The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-17
Both Rich and Poor Combine
to Study Applied Chris
tianity.
WHERE EXTREMES WILL MEET.
Professor Herron's Lectures Result
in the Formation of an
Altruistic Institute.

man of the committee selected to draft a
constitution and bylaws for the govern
ment of the Institute of Applied Chris
tianity, has about completed his labors and
is ready to report to the general meeting
for permanent organization that will be
held Monday evening at the Y. M. G. A..
parlors. The important clauses of the con-
stitution that will probably be adopted are
as follows:
Article 1.-The name of this organization
shall be The Oakland Institute OF Applied
Christianity.
The purpose of the institute shall be the
study of the teachings of Christ and their ap-
plication to modern society.
Article 1.-THE membership of the institute
shall not De limited in number nor confined to
residents of any particular locality, but its
special effort shall be among the residents OF
the cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda and
vicinity.
No one not in accord with the purposes of
this institute, as stated in article !, or who is
unwilling to apply the teachings of Christ to
the present time, shall be eligible for member
ship.
Applications for membership shall be re-
shall export all eligible candidates. Such can
didates shall be voted for by the institute and
be declared elected, provided they receive two
stitute shall be by ballot when demanded
All candidates elected shall be forthwith no
titled thereof in writing by the secretary, and
on signing the constitution shall become
members of the institute. If any person duly
elected shall fail to sign the constitution
within three months after notice by the secre-
tary he shall be deemed to have declined mem
bership.
On Recommendation of the membership COM
mittee any person may be elected honorary
member by two-thirds vote. Honorary mem
beers shall not be required to sign the constitu-
ton.
whenever any member shall be known to
hold opinions unfavorable to the application
OF the teachings of Christ to modern society,
his membership shall cease, provided that no
action of the institute shall be taken without
notice having been previously given to said
member.
Order of exercises-Devotional exercises,
reading of minutes, report of membership CON-
mittee election of members. report Of pro-
gramme committee and announcement OF
ness, exercises as arranged by the programme
committee.
Associated on the committee with Mr..
Snow are Messrs. Smith and Butler, who
represent the radical element of the new
movement. Of course. the idea OF the in
stitute grew out of the recent lectures on
applied Christianity" by Professor G. d.
Heron in Oakland and San Francisco,
and the professor himself, though by no
means the founder of the new society, has
praised the spirit that led to its organiza-
ton and has approved of its plan. He will
be an honorary member.
At the root of the movement is the de-
sire to bring together two distinct elements
of the men and women in Oakland who
discuss things and agitate sociological re-
FORMS One of these elements comprise
the thinkers and workers in the churches
the other is made up largely of those who
agitate their grievances in addressing inn
promptu mass-meetings from the band
stand in the Courthouse yard or from tine
City Hall steps.
The purpose of the institute is to
''study, # not to sdo.n There are to be no
initiation fees and no dues. Nor is the hat
70 be passed at the meetings. The plan is
to have basket or box for offerings placed
at the entrance of the hall where the
weekly or bi-weekly meetings are held,
and to make no active campaign for
nickels or dollars. Several well-to-do per-
sons have, however, volunteered regular
contributions and doubtless others will
follow.
Prominent in the new society are the
Rev. DR.. Coyle OF the First Presbyte-
rian Church, the Rev. Mr.. RAIDER;
A. J. Gregg, a stair : builder; DIR. and
Mrs. DIR. Lane, Mrs. Edna Smell Poul-
son of SHELLS Seminary, and most of the
pastors Of the Oakland churches. Cards
have been sent out explaining the pur-
poses OF the institute and inviting member
ship, and about 200 OF these have been re-
turned to the membership committee.
Tuesday night the temporary organization
was effected with Mr.. Gregg as president
and Mr.. Robinson as secretary pro tenn.
An effort is being mace to weed out from
among the applicants for membership in
the institute all undesirable persons who
are prone to disturb the even course of
things by insisting upon airing their per-
soDal grievances or injudiciously pro-
mitigating their peculiar beliefs in reform
matters. Tolstoi's faith in non-resistance
to evil lies at the bottom of Professor
Herron's teachings. In the institute this
evil must be overcome by personal sacrifice.
To study how to apply the doctrines of the
sermon on the mount to nineteenth GEN.
fury civilization is the task chosen by the
institute.