The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-12
Topic Discussed by the
Rev. B. Fay Mills
BEFORE UNITARIAN CLUB.
The Pitiful Thing In Condition OF
the Working Man.
PROFESSOR DEALEY'S REMARKS

The regular monthly meeting Of the
Unitarian Club WAS held at the 1rvca-
dero last evening, with large attend
anee, the fact that this was ladies' night
doing much toward the success OF the
gathering. From D. m. until 7:45
O'Clock there was season of social inter-
course in the par iors. and then the ladies
aud gentlemen repaired to the dining
hall, whore AN excellent supper was
served. At the guests table were seated
Vice President Chsdsey, Mayor Baker,
Rev. b. Fay Milin Professor James Q.
Dealey, Ph. 3D., OF Brown UNIVERSITY; !;
Sam Ii. Bullock, Secretary William II.
Eddy, Treasurer Augustus Il. feirce aud
several ladies.
After supper Messrs. Towne and Lane.
tenor and bass of the First Congregations
al church, sang 'Calm Is the Night"
Mr.. r. s. Metonlf being the accompanist.
Vice President Chacsey then intro
duced Rev. B. Fry Mills or Boston, who
spoke on "Our sotial Pro oolsm. ccm-
mencIuR ris address by saying that we
have great world thought, tbs greatest
OF all world thought, pressing upon US
at this tine. This Is far from teing an
uneventful era, as many persons have
been DISPOSED to bslieve. The value OF
the individual Is a grent world thought.
The value of the Individual should not be
lost sight of. for its cot ccption Is that
which has given liberty To the world.
The French revolution and the American
revolution were the results OF such con-
ception. 1t Is because of this conce ption
that we are confronted wish social prob
lem, and this Ia the application of human
brotherhood to material things.
IL Is q fact that the rich have been
growing richer, ard the poor also have
been growing ricne, but the rich have bssn
growing richer faster than the poor bnye.
Our great fortunes are not earned; that
is those who possess them have not given
to the com muEity an adequate return
for what they hAveJeceived. People who
have bought lard which has increased
greatly In value have accumulated great
wealth without any effort. Another wav
In which great fortunes have teen gained
Is bv the giant monopolies Of the countrs,
and there are several other ways In which
thtss great fortunes have been obtained.
As farssas ordinary morality goes, tner, is
very little difference in the rich al 4 the
poor. and Mr.. Mills said that he had 90
quarrelwitn the rich, but he was stating
existing conditions. A condition of ius-
quality has peen brought about and It 10
this condition which confrorts us todsy.
The ordinary man is separated from the
sources OF wealth, and the work man Is
separated from his employer, for his en-
pioyer Is a corporation, aud he has be-
come hand. The workman Is nlso
today separated from MS Tools brought
about by the great aggregate OF machin-
cry. and he Is separated from certain op-
portunities which he ought to have. but
which. perhaJ he never has had before.
The most pitiful thing We see today is
that the worklngman Is separated from
his work. Ybe more prosperity We have
the greater the number of The unempioy-
ed. and this hiss been very clearly shown,
oil brought about by the lowering of
wages through the competition of labor.
Or all these problems the economic prob |
lem Is religious problem, and Mr.. Mills
said that tc believed that this problem
was to be settled by the golden rule. let
love take the place of greed as the organ
izing force of human effort and the fu-
ture will bs fun OF hope. Free universal
education and political Freedom wilt do |
much toward solving the great social
problem.
Mr. Mills closed his address by saying:
81 believe that the present and future arc !
full of hops. I believe that feudalism |
was better than slavery; that CO. operation
Of wealth Will stand above
them all. The cooperative businesses OF
the peoples banks of Italy and
the department. store OF Paris, run by
the workers. have the right spirit. Trusts
ahali become what they signify in name
firm faith In the Integrity OF men. and
shall become az a nightmare.
Hail tho near future, you men Of Am
erica. for In IL you will see fulfilled the
greatest prOphoCy OF the aQas. W
At the close OF Mr.. Mills address Mrs.
Vaughan ana Mrs. Stone. soprano and
contralto OF the First congregational
church, sang duet, after which the
WHO said that ne knew very little of the
details OF the subject which had bsen 90
ably discussed by Mr.. Mills. He thought
that ono OF the main causes why we
were confronted by this social problem
was because the people hsd too readily
der arted from the natural simplicity Of
life. Another cnuse was because ambition
had become too unbridled, and because
lust of power Was too great. The rem
edy, he believed. lies In the removal OF
these causes. Men should not live for
themselves alone. cut rs parcel oS the
great aggregate Of human endeavor. Let
the river Of progress Ds enclose on one
eitt WIN OIL Vi potTlOtlsu1,
and on the other with an mbankment of
fraternity, ard there will bc reason To
lock for far better state OF things. The
fatherhood of Coo and the brotherhood Of
man can solve the great social prublepi.
The mixed quartet of the First Congrc-
Rationai church then sang "Unfaithful
Shepherdess. otter which Professor
James q. Dsaley. Pb. d.. OF brown Unit
versity, wns introduced. lilo said that IL
was evident that the social problem was
occupy ing the sblest minds OF lhe coun-
try. and Mr.. Mills has claimed that we
were experiencing now tho great sprsad
OF democracy in former times. In these
days We are gradually turning from the
individualistic idon To the scciaiistic idea.
While men and women are reading far
more than ever before, the ideals they
have seem To bs farther and farther from
tnsir grasp but IL men continued 10 read
they will learn % know what is going
on around them aud they will lind q way
to remedy the evils existing. A great
remedy will be found from the stand
point Of the intellect, and by ana by Q
way 10 remove the obstacle will lie found.
The church which can arouse the feelings
and stimulate mon Will 40 the great
work for mankind. Love 20 God and
love 10 man IL the Keynote Of success.
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