The Detroit times., 1916-09-09
Ford Hall Idea Is Now
a National Move
ment
GOSPEL GETS
A FREE REIN
Numerous Large Cities
Are Identified
With Work
sy THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER

A few years ago the Ford nan
meetings OF Boston were unique in
the religious life OF the country
now. the Ford hall idea, OF an abso-
futely open forum for the discussion
! Of religious and social problems, has
become a national movement with
\ eimilar oenters in more than 81
places ranging from Canada to Cal
ifornia and from Boston TO san
Diego.
The growth OF the forum idea has
been 80 rapid that this winter will
zee the opening of number OF I'm
portant new centers. including two
"a the Y. NJ C. A. OF Philadelphia,
the central branch holding weekly
Sunday afternoon meetings in a
4 1cwntown theater.
The adaptability OF the open
forum idea Is as remarkable as its
rapid spread. While George W Cole
man. the founder and director OF
the Sunday evening meetings in Ford
hall got his inspiration from the
peoples institute OF the Cooper
union. New York. he put IL into op-
GRAFTON through the Baptist Social
union and by the use OF bequest
from Daniel Sharp Ford. OF the
Youths Companion. Soon the same
plan was taken over by Jewish
forum In Boston and now that same
city has a distinctively Roman Cath
Ollie forum called the Common
cause" which Is avowedly aimed 70
{ oombat Socialism. Many individual
churches have transformed their
Sunday evening service into open
Z forums for the discussion OF live top.
Dcs with questions by the congrega-
tion. Such meetings are found IN
Rochester. Chicago. Buffalo. Balti-
more. Washington. Toledo. Kansas
City. Ottawa, Winnipeg. Toronto.
Montreal. Concord. Mass; Gloucester.
Nass.: Newton. Mass, San Diego,
Cal. and many other places. One
Of the best Of the open forms IL in
the Calvary Presbyterian church.
Buffalo, directed by Rev. DR. John w
Hoss, This church was host TO the
recent conference OF open forums. al
which many parts OF the country
we're represented. In Montclair the
Unitarian church has an open forum
In Toledo II Is Baptist, and Balti
more. Episcopalian. In Kansas City
Il II Congregational.
Two italian forums are conducted
IN Boston and one Russian forum
IN New York In Syracuse the Com
mon Veal club, women's organiza
tion. Is behind the forum and In
New York labor unions maintain q
forum on Sunday.
Leaders In the Buffalo conference
conceded that 'the forum is a meth
%, not an institution: an agency
whereby classes may be reconciled
conditions ninimized and the com
mon denominator OF all ethical i'm
pulse determined and applied 10 so
cial formulate"
Mr.. Coleman has often said that
the Melrose community forum is the
most representative OF the ideal
even more so than Ford hall. These
Melrosc community meetings an
inounce the platform whatever ideas
may be brought 20 US. from what.
ever source. we will hear them; II
they are false we will explode them:
n partly true we will sift them; II
wholly true we viii accept them,
but always Professionally, always
pressing onward and seeking some
thing better"
Mr.. Coleman himself says, THE
3 open forum stands for the evange
lism or democracy II is the kind
81 evangelism which the world now
needs.-
In Ford Hall Folks" q magazine
iseued by the Ford hall forum, Il n
suggested that the ideal forum Il
+ one founded upon basis group q
representative citizens OF all sort
and classes, having a neutral meet
7 ing place which will not stir "a
anv prejudice or arouse any dis
< t1ust; place where nothing ofen
u1vc 60 race, class or creed will h.
\ Moved; an institution which vii
~ self-supporting, financed by tn
( V9lnntary contributions OF the mem
oers OF the community; an inst
tution serving it's whole communit,
not any particular class in that CON
nnnity."
m practical operation. ~ has bee
the churches who have taken owe
the open forum idea. sometimes al
Ter the fashion outlined above. an
eomctfmes radically adapting II. No
: NV pastors have hailed Il as tn
ocav<1op Of the problem Of empt.
Donchee on Sunday evening In SOM
hloc>s. a IN Newton and Gloucester
- ,opsi church federation has go