The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-11-13
Social Settlements.
BY REV. HOWARD McQUEARY.

TN the summer of 1875 young
i Oxford student, with an oval
face, high forehead, crowned with
masses of soft brown hair, straight
nose, large full Tipped mouth, gray
eyes and brown complexion, some
what lacking in color, except when
he was engaged in conversation, went
down into the Whitechapel district
of East London and took humble
lodgings there. Determined to live
among the social exiles, the criminals
and paupers of that famous district
and to learn by actual experience
Just what the poor needed and
wanted. This young man was Arnold
Toynbee, the father of the social
settlement. For, while Toynbee
himself never founded social settle
ment, as we understand if, his ex-
ample and influence gave rise to this
whole movement. Toynbee was an
enthusiastic student of political
economy and his industrial Revolu-
tion," which consists of lectures de-
Iivered at Oxford University and
elsewhere, is an authority on the
great industrial revolution which
occurr, in England at the close of
the last and beginning of this CEN
fury. Toynbee had passion for
facts. He condemned in unmeasured
terms the abstract teachings of the
old political economy, and this was
one reason why he went to live among
the poor of East London. He was
not content to read about the poor.
He wanted to share their life and
learn their needs from actual resi-
dence among them. But he was not
simply a political economis ; ne was
true Christian. While very liberal
in his theology-while feeling that
the miracles were not an essential
part of Christianity-he believed
that the labor movement could be
saved and made success only by an
application of the eternal principles
of Jesus. He believed that not
preaching, not theorizing, but prac-
ticing actual good works, was the
essence Of Christianity. He felt that
anyone who rendered a service to the
least of his brethren or sisters rend-
cred service to God and was the
best sort of Christian; while those
who cried Lord, Lord" albeit never
SO unctuously, were no Christians
unless they followed Christ's ex-
ample.
He did not believe in array4donthe
rich against the poor or the -
against the rich, but he considered
them all brothers and he believed
that the only possible solution of the
labor problem was to bring both
parties to see and admit the eternal
principles of justice and humanity.
If he had lived longer he would un-
doubtedly have rendered an immense
service to this great cause, but, like
so many geniuses, he died at the age
of thirty-one years.
Toynbee's disciples were not con-
tent to simply publish their notes on
this lecture, they went down into the
Whitechapel district and founded
Toynbee hall-the first university
settlement-as a memorial of their
beloved master, and from that center
have sprung all the college, university
and social settlements which have
grown up in England and America
during the last twelve years. These
settlements are found in London and
other English cities, in New York,
Boston, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Chi
cago and elsewhere. There are ten
of them in Chicago, the chief of
which are Hull House, the Chicago
Commons, the University Settlement
and several church settlements, all
of which l visited during the past
summer, and of which l shall speak
briefly in this article.
The Parent settlement.
Hull House is, in very real sense,
she mother of all the Chicago settle
nents. 1t is known all over the
world, and its founder is revered as
Saint Jane Addams." Miss Addams
believes with her whole soul the
teachings of the text-that inasmuch
As you do good to one of the least of
your brethren or sisters, you render
God and Christ the truest service
as she said to me, her chief thought
and desire in founding Hull House
was to live among the people, and as
she said this she was writing a check
with which to pay some poor, worthy
woman's house rent.
Hull House.
Hull House is situated at the cor