The Washington times., 1905-06-08
AMERICA A MOST
HOPEFUL COUNTRY
Estimate of an Englishman
After Viewing 1t.
PERIL IN cENTERED WEALTH
Declares Churches Are Not in Speaking
Distance of the People-Immi-
grafton Problem,

Frankly acknowledging that he stood
appalled, in contemplating some OF the
SOCIAL and religious problems in Ameri
ca yet declaring that despite these
America was the most hopeful country
IN the world, the Rev. William J. Daw-
son. of London. English preacher and
evangelist. on the eve OF his return to
europe after a long preaching trip in
the United States. discussed his impress
slons of this country and its great social
questions.
Mr.. Dawson had come to washington
to make his last public address N the
&C ountry and to pay his respects to P1esi-
dent Roosevelt After his call at the
White House he was enthusiastic about
Mr.. Roosevelt.
You have great President. "a very
great President" he declared. He is
earnest. sincere and courageous.
Danger in Wealth.
Your enormous aggregations of self
ish wealth" said Mr.. Dawson.
strike me as presenting the
most serious set of problems before the
nation. True. we have the same prob
lem in Britain and the continental
countries. but nowhere is it so great as
here.
Your immigration problem must be-
come more serious as time passes This
mass Of a million year OF people COM
ing here must be assimilated, and II
must be Christianized and educated
The public school system may be ex-
pectee to accomplish much IN this direc-
ton. 1 have been a good deal in the
lower East Side of New York city. and
though 1t is the great slum of America,
yet It Is not comparable to the slums
OF London. In New York in America,
the field of opportunity is yet SO wide
and rich that there is room for all who
come willing to work. There is work.
even in New York. for all In London
there is not.
In twelve winters of my work in
London there was not one which did
not bring us face to face with great
problem of unemployed; honestly un-
employed; people for whom there was
no work. however much they may have
wanted 1t, and however willing they
may have been to do it Drunkenness
OF men and women alike, is the horror
of the London slums; you do net have
1t, speaking comparatively, in New
York. The lowest class of women OF
the London Sums are unspeakably de-
nothing Of corresponding class.
Churches Are Apathetic.
Your churches are not doing their
share. They have grown away from
the working men. the masses. They
seem to be proprietary establishments
Of the wealthy. offering nothing to the
working people and attracting none of
them. They have no grip on the people,
no capacity for handling the question
that confronts them. l said to one gen
tleman, Why should not your theological
seminaries teach students to speak Rus
sian. Polish, and Italian?' That is
what is needed TO reach these masses
of immigrants. But no: the theological
student is not in speaking distance of
tht people he should reach.
The great religious revival Of the
past year In Wales. ! learn. is still n
progress. and II Is real. basiC. ethical
revival. 1t is making society over OF
new plan. 1t has emptieo the jails and
1t has brought S0,00G people to conver-
sion and to new life.
Signs of Revival.
There are signs of the beginning os
a great revival of religious interest in
this country: I cannot doubt it after
my experience here for months past.
and in view Of what people have tcId
me-"
DR.. Dawson. who for twelve years
was head OF the Highbury Quadrant
Congregational Church in London, is
not now cohAected with thai establish
Inent. but Is devoting himself entirely
to revival work. He is returning to
England for few weeks. and will re-
turn to America In September 1" +, sumo
lhe work He Will begin the .:~w cam
PaigIi In Bunalo. and Will go tD Seyer:.I
interior cities Of New York ,J., has
also agreed to go TO Atlanta for Il STA
son: and anticipates an opportunity TO
study the race problem