Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-24
WEST END SETTLEMENT: PRACTICAL
RESULTS IN SOCIAL SERVICE WORK

sions. Ii is applied patriotism and
neutrality-suspicious. because it is
not only love of country, but love of
countrymen-Christianity because it is
the love that seeks the best welfare
OF others as part of the aim of life
and happiness; because it eliminates
selhshness in the working ont of
life, and places in its stead the desire
to serve and help others,
Social settlement work is no longer
an experiment, and this fact has been
proven conclusively in nearly every
large city of the country. 1t has filed
long felt need, and has worked I'M
told wonders in the development of
communities.
A similar work is being carried on
here in Rock Island, the magnitude of
which, few outside of the real workers,
realize. Reference is made to what
is known as the West End Settlement
The work had its inception some eight
years ago when the need was seen
for social service in the west end OF
the city. The movement was really
begun by Mrs. w. B. Barker, who
went among the people in the west
end. and held cottage prayer meetings
in their homes. These developed into
Sunday school, and a building at
the corner of Seventh street and Sew
enth avenue was rented and used for
this purpose. The school soon out
grew its quarters, and a larger build
ing just across the street, which had
been used for saloon purposes, was
rented and converted into a Sunday
school and embryo settlement house.
Girls and mothers sewing circles
were organized and women of all
classes and conditions were urged to
| join. People of means became inter
ested in the work that Mrs. Barker
was carrying on and the result was
the present Settlement building. Mrs.
J. H. Hauberg. who was formerly
Miss Sue Denkmann, while holding
residence in that portion of the city,
was one of the women who took up
the cause of the people and associated
herself closely with its working. The
Settlement building was completed in
July, 1909, but previous to that time
the basement had been used as a
meeting place.
Heretofore there had been no place
west of Fourteenth street where re-
ligious services of any kind were held,
and the wonder is small that people
drifted into careless and Indifferent
ways Even then had not the distance
been too great the poorer people OF
that section could or would not attend
religious services in the down town
churches because of the fact that they
felt, perhaps wrongly so, that the
clothing which they could afford tc
buy were not good enough to wear tc
the city
Located at the corner of Fifth street
and Seventh avenue, the West Emo
Settlement is a most attractive gath
ering place for the people OF that sec
, ton of the city. The building is {
three story structure, built of stone
and brick, following somewhat thu
mission style of architecture. 1t i!
surrounded by an ample plot c
ground which is neatly fenced and il
/ perfect order. This is used for play
: ground and is supplied with swings
: sand boxes, slides, baseball diamonds
, etc, and during seasonable weathe
t is never deserted.
2 Membership in the Settlement is no
f limited to any one class of people, bu
t all nationalities, sorts and condition
t of people are urged to join and ar
h made welcome in its ranks. 1t is
Christian institution which bellies tn
. statement often advanced that settle
e ment work cannot be carried on unde
| the guise of Christianity. 1t is moi
/ sectarian, and any one, except negroe:
f who desires may become a member
There is no fee for membership exceI
e in special classes, and the only II
n Quirement contingent upon membel
a ship is attendance at either the SUI
t day school, Wednesday night praye
e meetings or Sunday night gospel SER
g ices, at least three times in succession
e During the summer months stree
y services are held in that portion {
g town. How successful thes Sunda
S school is may be judged from the faC
k that there is an enrolment of 80
d men, women and children with a
average attendance of 230. TIL
Il classes are taught by volunteer teacl
s. ers. AT present eight students frol
s Augustana college, in addition TO tn
h regular staff of workers, have classe
? each Sunday. w. B. Barker Is tt
1t superintendent.
II Social service at the Settlemel
does not mean that it is boarding {
D. lodging house, but rather school II
n instruction and uplift. The work
e divided into branches OF study an
II education and training First may
Ir mentioned the girls sewing class wit
an enrolment of 80 and an averat
q attendance of 80 girls between II
W ages of and IA years Miss Vol
It Strom is the regular teacher, but du
T. ing her absence on a vacation Il
h work is in charge of Miss Vera Sn
IL der. Volunteer workers, who incluC
Ie prominent women OF the city, asst
n in the instruction. This class NEE
a. every Saturday afternoon, and Il
~ membership fee is-one penny wee
~ All the supplies are furnished by q