El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-06-17


JESUS and his disciples were passing
through field Of ripening grain and
being hungry they p1ucked the grain
and ate Of It. It happened to be on
the Sabbath and the Jewish leaders.
learning Of the incident. were deepIv
incensed. Answering their criticism,
Jesus said: The Sabbath was made
for man and not man for the sabbath. -
He this stated a principle Of such COM
handing Importance and far reaching
significance that the world has only
begun to grasp it People have al
ways been interested in things in
institutions, but only recently have
they begun to be seriously interested
in each other outside the range OF GER
tain group relations. A new conviction
has laid hold upon US as to the in
trinsic value Of man and we are be-
ginning to realize that the end of all
our activities is mans freedom and de-
velopment- Moreover We have become
profoundly conscious Of the fact that
no man Hveth to himself. He lives in
relation to others and has vital connec-
tons.
New Spirit.
new spirit is at work in the world. ana
revolutionary results seem sure to fol-
low The new social movement began
to take form and receive expression
during the last quarter of the 18th
century The new science OF sociology
came into prominence. social settle
ments and institutional churches be-
came increasingly numerous. The Y.
NJ. c A. and the Y. ". C. A. with their
reigio-sOcial programs. were estab-
lished in many important centers. and
missionary effort both at home and
abroad began to emphasize educa tfohaI
medical and social ministries. In the
very nature Of the case a BODY Of liter
vidual and social life began TO issue
from the presses. and there was a
general ava kening Of interest every
where. It seems that humanity is
about to come to its own. and that in
situations. however sacred they may
have seemed to be. are destined 70 lose
their place of prominence as ends and
to become the ministering servants Of
people.
Effects Upon Church.
tt would be interesting to trace the
effects of this movement upon the
church and upon social and political
life in this country and in every other,
but only the briefest mention of some
phases Of IL can be made It has had a
very marked effect upon the Thought
and life Of the church. many OF whose
leaders have long been alert TO the i'm
plications OF the new gospel.
As early as 1887 the Protestant B
Episcopal church formed an "Associa- !
ton for the Advancement OF the Inter ]
ests OF Labor" The Brotherhood OF (
the Kingdom whose early members I
were Baptistss was formed in 1893. The I
Presbyterian church won a prominence :
when it established its department Of Z
church and labor in 1908. The Metho- Z
dist Episcopal church. after being mem !
n -nN vfah IN T---
since 1882. honored itself when. in 1908. /
the committee on the state OF the
church presented a brave and outspo- &
ken report eliminating in q kind Of (
bill Of rights for labor. and ending in
n splendid summons to all the militant
forces OF this great church to do their
part IN the pressing duty OF the hour
Other bodies. like the Congregational
lists. Disciples OF Christ. Unitarians and
Universalists. because OF their form OF
organization. having no central bodies
through which TO speak have been
slower to issue statements defining Z
their positions. but their leaders have
not been Indifferent to the new awak-
sning.
Federal Council.
The federal council Of the Churches
0f Christ in America was organized in
Philadelphia in 1908 In its initial I
meeting, no session created so pro-
found an interest as that devoted 10 /
Social Service" and a announcement
was adopted with striking unanimity
and enthusiasm which reiterated with
slight changes for all the churches rep
resented. the Bill Of Rights previ-
1usly adopted By the Methodist con-
'erencc.
Since that time the subject Of social
service has received attention IN nearly
al the great UNCONVENTIONAL gather
ngs. Commissions have been created
~ many Of the leading religious de
lOmina tional bodies in this country and I
n England, and in many instances pro
yrams OF activity have been adopted Z
hat evidence the working Of the new |
'pirit- Congresses and conferences are
'eing held in strategic centers 10 study I
he problems Of city and country life
md ministers as well as men I'm other ,
Professions and in business are being