The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1913-02-15
new MOVEMENT
IN RICHMOND
Ministers Union Forms Big So
cIaI Service Organization.
PLAN COVERS WIDE FIELD.

Of the Various Agencies For Uplift
Among the Masses In tho Community
Awakens Great Anxiety Among
Leaders.
Richmond, Va.-The missionary and
social service movement was launched
by the Interdenominational Ministers
union Of this city recently at the city
auditorium.
The articles of the union, as read,
were approved by Governor william
Hodges Mann, Right Rev. Robert A.
Gibson, d. d., bishop Of Virginia; Edi-
many other prominent citizens.
The Interdenominationa Ministers
union plans to launch missionary and
social service movement In which 1t
hopes to cooperate and affiliate more
effectively with other agencies engaged
In the work Of moral, social and re-
ligious uplift and in the amelioration
Of many unfortunate conditions Of our
people In this great city. While 1t Is
evident that much good Is being accom-
plished through various movements op-
Grating for the betterment Of our city,
It Is also apparent that unifcation Of
work and aim is lacking.
The missionary and social service
movement plans to create desire for
united effort in the struggle against
evils 80 rife In our midst; to awaken a
deeper love for Christian knowledge
and practice; to encourage industrial
and intellectual training; to develop
the spirit of business and domestic ef-
ficiency; to collect accurate data and
issue publications pertaining to moral
and health conditions.
The promoters of the movement have
issued the following statement:
I'VE observe with regret the rapidity
with which our people are losing their
places in domestic service and recon-
mend hasty advice and instruction to
them in the dignity Of labor, both skill
ed and unskilled.
We advocate the establishment and
maintenance Of q labor bureau to CO.
operate with employment agencies in
placing suitable help and furnishing
temporary shelter to worthy persons
seeking employment. Our hospitals,
orphan asylums and homes for the
aged and decrepit are meeting a great
and laudable demand, but there is still
a great need for day nurseries, kinder
gartens and Fairgrounds, where the
children may be cared for and helped
In an atmosphere which Is purer and
more healthy than that which the
street affords.
We believe In the public library and
reading room as means to lessen va
grancy, to attract the young from
harmful amusements and to stimulate
an aspiration for the higher things Of
life. We deplore the insanitary and
congested conditions of our tenement
districts where immortality Of all kinds
runs rampant, and we advise the forma-
ton of neighborhood unions in various
colored districts, the purpose Of which
would be t. create sentiment against
insanitary conditions.
As ministers of the gospel engaged
in the practical missionery and social
work of the city we hear the first cry
Of the distressed. Calls for material
and spiritual help are continually COM
ing. Shall we close our ears to the call
and our hearts to the need? We ap-
peal to the rich to help the poor; we
appeal to the fortunate to help the un-
fortunate; we appeal to the strong to
help the weak.
And with consolidation Of all forces
committed to constructive missionary
and social work we believe a new
epoch will begin in the effective con-
sideration and solution Of our city
problems. AS soon as permanent or
ganization shall have been perfected
direct appeals will be made to philan-
thropic citizens to aid in fostering this
worthy cause.
J. w. Eaters, pastor Of Leigh Street
N. q. church; w. T. Johnson, pastor of
First Baptist church; Moses Lake, pas
tor Of Asbury NJ. r. church; J. ID. Har-
per, pastor Of First Presbyterian
church; o. G. Jenkins, pastor Of A. M.
ID. Zion church: G. L. Somers, presi-
dent, rector Of st. Philips p. e. church,
and 8. 8. Morris, secretary, pastor Of
Third Street A. NJ. e. church, are the
leaders Of this new movement for the
uplift Of the race in Richmond.
The Neighborhood club co-operates
with the associated charities and the
health department Of the city. 1t has
branches in each church. 1t meets q
long standing need In relief work
among the poor and destitute and Is