The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-04

Almost every creed and condition of life was represented last night at the opening session of the Alabama Socio- logical congress Tn the audience that filled the spacious Temple Emmanu- Fl to its capacity. The programme was
 carried out as advertised, the speakers of the occasion being the Rev. M. S.
 Barnwell, rector of the Church of the Advent and the Rev. George Lang of
 the Synodical college at Anniston. Fol lowing the prelude on the organ, pr.
 Henry M. Edmonds gave the invocation appropriate to the occasion.
 Dr. Morris Newfield, president of the Birmingham association of social
 workers made the address of welcome
 to the members of the congress Bid ding them a hearty welcome in the
 name of the city and of his congre- gation, Dr. Newfield stated that what
 ever differences they might have in regard to doctrine they were of one
 accord in the work for the upIift of
 humanity and voiced the hope that the
 labors of the congress would rebound to the benefit of the city and state
 and to the glory of God
 Dr. George Eaves stated some of the purposes of the congress which was briefly to give square deal and a square meal to every one; to lift the burden from the needy, to work for the community rather than self, to discuss the practical methods in which social conditions and surroundings could be improved and to suggest such legisla- tion. as would bring practical results. He announced that through the efforts of Dr. Newfield, an additional speaker had been added to the programme for today, in the person of J. B. Reynolds of New York, secretary of the Social Hygiene association of that city. MT. Reynolds was assistant district attor- ney under Whitman and worked for over 12 months on the Rockefeller vice commission and assisted In bringing to light the social evils that prevail in the nations metropolis. The statement was made that he will speak on the
 above subject at II o'clock this morn ing.
 MT. Barnwell Speaks
 l MT. Barnwell had for his subject The Church in Social Service" He stated
 that the Jewish church is committed I to social service by countless laws contained in the book of Leviticus and that the Christian church Is committed 1 to social service by the Master who l healed the sick, and cleansed the leper and raised the dead. Any church
 that is worthy of the name, he said 1 is committed to ssocial service by the
 law of brotherly love which is the 1 foundation of the churchs being. He l pointed out the failure of the early
 church along the lines of social ser vice, because her methods were un-
 scientific. yet he av4rred that the
 church had never unlearned Her Founders Truth that the way to man 1 soul lies through his body and that she had always preached the principles 1 of human brotherhood, but that in her l treatment of poverty and pain she was still unscientific. To meet the problems of poverty and social evils, he said the church must rise triumphan, to fuller life than she has ever known
 l He referred to the opportunities that presented themselves in the cities and declared that the church, through her ministers can take her part offi- the welfare of the community. From
 her pulpits she can insist on living wages because she has learned that
 souls are not apt to abide In perpetual purity while bodies are starved. He spoke of the great need of social ser vice in the rural districts and said the church in the country had as great if not greater opportunities than the church of the cities. It does no good he said for the church to have a mes ' sage for the world If the world will and deed as we'll as in word.
 hear 1t until it is proclaimed in life and deed as well as in word.
 The Rev. George Lang spoke on Re-