The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-03-13

| Address delivered before the Homo
lulu Ministerial Union, March 6, 1905,
by President A. F. Grifiths of Oahu
College.
We, as a people. are undergoing a
change of ideals. For forty years there
has been going on a transformation OF
thought and activities not spectacular
but deep-seated. Forty years ago the
dominating ideals were theological and
| individualistfc, in which the criterion
of good conduct was individual effort
guided by a lofty aim. All social ideals,
all forces working for the betterment
| of social conditions came out of the
church and affiliated organizations. The
young man or woman who had the in
clination to serve his fellowmen devoted
himself to the church, the school or TO
charity.
There were some who saw that there
was broader relation of things and
who, in their attempts toward attack
ling social problems from other points
of view, found that their ideals suffered
| from a premature birth. The strange
relations into which men were thrown
during the Civil War undoubtedly gave
conception to many of the suggestions
toward the Improvement of social re-
| lations which took shape in the two
decades following. In 1866, as a con-
sequence, proba bly,, of the results of
war sanitation, the first steps We're
taken to provide public baths in Bos-
ton. Milwaukee, in 1889 provided the
next bath where all might battle. In
1872, Brookline, Mass, took long step
toward social betterment by establish
ing a children'S playground. The next
one worthy of the name was instituted
at the Charlesbank in Boston, in 1892.
The School Board of Cambridge pro-
posed a vacation school in 1872, but the
first one was finally esta blished in
Newark, n. J., in 1886. The long pc
riods between important steps in these
social movements show that the people
were not prepared for them-that the
social feeling was still undeveloped.
In the last fifteen years there has
gradually arisen new conception of
our public social responsibility. The
public schools gradually readapted
themselves to the new movements of
thought with the consequence that their
pupils are now becoming the leaders in
the new movement. The evidence of
these movements is before us in the adj
ministrative reforms of cities, in free
libraries health regulations, a new at
titude of employers toward employed,
change for the better in municipal
functions-streets, parks, water, sewer
age, lights, etc. Someone has attrib-
uted the awakening to our improved
Industrial conditions, saying that: 1.-THE
logical steps in civic progress are pros
perity. leisure, culture. Prosperity
provides the leisure which makes posi-
bic culture unknown to the pioneers
in the industrial expansion In time
this culture may become pedantic and
exclusive, but in the enthusiasm of the
new possession of leisure and culture
the desire is usually felt for service.
If the responsibility of civic duties |
rested lightly on the shoulders of the
young American in the sos, the civic |
dissatisfaction and unrest came as it |
was bound to come. And in an inquisi- |
tive way the humanist looked around
for medium through which to do his
uplifting work. The church seemed at
a standstill, the schools We're disorgan-
lied or unorganized, politics repelIed |
But in England he found his models. |
The merits of the charity organizations. |
of the university settlements of the
university extension, gave him sugges-
tons which he Immediately took up
and adapted to American needs. This
transference was facilitated by the
sympathetic INTERPOLATION between the
two nations of intellectual and spiritual
forces. We may be thankful that Eng
dish seed grew luxuriantly on Ameri-
In 20, ,L,,.i,1
began the university extension move
ment which was popularized and in
vigorated by Oxford in 1885 These.
and the organization in 1884 of Tognbee
Hall, the first university settlement in
London, We're the significant signboards
which pointed the way to the young
American bound on the public service.
In 1887, the first stops on the road were
made by Stanton Colt, who esta blished
neighborhood Guild in New York and
Jane Adams and Ellen Gates Starr, |
who founded Hull House in Chicago. |
AT the same time the university extern
sion course was gradually taking shape
under the leadership of Professor E. w.
BeTnis and others.
These are important because they are
the soil out of which have sprung many
new and hourishing plants From them
have come such subsequent activities
as playground, vacation schools pub
lie baths, compulsory education, and
factory and health legislation. The sug-
gestion of these origins came from Eng
land. but their ultimate and lasting
success was due to the great need at
home and to their timeliness The grow
ing prosperity, leisure and culture had
begun their march for real service.
Such social settlements as Hull House
are doing a tremendous work in bridg- |
ing the gap between the Lower and
Upper half, and in uniting all peo-
pie in effective civic work. In such
place fashion meets poverty and in
their union is the ripest expression of
the real civic spirit.
These settlements. built on simple
lines, and doing a modest work. help to
form community interest and to ex-
press it in fitting way that is in
ra1a 90