The Detroit times., 1911-01-11


cal demonstration or understanding
by the general public. IL was sup
posed 10 be vague and indefinite in
its applications and benefits. Now
IL ~ recognized as practical living
science, the real foundation OF every
line of human progress. Each year
increases the number OF persons in
terested In its study and demons;ra-
ton.
There are three sources OF infor-
nation for the student of social
science: First, personal observation
by himself and others; second. sys.
tematic study of sociology, politics
aud history; third, records of official
and individual investigations conduct
ed by government or private author
ity.
Personal observation involves close
contact with the people TO be helped.
For this reason the social center or
settlement in a large city was as
helpful to the student as TO the com
munity. Ii is now being demonstrate
ed that the congested districts are
not the only fields for the social
science worker. Members of the So
cial Science class of Harvard Uni
versity last summer scattered through
the districts OF the Northwest, turn
ing their attention to social needs
rs they found them. Boys brigades
and boy scout organizations were
found TO appeal to the country boy
as much as TO the boy in the city,
while by broadening the usefulness
OF the Grange and similar organiza-
tons many new avenues OF social
progress were opened to the farmers
who had hitherto had their thoughts
nodded chiefly by the loafer's con
gress at the village grocery store.
President Roosevelt first recogniz,
ed the practical value OF increas ed
knowledge in social science by the
general public. Under his direction,
each department CT the government
was asked to furnish information
helpful to social workers or laymen.
He considered the accumulation of
knowledge which would lead to the
Improvement of the living and social
conditions of the American people a
distinct function OF the national gov
ernment. The Department of Com
merce and Labor was established
solely for the purpose of collecting
material in reference to social
science. Statistics as TO wages. liv-
ing conditions, including housing
sanitation and kindred topics, chiefly
however connected with manufactur.
ing labors, all came under this de-
partment. The Department of Agri.
culture supplemented this by fuller
details as to the homes, surroundings
and needs OF people engaged in farm.
ing pursuits The advantages and
disadvantages of small farms where
large machinery cannot be used, and
the social relations with the small
farmer to his helpers, are contrasted
with the difficulties of the large farm
er whose advantage OF machinery is
Offset by tho difficulties in securing
lshorers for the busy season.
The department of state with Its
historical records, the treasury de-
partment with its financial records,
the land office with its accounts OF
Development and resources Of newly
settled lands have all contributed TO
the accumulation of social science
knowledge even before the last cen.
sus, which was the most complete
thorough and satisfactory ever taken
In the world. The result of last
years census has given to the social
scientists a wealth of material col
| lected by the government which
could not have been secured in any
other way. Its best utilization will
be more or less directly the object
| of every social science worker dur
ing the next year.
The church has adopted social
science as valuable adjunct to dog
matIsm. With the development oil
the science the dogmas grow less
| This does not imply lessening OF
spiritual life but an increase in prac
tical helpfulness. For instance, the
street around a fashionable church
in Chicago last year required new
paving. The weather was bad ant
the workmen had no shelter while
eating their lunch. One noon-time
the pastor saw them sitting on the
edge of the pavement in the drizzlin2
rain while they ate cold lunch. He
| Immediately ordered a warm room In
the church placed at their disposal
| Hot coffee was served while the work
was in progress and the city receiv'
ed a valuable lesson in the practical
social science which is quick to see
a need and quicker still to relieve It.
In many communities the church
must be the social center and the
scientific pastor who Is broad enough
to recognize this fact and make his
church fill the need OF the commun
ity is wise indeed. In a manufacture
ing town in Pennsylvania the people
were compelled to pay exorbitant
prices for all their supplies at com.
pany store. The up-todate pastor oil
one OF the churches, last year. open
ed a cutrate supply store in the
basement of his church. which he Is
still operating for the benefit OF
those who need IT, The people who
have been helped by this store. en-
couraged the minister to brave the
persecution il brought him.
A church in Rochester. New York,
last year organized itself into a regu-
lar social center II Is now known
as the Brick Church Institute. Edu
cational classes OF all kinds, clubs.
gymnasiums and recreation rooms at
tract a crowd of active working REQ
pie who derive more benefit from