The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-11-13

cial settlements show by actual work
that they are true friends of the
working people, and then they seek
to show that the labor problem can
never be solved until working people
recognize the capitalists and employ
ing classes as their brothers. In their
wild and bitter but natural denuncia-
tions of "plutocracy"-in their indis
criminate condemnation of employers
for. conditions for which they are
often no more responsible than their
employees are - competition having
forced them into their present posi-
tion-in their arrayiDg of class
against class-the radical reformers
are simply adding to our difficulties
and are not removing them. The
social settlers seek to impress this
important fact upon these people.
They aim. to show that the labor
movement is part of larger social
movement and should move forward
according to the rational law of
evolution, and not according to the
foolish methods of the French revolu-
tionists, whose example and doctrines
are SO attractive to many reformers.
In short, the social settlements aim
to show that settlement of labor
troubles with one party concerned
either altogether left out or subju
gated by the other would be no set
Element at all, and that employe and
employer, capitalist and laborer,
must unite in larger union than any
existing today if this great question
is ever to be satis factorily settled.
The Greatest Service Rendered.
But the greatest service which the
social settlement renders the work
ing men and society as whole is
the bringing to the labor movement
! that ethical element which it needs.
The promoters of social settlements
are truly religious people, not merely
professors of creeds and performers
of ceremonies. They are thoroughly
imbued with the moral teachings of
Jesus. They believe that an applica-
ton of the ethical principles of Chris
tianity as they are found in the SER
mon on the mount and other sermons
of Jesus-this alone can solve this
great problem: In the mad and just
protest of the working men against
the hard conditions of their lot they
are apt TO ignore these great moral
principles. In the terrible struggle
for txistence which cut-throat compe
titon is forcing upon capitalists and
employers, they, too, forget or ignore
moral prin ciples. And so a move.
ment which is based on lofty ethical
ideals is just what is needed in this
great crisis.
The social settlers believe in the
text that inasmuch as you do good to
the least of your brethren and sisters
you render God and Christ the truest
service and help to usher in new and
better era for humanity. They are
too wise to expect to usher in this
new era in day or month or q
year, or even in one generation, but
they have vivid sense of personal
responsibility and duty and they
seek to bring immediate relief to the
suffering and oppressed while work
ing for larger result.
1t was favorite maxim with Jesus
that man must prove his faith by
his works,and Q rested his own claim
to recognition, not on the doctrines he
taught, but on the good work he did.
Ii his church is ever to fulfill its true
mission-if it is ever to get and re-
tain hold on the world-it must go
and do likewise. A gentleman in
Chicago an ex Baptist minister
said to me: Miss Addams is doing a
grand, good work, but l don't quite
understand her religious position.
She seems to be Christian without
religion" Religion, in that mans
judgment, is evidently identical with
the acceptance of certain theological
dogmas : probably those of his
church. But if he and Miss Addams
could stand before the great judge
he would hear this solemn declara-
ton: "Inasmuch as ye did it not un
to the least of these my brethren, We
did it not unto me-" Deeds, not
creeds, are what count in Christ's
judgment. Deeds and not creeds
are what can save man from hell
here and hereafter.