, and many prominent speakers will
be present, among them Henry Frank of