The Detroit times., 1916-02-12


clude economic justice. d. II mus
be apparent from all this that tn
official boards OF the church can
not. at present at any rate. tak'
the place OF leadership in social ser
yiaA"
This fong statement also laiC
stress on the importance of the Ut
ter democracy OF the new movemen
with clergy and laity on absolute
equality.
The Suggested Program for Dis
cussion," which was In the hand:
Of she participants of the first con
ference. contained rs questions, o.
which the following are samples.
DO present-day ecclesiastical OF
ganizstions reflect the social con
victions OF the membership OF the
church
Can the Official boards of the
church take the place Of leadership
In social service
ITO what extent las the social
service program ADOPTED by the Fed
eraI Council OF Churches seven
years ago been made practically ef
fective?
What are the present-day ten
denotes in denominational groups
with reference TO social ry!ce'
What social results do reyivals
OF the Billy Sunday type pro'uce7
Should the church engage In
great crusades' for social and eco
nomic justice?
"Have we a right TO expect that
the church be officially consulted
with reference TO social cervice leg.
islation which is fundamentally
moral or ethical in Character, upon
the assumption that the church is
the authority upon ethical and NOR
al questions?
ITO what extent may the church
become sponsor for work which has
TO do with the economic and social
welfare OF the people?
ITO what extent may the church
become active in advocating social
measures which require definite leg
islation by the state?"
While the report OF the committee
Of FIVE was not adopted at the sec.
ond conference, but goes over 70
the one yet to be held. is proposals
were thoroughly discussed. The
most radical of these was the crea
tion of an entire new national body
which. naturally. would either be q
rival to, or supersede the Federal
Council of Churches. The commit
tee recommended:
"The organization of a national
committee on church AMI socia
problems. This committee was e
consist OF approximately two hun
dred persons selected from the vari
Gus geographical sections OF th'
country. and was to establish al
once, and maintain an executive
force, its function being to provide
"a service of social intelligence FOL
the inquiring public. organize q
corps of social engineers and advo
Gates. call and conduct an snnua
nationa. conference. establish pc
organ OF discussion devoted
to recon3truction and progress
among the American churches which
was to be independent financed
and become responsible for the or
yanization OF an experimental team
bor social education and evangel
SIN, to undertake a campaign in the
titles o. the United States"
While no formal delverances
we're adopted by the two confer
,nces, thers was substantial agree
nent upon the following points:
"That the average ecclesiastical
organization does not reflect the
social consciousness OF the mem
Dership OF the church, either be-
cause Of natural conservatism, the
feeling that the church has nothing
TO do with the solution OF social
problems, OF because II was feared
that certain financial resources
would be cut of.
THAT there is need for an indie
pendent group composed OF Chris
tian men TO take the lead in dis
cussing pressing social and relIgi.
Gus questions, and. when necessary
and feasible, 10 initiate movements
which shall not only truly represent
the progressive wing within the
church, but which iii hold such
persons within the ranks OF the
church, rather than have them be-
come Identified with outside move
ments TO the exclusion OF the
THAT there are many sincere
Christian men and women outside
Of the church today. not only among
working people, but among employ
ers OF labor and social workers who
might be won for the church, wer
the church to offer them a broader
basis OF thinking and a larger pro-
gram OF work.
THAT while the Federal Council
Of Churches began it's work in the
social field with a strong set OF res
olutions, and with excellent pur.
poses. the force OF its program was
soon diminished largely because the
secretary of its social service com