The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-10-26

of the "social movement" of our time
is its relation to the universities. A
generation ago no two social classes
stood farther apart than the universe
ties and the workingmen. The life
of the universities was absorbed in
literary selfculture, and scarcely
trace of social responsibility, or even
of intellectual interest in the practi-
cal problems of modern society, could
have been found. Today the univer
sites more than any other body of
men, are recognizing both the pathos
and the peril Of the industrial situa-
ton. The last and best method of
philanthropy the method of resi-
dence among the poor and of the con-
tagion OF the better life-is move
ment begun at the universities, main
tanned by university men and women,
and bearing the name, both in Great
Britain and this country, of ''Univer-
sity Settlements" The universities,
within the last half dozen years, have
con- npeted with each other is estab-
fishing courses of instruction on. The
Condition of the Workingman, The
Ethics of Modern Society, Pauper-
ism and Charity, Socialism and Com
munism-not to speak of the mere
academic lectures on economics and
sociology. Thousands of young men
are now graduating each year from
the American colleges with sympa-
thetic understanding of the position
and need of the American working
man. such as would have seemed to
the graduate of the last generation
no part of liberal education.
This remarkable change has been
brought about by two causes: First,
it has been in some degree forced
upon the universities by the tremen-
dous activity and progress of the
workingman.
Growth of Industrial Democracy.
The growth in power and resources
and capacity for self-help on the part
of the hand workers is, of course, the
most important characteristic OF the
time; and thoughtful people must
take account of it, whether they will
or no. But, on the other hand, this
new growth of industrial democracy
has been met, among the universities,
by new philosophy. The philoso'
phy of individualism has had great
part in history, and dominated the
English world and thought since the
time of Locke. But new concep-
ton of life and duty is supplanting
it. Society is an organism" is its
maxim. "We are members one of
another" is it's religious expression.
The life of the individual finding its
significance only in the service of the
whole-that is the doctrine with
which the university student now
faces the world.
Study of Labor Problems.
Among all the extraordinary
changes of the modern life, its new
inventions and processes, its cheap
ening of necessities and its multipli-
cation of luxuries, its transition from
the age of steam to the age of electri-
city, there is, after all, nothing of
such significance or permanent effect
as this change in philosophy from
the self-centered to the organic creed.
1t has given new motive and scope
to economic study; it has practically
recreated ethics; it gives a new mean
ing to the Christian religion; and it
is making new kind of college man
The college man of the past was given
to self-culture for its own sake, and
expected his education to separate
him somewhat from the common lot
of the world. The new college grad
uate regards his education as tool
to use for the service of his own time.
He recognizes that the social problems
now presenting themselves are not
to be solved by sentimentalism or
passion or enthusiasm, but need, first
of all, wisdom; and so he gives him
self to study for the sake of its social
utility. And as he thus seriously
turns to sociological studies, he finds
himself in new companionship. He
discovere that one other body of men
and women, with much of the same
patience, though with far less oppor-
tunity, are trying to understand in
some philosophical way the social
situation. 1t is not the employer
class-with many notable exceptions
- they are absorbed in business
affairs. 1t is the working people
The simple fact is that an amount of
hard study is going on in many
workingman's home, and kind of
literature is to be found by many a
hand workers evening lamp, of which