Evening star., 1894-04-03
PRACTICAL MORAL REFORMS
Meeting Last Night of the New Local
Union.
How Practical Progress Is to BE
Brought About-Thc Pulpit and
Lafty to Combine.

The Washington Civic Center Of the Ma
tional Union for Practical Progress, a new
society organized for a great and good
cause held meeting last evening in the
lecture hall of the Columbian University.
The occasion was an assemblase of the
clergymen and the heads of the various
charitable and reform Organizations of the
city, in response to circulars distributed
among them asking their aid in the forma-
ton Of branch in Washington Of the
ciety, which has for it's object the consoli-
cation of progressive citizens for the pur-
pose of raising the morals of the nation.
The officers of this branch are Rev. Alex
ander Kent, chairman; a. S. Diggs, secre-
tary. and P. A. Auer treasurer. Dr. Kent,
! in opening the meeting. made brief ad-
dress. in which he outlined the history pur-
pose and methods Of the society. He said 1t
/ was the chief aim Of the organization to
focus public opinion upon the great need of
moral progress in all parts of the country.
| This is not sectarian movement, or Il
religious movement" he said. IF a mans
purpose is to further the condition of So
ciety, ne is acceptable a member, wheth-
er he be a Christian, Jew, Mohammedan or
/ infdel. By the union of all moral forces
alone the country can cope with the evils
on hand
He went on to say that In dealing more
with common sense and taking a broad view
| Of the work to be accomplished the task is
made lighter He said that circulars have
been issued to each of the ministers and
organization leaders in the CITY, which con-
tain statistics of the leading evils in the
country, to be used in connection with SER
mons, which are asked to be delivered by
the clergy, monthly, on practical reform
He also stated that the members were ask
ed TO visit regularly the different religious,
charitable and educational societies in the
city, in turn, that the consolidation of their
force might be felt.
No SIums.
The remainder of the meeting was de-
voted to brief addresses by members Of the
Clergy and others who had suggestions to
offer. Rev. DIR. Ennis. the new pastor Of
the Western Presbyterian Church, who is
an enthusiast social science and soci-
ology, stated that he was glad that relig-
ious opinion was disregarded, and that the
sole aim OF the organization was the pub
lie veal Our statesmen have not succeed
ed IN eleyating our moral standard, he
said, and our philanthropists who OCCASION
ally drop sums here and there for the aid
or their unfortunate brothers soon drop
out of sight, with their good deeds He
congratulated the city for the absence of
the low laboring and manufacturing classes
VINO bring with them the slums, but, he
said, ours is the nations city of public
sentiment, and this society should stimulate
this sentiment.
The Right Way.
The Rev. Mr.. Sewell of the New Church
made few criticisms on the methods laid
out by the founders of the union He
thought 1t wrong to confine all efforts for
progress to the pulpit but that the union
should work with the churches and societies
rather than through them, and that il
should fold meetings and send delegates
IN regular conference. There is a way to
appeal TO the people rather than through
the pulpits, for many of the congregations
are ignorant of the lowly condition in the
slums, and they should be reminded of
these states through the public press AS
fellow worker the church should appeal
to the inner conscience ON a plane where
no other organization can speak. Society
is ruled by both what is the most sincere
and what is the deepest.
Practical Help.
Miss Anna L. Diggs, who is a newspaper
woman and enthusiastic charity worker
in this city, made brief address in reply
to this criticism. She said that what is
now wanted is applied Christianity "All
that is evil in life," she sad, has it's root
in ignorance. Everywhere we come against
the stone wall of the poverty of the masses.
The church., she said, has dealt too much
with the abstractness of moral progress
and now the practical principles should be
appealed to by them, and this society should
take hold and press the work upon the min
lsters, not leaving the greater part Of the
labor outside of the churches. How can
any one go to the slums and preach the
gospel?' she said. 1T is too much like
mockery. No matter how one believes
practical help is all that will suffice"
DR.. Eggleston made a few remarks in
dorsing the necessity Of union in this pur-
pose and stated that only too much power
has been wasted by moralists by moving
without consolidation.
After a few other remarks by members.
ii was agreed that in the work the best
IN yxl he 70 no,1
Of delegates from all the churches and re-
form societies in the city to make bylaws
and definite organization.
History of the Union.
Less than a year ago there appeared in
the Review of Reviews article by w. T.
Stead. the great reformer, describing the
formation of a society for the furtherance
Of moral progress in England, which oc-
casioned article in the Arena. by its
editor, Mr.. B. o. Flower, suggesting a sys-
TEN of organized reform in this country.
In the February number of the Arena a
long article on THE Organization of Moral
Forces" by Rev. Hiram Vrooman, president
of the Baltimore Union for Public Good. APP
peared, giving the outlines of a system
which might be uccessfully carried out
throughout the country, In consequence of
these articles, the National Union has been
established, with branches in Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washing
ton. The national executive committee of
the union is composed of Philip S. MoXon,
D. D., president; z. o. Flower, treasurer;
Rev. Harry c. Vrooman, secretary; w. d.
McCrackan and Diana Hirscheler. The
principal topics to be worked upon, to begin
with, are THE Evils of the Sweating Sys-
tem," Tenement House Reform" How to
Treat the Saloon Evil'' land Child Labor"
Real Estate Matters.
Esther Gundersheimer has purchased for