New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-16
CHARITY CONFERENCE MEETS
BISHOP POTTER SPEAKS ON THE SET
ELEMENT QUESTION

lie TELLS WHY RELIGIOUS TEACHING OUGHT TO
DE EXCLUDED. AND QUOTES THE
BIBLE TO BEAR HIM OUT.
The regular monthly charity conference under
the auspices Of the Charity Organization Society
was held yesterday morning In the Assembly Hall
OF the Charities Building. Twenty-second-st. and
Fourth-ave
Miss Kate Bond. chairman OF the Conference
Committee. presided. and the speakers were Bishop
Potter, James 3. Reynolds, Of the University Set
Element: Miss Mary Kingsbury. OF the College
Settlement. and Clarence Gordon. OF the East Side
House. The Settlement was the topic under
consideration.
Bishop Potter was the first speaker his subject
being "rhc Settlement Idea" He sad that the
Settlement was n protest against the removal or
the individual from personal contact with those
whom he wishes to serve, and n reaction against
the mocha Of efforts 10 serve our fel-
low men.
The idea which lies behind the Settlement is a
dual one" he continued. We apt to think
only Of what IT does for others. what II does for
us Is equally important. One OF the greatest diff
cuties that sociology has 10 encounter is the gem
eral ignorance and nsensibty that exist regard
ing social problems that have been developed dur
ms the present century. Few have thought or
them and still fewer have thought through them.
Modern inventions have completely altered the con-
dit.ons Of life. and the people have not begun TO
take the fact into account.
lone Of the most important results OF Settlement
work Is that it leads to an understanding OF these
conditions
Regarding the supposed unpleasantness OF this
kind OF work. the Bishop said that the subject
always made him a little impatient. 1t was en-
trely possible he thought. to school ones self to
insensbi,ity regarding these things and he did
not suppose, any way. that these people were any
dlrtier than the majority of our ancestors In the
time Of Henry VII
In concluding his address he said he was often
asked why religious teaching was given so small
place in Settlement work. and would now try to
answer the question.
Il do not recall instance" he said, ''in which
Christ ever presented a religious test a condition
Of doing things for people. His method was to
establish a point OF contact with them. not on
and dwelt among them He went TO marriage
suppers and even caused great scandal by dinlng
with a gentleman whose reputation was considered
shady.
for not employing IL must do so in entire ignorance
Of the history of Efforts to serve mank AK onua
In Whitechapel London who was once heard can,
rg to It's mother that the Sisters were eom a "a
show the greater efficacy Of the Settlement metnod
he said that when rSctr of yaG recred irons
"A club of young and women where nothing
WAS eyer said abGU rSsior tina. the pshor
said on this mead. There was room for Just as
much religion In Settlement work. he thought. ms
| could he carried in the heart and made part OF
the daily life. but II was not necessary 10 laDel II
| Miss Kingsbury spoke on THE Settlement In Re
| lation to Women and Children" She did not kno"
why women and children were always classed 20
gether she said unless II was on account or tne
| maternal relation and the common political dis
abilities OF both but. most certainly In Settlemen
work they belonged to two opposite extremes aho
should no, be put together at all.
THE child Is plastic material she said: ,whl i
| the woman's mind is fixed. She Is interested ir
| ANYTHING that concerns the home but cares nttie
for anything else. The hest thing that can De donf
| for her is to give her a little pleasure -
| Speaking Of the work among children. MISS
Kingsbury said that she found II good tnng ta
| make boys and girls exchange work sometimes. ano
| had accordingly established a cooking class fol
BOYS at the College Settlement. -
/ Mr. Gordon talked on The Settlement In us
Relation 10 Men and Citizens and said he thought
that the work done for mon was OF much less I'm
| portance than that among women and children
| An informal discussion followed the meeting