The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-08-24

| lump dill 1UlI1lSI dliC1 ~ W 4obOA n
as undesirable. Some demagogues
speak as if the immigrants, to these
| shores were an In sober
truth, this is Il land IF Immigrants.
They were it's and, in many
respects, they are still its strength.
The persons who are W~ide-awake to
the meaning of current events have
not failed to observe the frequency
with which children Of n~ewly-arrived
| aliens carry off public school honors.
The latent powers of Sumbering gen
erations spring into flower in the ia
vorahle American atmosphere. For
eign-born residents are forging to the
front IN many ines Of activity. That
is well-so long as they are thorough
ly nationalized and Christianized, so
tina the essential ideals of this new
land be preserved. This work Of ma
tiona1ization and Characterization is
what we call home missions.
Every immigrant is a possible ma
tiOna1 asset.
are frequently more precious to the
man Just landed at Ellis Island than
to the man whose ancestors came over
in the Mayflower.
This North American continent may
become, or even now be, Gods 1abo-
ratory for the %Iutio OF SOM. of
the old problems Of all the nations.
There are aspects of the new trend
in this Western world toward feder-
ated Christian activity which are as
yet unsupported by most persons. The
recent convention of the Federation
of Churches showed how strongly the
leaders Of Christian thought and work
h VIC hann Orjnnod hu tho ~ n q
of the religious side of the immi-
grant question. There was then mani
fest a determination to sink all de-
nominationaI differences in a united
effort to show the best side of the
national life to newcomers into our
midst. The reception of immigrants.
the cosmopolitan city population, h
foreign-bora communities at indus
trial centers, and the smaller colonies
of aliens in ruran parts, were all
discussed as urgent opportunities for
the most brot1lerly and di1igent Chris
tan service. All unknown to himself,
the stranger within the gates is
helping his hosts to a realization of
their highest responsibilities.
Somebody has made the point that
an easy, practical and immediate form
of Christian and patriotic service to
the cosmopolitan population Is to
learn how to say "How do you do ?"
in the language Of the nearest foreign
settlement
The progress Of immigration shows
certain broad development. The ten
dency now is towar an influx of for
eignars who are least sympathetic
with our historic national standards.
When immigration brought chiefly
English-speaking peoples of our own
g, 80 +Ha ~yohla~ of a cr1 ~, :lYtSo ~ ,ro ~
less serious. Now the An~g1o-Saxons,
Celts and Teutons are being super
seeded by Latins, Semities and Orien-
tails who are more difficult to incor-
porate into the national life. This
should not deter the forces which
make for national unity and Chris
tan idealism, but rather serve as an
incentive to them. The consideration
of e~lf-interest is added IF they are
not amalgamated into our life they
will d~isintegrate it. IF they a to
be regarded as an opportunity, they
will become a peril. The issues at
stake justify the utmost expenditure
of devotion, activity and se1f-sacrifice-
Service of our alien population is a |
work Of good citizenship, as we'll as a
ministry to Him who once said: ct
was a stranger, and We took me in"
If the new world means nothing
more to an immigrant than a chance
to grow rich, then, for the nations
sake, he would better have remained
abroad. Whatever De- his motive,
however. it is the business Of the
churches to help inspire him with ths
ideals tina are considered consistent
with the genius of this land.
All sorts of human harpies prey
upon the ignorant and unsophisticated
immigrant. Transportation companies
treat him with a lack Of considera-
tion-and at times with a rank injus-
tice-Which a citizen Of the country
would not endure. Organized religion
has done well to place at the principal
places h friendly Offices of hospitality
and Christianity to the stranger in
a TRANCE land.