The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-11-17
BISHOP LINES TELLS OF HIS
CHURCH'S PLANS FOR SOCIAL
SERVICE IN UNITED STATES

spirit Of the gospel in men and Wo-
men who bear the Christian name.
THE warning against binding the
interests of the church to people
privileged, whether by possession Of
means, education, or social position,
or advantages of any kind, was heart
lily applauded. The following resolu-
ton, from a company of devout wo-
men interested in social service, was
passed unanimo usly by both houses Of
the convention:
Resolved, That the service of the
community and the welfare of the
workers not primarily private profit,
should be the aim Of every industry
and it's justification, and that the
church should seek TO keep this aim
constantly before the mind of the
public; and that Christians as indi-
viduals are under the solemn obliga-
ton on the one hand conscientiously
to scrutinize the sources Of their in
come, and on the other hand to give
moral support and prayer to every
just effort to secure fair conditions
and regular employment for wage
earners and the extension of true
democracy to industrial matters.
1.-THE joint commission was direct
ed to carry out many plans for learn
ing the facts about social conditions
in the country. stirring up the church
to make them better. =
I'm tent beside the place of meet
ing of the convention, in cooperation
between the joint commission and the
local social service commission, ad-
dresses were made every day by rep
lresentative men of church on a great
many phases of the social question to
large companies of men and women,
with opportunity given for questions
and the free expression by any one
who was present of their opinions.
| And very free and frank the brief
speeches from men and women were!
| When the weather was unfavorable
| the meeting was held in the kindly
offered synagogue across the avenue,
wherein also there were evening
meetings held under the auspices of
1.-THE Christian socialists, addressed by
bishops and other clergy. If anything
was lacking to the opportunity given
and its use to advance the interest of
social service in the church at the
convention it would be hard to name
! it. That the whole subject has been
given new place in the regard OF
| the church is certain. It is also in
teresting to note that the public press,
which gave more attention to this
fgeneral convention than to any one
ever held before, made special note
of everything bearing upon social
questions, indicating how large a
place it has in the minds of all people.
Despite some unwise utterances and
methods open to criticism, the move
ment is plainly forward in the Epis-
copal church and making for true
| democracy, bringing the chufch into
closer sympathy with great com
pahy of right-minded men and wo-
men, and with those who are doing
| the worlds hard work under depress-
| ing conditions.
| There will be no curtailment of
the missionary work, whether abroad
| or at home, but there is reason to be-
| lieve that through the training, of a
new generation a great company of
men and women in the church will
| be interested in the endeavor to make
1.-The social and industrial order of the
countrys life more Christian. Much
| is being done and much more will be
done to make provincial, diocesan
and parochial committees interested
in community welfares in learning
what is needed for the .betterment OF
conditions, and to get the breath OF
human life and sympathy and good
Will Into the teaching and conduct
or = churches.
There is a systematic endeavor
through organized companies of, men
and women, meeting frequently, tc
bring about prison reform, more in
tell1gent treatment of prisoners in
the Ja1ls, more merciful treatment OF
] the inmates Of almshouscs and asy-
| lums, the correction of the evils OF
child labor, the end of long hours
for women and children, thought fol-
the bearing of legislation upon social
questions, the proper restriction and
| regulation of the American saloon
the widening of the influence Of the
| churches in their communities.
| THE question is constantly asked
| What practical and definite work
can be done?' and the joint commits
sion and other commissions are trying
to answer this question, giving sane