The Washington herald., 1912-01-28
MEN AND RELIGION
SURVEY WILL HELP
TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

social md Religious Conditions
Peculiar to Washington Subjects
OF Thorough InvestiEafion-New
York Experts VIII Make Report.
The thoroughness with which the Men
and Religion Forward Movement is going
into the problems OF the church and OF
society in general is In no way more
clearly illustrated than in a study Of
the survey the local executive committee
is making in Washington-a detailed ex-
animation OF conditions as they exist in
the social and religious life OF the Dis
trict and OF the forces at work for their
betterment.
The survey is all that its name implies
1t is a thoroughgoing and systematic
investigation OF every activity Of the
church and Of those things in the city
which affect the church. 1t is divided
into several branches for convenience in
handling and in correlating the informa-
Sion gained from 1t, and all reports re-
ceived in the course Of its progress are
made out in duplicate-one set to go to
the national headquarters Of the Men
and Religion Forward Movement IN New
York and the other to be retained at the
local executive committees Offices.
Most important to the average citi-
zen is the social survey. Clergymen
and laymen have been engaged for sew
eral months in examining the condi-
tions of housing and of labor in Wash
ington: the amusements of the work
ing classes OF the oitY have been sub
jected to investigation of a most con-
scientious nature, and, in fact all the
aspects Of social life have come in for
careful consideration.
Among the information gained In the
survey have been statistics as to the
MIN 7fNars 0N WGNa NJ 1111nfN Les
owned IN the District. At first sight,
such information may not seem to be
Of particular value, but, in connection
with the multitude OF other things
that are brought out in the course of
the work, these figures have a very
real value in furnishing data concern
ing the comparative standard of living
in Washington as related to other cit
ies of approximately the same size.
The survey is made in accordance
with instructions issued by the New
York Office on blanks provided. The
industries OF the District, the hours OF
labor OF their employees, and their gen.
eral conditions as regards prosperity
are dealt with fully, each district being
taken up separately. Statistics have
been gathered regarding the number of
dwellings in the city, and housing con-
ditions are registered in detail
The boys OF Washington come IN for a,
very exhaustive study at the hands or
the Men and Religion Forward Move
meEt. Their occupations. their educa-
tiCn, and their amusements are consId-
cred; the number in the Sunday schools
have been obtained, and some facts have
been gathered as to why the others-who
comprise the great majority-have pre-
ferred to remain outside the Sunday
schools. The older boys crusade is al
ready making great headway in bringing
hack into the Sunday schools those boys
who have deserted, for the most part
through lack Of interest. and the work
of the survey has given the Men and
Religion Forward Movement the infor-
nation It needs regarding the means
of holding them in the Bible classes
once they have been brought back to-
them
The survey has meant a great deal OF
work in Washington, and will mean a
great deal more in New York. Social
service experts are even now studying
the data obtained here, and the conclu-
slons they draw from It will be pre-
sented in the eight-day campaign, to
be held February II to IS. Washington
has many peculiar problems, and the |
Men and Religion Forward Movement, |
in making a determined effort to solve |
them, hopes to succeed in bringing about
mitch bettered conditions in the general /
religious and social life of the city.