Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-07

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Our social program must express itself
in terms Of the spiritall social bet
terment must proceed from spiritual
life. The life is more than meat. the
body more than rainent, and no man
ever lived by bread alone"
If social service in the church means
giving only the fiesh-pots to the peo-
pie. says The ChurchmMn (Prot. Epis.,
New York;, 1t will but help to nourish
discomfort. and men OF the ministry
and members of congregations are
warned against playing at 1t at dis
lance or making 1t "a substitute for
religion The Churcnman adds that
social service in the spirit of Christ
and with his methods will leaven the
masses" but, divorced from religion,
which Is the great power for self
control in the Individual it makes for
the might Of the great giant of social
ism" While The Churcnman recog-
nizes the need Of helping the poor and
opprest. yet IT cautions against spoil
ing or pauperizing them in settlement
and in church. Moreover, there is
danger for the benefactors:
AT a recent meeting of religious
press club one of the leaders in the
field OF journalism pointed this out.
He commended the work of students In
the American universities along social
service lines. hut he deplored the fact
that with their growing Industry went
a decreased attendance 1T the church's
worship and especially at the service
OF Holy Communion. This was the
criticism OF man of the world and
Il competent observer. Social-service
commissions exist in many dioceses
and have made their way in face of
apathy and prejudice. They can not
hc commended too strongly. and the
church at large must stand behind
them, but the balance must be kept.
The need of it is seen in any working
parish. There are mer and women
most active in good works who seldom
come to the services and are impa-
tient when they do. They find solace
in many tasks, hut shtrk the harder
and the more reedful task, the patient
waiting upon God in worship, prayer,
meditation. and study. Some day they
find that even church work does not
satisfy them. and that they lack the
essential religious content There is
no oil in their lamps. and they have
lost instead of gained in character"
vice practically is religion Is the stand
taken by an ardent supporter in The
BAPTIST Commonwealth (Philadeiphia),
who tells US that .'in his teaching the
Master threw the whole weight Of
eternity into the emphasis upon the
duty of helpful service" and recalls
that
The rich man Of the parable goes to
the place of torment because he al
lowed Il begsar to suffer and remain in
poverty at his gate In the great par
able of the judgment the fitness or
,unfitness Of men for eternal life is
shown IN the way they fulfill or neglect
the simple humanities OF life. feeding
the hungry. giving drink to the thirsty.
visiting the prisoner. helping the sick.
To say that all this teaching is to be
taken in spiritual sense is an utter
nlisinterpretation of the gospel rec
ord
Another believer in the unouestioned
virtue of social service Is The Chris
tan Evangelist NUndenominational. st.
Louisa which calls ii Just simple
Christianity coming into its own and
adds that at is to the church today
what the missionary movement was
in the last great religious awaken
ing