Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-09-29
A Striking Sign of the Times.


Milwaukee Daily Journal, Sept. %:
In the Milwaukee diocese, at least, the
Episcopal church, which by many has
been considered essentially aristocratic,
and by many more ultra conservative,
which in truth has shown a disposition
to move along the lines of least resis
lance in matters not directly connected
with dogma and ritual, has become
positive instead of passive, democratic
instead of fashionable"
The change is revolutionary in a way,
but even from the outside point of
view, it is not sudden one, nor is it
confined to Milwaukee. Right here
Episcopal clergymen have been fore
most in the fight against misgovern-
ment and other abuses in public life.
In Philadelphia, Chicago, New York
and many other places Episcopal clergy
men have been among the leaders in
movements to better civic conditions.
But the first step toward making the
Episcopal church, as a body factor in
public affairs has been taken in the
diocese of Milwaukee. By unanimous
vote the diocesan council has created a
permanent social service commission
with plenary powers to act for the
church in all matters pertaining to the
social welfare of the people without
regard to class or creed. The commits
sions is authorized to speak for the
church in regard to any legislation of
vital public concern. When six of the
nine numbers of the commission agree
that any proposed legislation is good or
bad, it may advocate it or oppose it in
the name of the church.
The work of the commission is con-
fined to the men of legislation. 1t may
not endorse any political party or party
candidate or party platform. 1t must
act solely with respect to measure
1t may. for instance, go before the
legislature and oppose bill that is
adverse to public morals or urge the
passage of a bill to protect child labor.
And while the commission is en-
powered to act in the name of the
church, it is the interest of the public,
not any policy peculiar to the church,
that it is required to serve. It's function
is plainly declared to be the promotion
of Legislation for the best interests of
the whole people" The spirit in which
it is expected to act is manifested by
the fact that the report which resulted
in the creation of the commission at
tributed to the formation of trusts the
high cost of the necessaries of life,
declared that the discretion vested in
courts in regard to issuing injunctions
had been abused, upheld the rights of
labor, urged the utilization of public
school buildings for social and civic
purposes, commended the proposition of
the Milwaukee municipal administration
to provide at cost sites in unconges
ted districts for model home for
wOrkingmen, to the end that every
laborer might have ga real home with
a house and garden he could call his
own" and praised the city administra
ton for it's efforts to rearrange the
street railway system Of Milwaukee so
as to provide for the quick and direct,
transportation of workingmen between
their homes and their places of labor.
The action of the diocesan council is
without parallel in the history of the
Episcopal church. 1t is striking
illustration of the general tendency to
ward democracy and toward govern
ment solely in the interest of the people.
1t is most significant, moreover as
showing that the churches are getting
closer 70 the people and farther away
from the privileged class. 1t is a long
step toward the goal of efficient popular
government.