The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-16

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
In last Sundays Journal was an article
from Rev. McLennan, copied from the
Christian Advocate, OF Chicago, upon slums
and the cause Of them, in which 1 think
the reverend writer makes some mis-
takes. He first charges the churches With
being responsible for the slums and init
mates that they have neglected these dark
spots Of our cities. This, though popular
cant, is not well founded As great per
cent. OF the slum people belong to church
do the inhabitants of any other quarter.
and greater in the slums where foreigners
collect. Almost every Italian and large
majority of the Germans and Irish belong
to church; were raised and educated by
the church. If it were church neglect they
would not be members. But 1 will concede
the fact that, In a measure, the church
may be responsible for their failure to
make life success. In teaching a child
religion, if he is made to believe his re-
ligious faith will aid him in the practical
affairs of life it will likely make slum
denizen out of him. He will depend upon
his faith instead OF depending upon his
works Such children learn to wait and
have faith that something will come in
stead OF going after it, Any faith in any
leading. To pray for rain, for instance, is
an example. All the prayers ever offered
on earth never made cloud gather or a
longing faith to be a better man or woman
will take the clouds out of the life and
water the thirsty soul and raise the sup
the mist of the sky. Only the ignorant
or the cunning pray for rain.
The Rev. McLennan blames those whose
ionabe quarters ne for 70 DOING 80 So i9 as their
leaving the undesirable locations, he thinks,
permits them to become slum regions. Is
1t not likely if such families remained in
the slums or semi-sums of the cities, rails
ing their children there, that they would
catch the infection and be like their sur
roundinSs, as all others do? tLft.
The indolent, improvident, and, some
times, unfortunate crowd into tha sum re-
gions because rents are low ap1xtktAefB
congenial companions are found thffe. IN
turn each inspires the other to b&s&tnotA-
ing. The Stun is not a functiona(s1ut an
organic condition. | mean it istthe out
growth of constitutional conditions, mainly
inherited. Poorly-nourished bodies, worse
fed minds, circumscribed opportunities, in
artistic surroundings, low associates the
tons that wealth, pride and greed have
forced upon certain elements Of society, con-
tinued for years will reduce certain per
cent. to the slums, or rather they will bring
the slums forth out OF their slummy ma
lures.
1t is not the duty of the church people and
so-called better element to live in the
slums; that would do no good-it would not
change the SUM natures out of which
slums grow. But il is the duty OF that ele-
ment to so conduct city affairs that the
fostering fangs of greed and black claws of
dishonest rings and ciques that prey upon
every American city be forced to loose their
grasp upon weak and defenseess humanity
and let 1t rise TO a higher plain, and it will
leave the slum behind. IL the churches
would take as much interest in home work
as they do in the interest of the "hea then,
and use the money, the millions that are
wasted on that expensive failure called for
eign missions, great results would soon be
seen. i do not mean to speak disparaging-
~ of the church, however, because ii has
made some expensive mistakes; ii has done
a glorious work. and has more to do. But
its work viii not be done until it has righted
these crying wrongs cleared the way for
stumbling feet and aided weak hands and
chained greedy monsters and destroyed cor
rupt rings, and itself worship mammon no
more. This will aid weak humanity and
carry it up and up to higher and better
life. and finally bear ii TO that sun-kissed
isle where love has conquered death and
everlasting day flows through the broken
gates of night. j. A. HOUSER.
Indianapolis, June Is.