New-York tribune., 1908-02-28
FOR THE COM MON GOOD.
ETHIC4L-SOCIAL LEAGUE.
Many Different Beliefs Represented
at the First Conference.

at the FrSf CONFERENCE
Probably no audience representing more different
phases Of belief has gathered In New York in some
time than the that attended the first general
conference of the Ethical-Social League at the
Hotel Astor yesterday afternoon. Ministers and
members Of every Christian church except the
Roman Catholic. Jews. ethical workers. educators
settlement workers. CAPITALISTS socialists leaders OF
organized labor single takers, business men and al
thors were present. Bishop David H Greer. the
chairman of the conference, IL opening the meet
ing said:
We have come together. not for the adjust
n1ent of our differences but for the single and
unseIfsh purpose Of promoting the common good
have decided TO come together with mutual @ con, con
anG qIfIerenees which no a2est man an can o,Is ne
trouble with modern life IS that 50 many people
in il simply for themselves With ma
% f6s Anercn9 q p9ope are honest But that Is NOT
enough In politics one who works simply & Tor
gogism is not confined 10 politics
What Is needed in our whole social, industrial %
and commercial life Is the elimination Of this
self-seeking, covetous spirit am not a col
iectiyist. I am not a socialist as Mr. Spargo
VINO has done SO much for the suffering clildren
~ tat III the indizda1 1 a rafeve his bent or genius
must work with all his gifts and powers not only
common good. And so. at this time. something
like that PATRIOTS spirit of our ReyoluloInaTy I
dustrial life, for problems to-day are not
ana 1dS}ra P2' IN @ spite f'f5 Of fRs differences among
It's members. Il this league does anything at all,
it emphasizes the fact that the common good
must be the aim OF all
THE ONENESS OF HUMANITY.
John II Finley. president of the City College said
that in reaching out for the infinite could for
get the dferences-factal. racial social and reig-
iogls-between them It is only through the in
fUences of higher education, he said, that men Of
all nations can be brought together
Only in America can he found Smith ana
Schmidt O'Brien, Cohen. SperratL Almonu and
Jackson (negro) ioUrneviuG together through the
rarasangs Of the Anahasi- marching through
Gsul with Cesar" he said. ''Au education i'm
presses one with the fact Of the oneness Of hu-
rlanity All science is busy in this age trying to
find the ultimate unifyns force in the material
world. Just so in this league. We are all united
by the common aim of social service"
John Spargo. the socialist. followed President
Finley In defining his personal position he said
he represented that radical revolutionary ee-
ment of our time that dares to believe with
consuming passion and faith in the brotAeThood q
man lie continued:
If through this league we do come and reason
together there viii be- if we Will ii So fse 091hl-
ming of great reformation IN AmetIgsn il-S , and
women the churches of the land. honest and slI-
wilderness of tyranny injustice and inequality We
united in spirit, and the union OF opinion VIII
grow out Of that
Dr Samuel schulman the rabbi of Temple Beth
e. said:
comes any movement or cause WElch Is tsiiI i @ au
lust An invisible church exists 10 which az! non
this church that this league has been formed It's
work VIII be difficult: yes, but not inlraciic.. me
thought Every one who is working for the better
g' Tey Worker organized labor socialist
single taxer: yes, even philosophical anaic-li9'' Il
This league win maxi it possible for members Of
a. m rear a Inducements in the world outside their
particular circle # the Church does not keep
,t1v. -r1rr a OF
age # VIII awake some day 10 find that it has lost
It's patro4y and has NO no longer eng 4R2t bs no Rod p9a s
step in the right direction, and if il takes only a
pIished a great deal. As NJ. spargo has said.
Come. let us reason togetheT Tor Il We [esSoL son
isfence of red viii become as white as snow.
LABOR UNIONS AND TEMPERANCE.
Alfred J Boulton. OF Brooklyn. speaking as
labor leader. aroused much applause when lie as
serted that the organized labor movement would
not exist AT all under proper Industrial conditions.
As II is he declared. the movement Is one Or the
greatest educational forces in the country and IS
doing more for the cause of temperance than any
other movement. He said:
IN regard to child slavery. wherever organized
labor Is strong enough We meet that question by
refusing work where children are tnlii3Efef
dTes l. Of nany cleren to The tact that through
organized labor the Worilllleu oI tL-Is coplIE
for Them for one believe indfvidual.sn has
he n,s@Rfne~ Of production. or even the land if
Won only give the taxing power Anar
For-es but in time il viii be exercised only by
those who rEhtfulv should have It, the people
Themselves as a Whole
In describing his first conception Of tho idea Of
fine league Professor Charles Sprague Smith said
thar his work as managing director Of the Peoples
Institute brought him in contact with the repre-
eerra+fvee Of all the religious and ethical creeds
and also Win all cou17ezions q social faiths He
added:
This contact was not in any case superfic55L. 61t
one that led 10 lntlTefF "T re1-leL - 5 -oLl sj5
the recognition OF the sinca1tv Of purpose aua
earRestness Of effort. of tle lnaI'-d,als o. e1,il
Should fan away and. instead OF working for social
1qlif1 in isolated bodies, 2l these various groups
he en4rted that with social and religious faiths 50
deeply seated ary individual in entering PoSsote
I}ut union was at least conceivable where the in
faith should remain intact. Vet all md d common
basis for fellowship in service
The need Of such q union Of good men ana women
G. our cItZ : oLll. - 20 ~ ~ ~ faIiCvve no.
that constitute the majority Of our citizenship. that
should ne aHd are Itl~oeI-.de 70 80 ef I5 IA
while ? multitude OF brothers and sisters are
clearly. through intelligent etfoTL all@F8 non, IL
rot cor7rIee removal those conditions Of oppres
SION might be brought about.
LEAGUES TwCFOLD PURPOSE.
According TO Professor Smith the immediate ac-
ttviries of the league viii he rwofod, including
conferences at regular intervals and bureau at
the Office OF the institute OF speakers qualified to
report from first hand knowledge 70 churches or
other groups desiring it existing social condi-
lions ana needs The next conference. he said, /
Rol1Id be held some time next month. the sub /