The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-10
AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.
Project to Establish a Social Settlement
In st. Paul.

rroIect to Establish Social Settlement
In SIT. Paul.
To the Editor of The Globe:
All thoughtful observers of present CON
uIuons In the United States are agreed
ina. sLlaC one OF the gravest problems we are
american ideas and institutions of the
great numbers of immigrants to orr
aEli n. especially from the countries of
o-,s Tern ;esr Europe. Many of these people,
cunning out or conditions where oppres-
sion has been Joined to poverty and ig-
norance, gather in sections of the lareer
n nt.res where these conditions are easily
Perpetuated. Lacking opportunities to
acquire English readily, and to learn what
oDIgat1onS and duties are implied in their
american a citizenship. some of them at
and a social danger
me public schools give the children of
!hese people the English language and
In time indoctrinate them with American
ideas. But the process is naturally a
slow one, and needs acceleration by the
creation OF other agencies, which shall
ana the combined freedom and restraint
OF american community life into those
sections of our cities Jnat are now for
elgn rather than American in their COM
plexlon No agency has been found so
effective to this end the social settle
ment. 1t Is only necessary to mention
Hull house in Chicago to call to mind
a work of more than national reputation.
IN which the most difficult of city condi-
tons are being met with notable skill
and evident success. Most cities of over
100000 Inhabitants now have established
social settlements, whose influence for the
general welfare Is warmly acknowledged
That St Paul, with it's nearly 200 900
people Cpl; needs such an agency to help
asslm1late our large population of recent
corners, some of them from the condi-
lions already described is beyond dis
pute. VIII the public spirit of the city
respond. however, to the need? This is
the question that a small group of earnest
men and women wish to bring to the
test. They have taken the Neighbor-
maintained by the Mount Zion Hebrew
congregation, and have reopened it as
school for industrial training. the teach
ing Of English to adults, and an agency
of general Improvement for all kinds and
classes of people. Even with a constitu-
ency limited to members of the Jewish
race the house has done in the last three
years Wide-reaching work Its night
classes for adult men would alone justify
its continuance. There IS now in the city,
on down town street. more than one
who started by learning English at the
Neighborhood house. Such work is of
lncalculable benefit to the community In
addition classes in sewing and manual
/ training are to be maintained, a branch
OF the public library kept in the house.
and as many other educational and social
agencies set in motion as the resources
Will allow. The house has a firm place
in the respect of the people whom it seeks
to serve. 1t dispenses no charity of any
kind. 1t does not seek to convert any one
to a social or theological creed 1t is
simply center of organized friendliness
and cooperation, irrespective of race,
color or belief
This public statement is made to Sc
cure additional support for the enterprise.
1t is duly incorporated. and on Tuesday
next at 4 O'Clock at the Commercial club
the Neighborhood House association will
be launched with board of twenty-five
directors. representing all denomination
whose names will at once command pub
lie confidence and respect About half
of the funds needed have been secured
privately by subscription. Membership
in the new association is acquired by the
payment of SIS annually. The present sue
cess of the enterprise depends upon
whether there are 200 people, among those
who read this appeal, who will at once
enroll themselves as members. There is
no work in the city which makes more
directly for the good of the entire public
than that of the Neighborhood house. If
the reader believes in it, will he not
send his name with check for the mem
bership fee to the undersigned and then
attend the public meeting above men
toned to learn further concerning the
work? Larger amounts will be very gladly
received, but the success of the project,
and the fulillment of the hopes Of it's
projectors, now depends chiefly upon the
securing of these 200 IS memberships.
Richard w. Boynton.
Minister of Unity Church.
Ala Ashland avenue, st. Paul, Oct. 8, 1903.