The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-05-21

lAS WV 5000
Peculiarly Its Own That Calls
for All It's Wisdom.
By the Religious Rambier.)
The changes that are under way in
American religious life at b pres
ent time have found striking express
sion in the Southern Sociological
Congress which met last week in
Nashville. Socialized Christianity.
long kept outside the door Of the
church as An alien, a been wei
coined into the stronghold Of Chris
tian conservatism. 1t is but a few
years since orthodox ProteStantS
ScOffed at social service as a mere
fad of religious liberalism. Now we
see the whole South united In a con-
ference distinctly it's own. and rank
ing in Importance with the greatest
social gatherings Of the North. n
manned almost entirly by men denti-
fled with leadership in Christian
work,
This Southern Sociological Con-
gresS which sounded the slogan The
Solid South for a Better Nation" was
an official thing summoned by the In
vttation Of Governor Ben. w. Hooper,
vi lO1IliNNSoCCp IL " u
childhood history makes him espe-
cially susceptible to every form Of
social service Response came from
all over the South and more than six
hundred delegates were enrolled.
From the very first it was evident
that the Conference would be a sue
cess, for Southern loyalty rallied tC
It's support, and this was reinforced
by the real interest that exists sc
widely in the topics announced fol-
discussion. New York city and other
Northern social centres lent theiI
leaders for the program.
The Churches Are For 1t.
The distinctive Characteristic OF
this Sociological Congress is the num-
Der of church leaders who are identi
tied with 1t, A man dropping in or
the sessions who was familiar will
the church life of the South would
have said hat he was in a religion:
gathering. And he was No Ques
tons were raised about the relation
that should exist between religion
and social service; this was taken 70.
granted, and therein lay one Of tn,
most significant points of the Con
gress. The delegates simply wen
ahead and did their work Withou
once raising the bugaboo of liberal
ism. The theological discussions di
not go beyond the story of the goo,
Samaritan.
A Methodist Episcopal layman, MI
j. T.. McCulloch, of Nashville, wa
the head of the Congress
appointed by Governor HOoDer.
was his work that made the Congress
in it's m~ultitudinouS details the com
prehensive gathering that it became
Mr.. McCulloch is the head Of tn
training school for Christian worker
at Nashville, and this RELATIONSHIP
alone would have portended great in
tluence for the Congress in futur
years. It was wise strategy whic
placed the gathering amid the man
educational institutions of the Ath
ems OF the South" Peabody Colleg
Tor the training Of teachers and Van
oerolit University were both identife
with the Congress. Educational
religiously, n politically the gath
erlng had all the standing thai tn
South could impart to it.
What 1t Means for the South.
Doubtless the Nashville Chambe
OF Commerce is %chuckling over til
success Of the Congress, for it hf
been made a permanent institutio,
and whether its sessions are held
Nashville or not it will always /
identified with that city and do COO
advertising work. Just as the Pea
Conference at Lake Mohonk and II
Conference on Oriental Questions
Clark University have become n:
tionaaly famed. so this Southern S.
Geological Congress will figure in Il
discussions of leaders all over Il
land. A volume of proceedings is
be printed. At n bound the Sou,
has taken a place Of leadership in Il
development of the social ideal.
Va