The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-20
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

put in a great deal of time at the
sessions of the Southern Sociological
congress, which closed it's sessions here
on wednesday night after successful
three days meeting.
| Now, l confess that the programme
seemed to me to be overloaded and for
bidding in its scope, and it was with fear
and dread that l took up what l sup
nosed would be the task of following it
closely enough to try and take enough
of it into my system without being
clogged with the rich diet of the ex-
perts.
/ 1 really think that some were bit
disappointed that it was so free from
freaks, for to many the word sociology
cap' suggests all sorts of creepy and I'M
orthodox sayings and doings, but taken
| as whole it was sane and wholesome
crowd of earnest men and women who
were striving to solve some of the diff
cult problems OF the day.
| 1t was a fearless body, and yet at no
| time did see any evidence on the Part
| of the leading members to kill the Phil
istines with unnecessary cruelty. There
| was a spirit of friendiiness that made it
possible for the delegates to thresh out
some subjects which are always provoca-
| tive of very sharp differences. ! saw no
attempt of any little clique to have its
own way, but on the other hand there
| was daily evidence that the main desire
of the congress was to have frank and
free discussion of all mooted topics be-
| fore it.
The tone of the congress was pitched
| on high plane at the first meeting on
Sunday afternoon when DR.. Charles S.
Mcfarland secretary Federal Council
| of Churches of Christ in America, deliv-
cred keynote address on 1.-THE Moral
Causes and Aims Of the War" 1t was
no mere conventional talk. but was
really a great pronouncement on a very
| live and vital topic. 1t was the OUT
spoken opinion of a man who had been
abroad and in touch with international
leaders of thought in the warning coun-
tries.
| I have already made mention of the
| by DR.. Stockton Arson, the presidents
brother-in-law, but with no need to lean
on even so great man for support, as
his work in literature as professor in
Princeton and at Rice university haze
placed him in the very forefront of
also wrote an appreciation OF the one de-
liyered by Hon. Albert johnson. NJ c.,
/, the congressman fresh from the trenches.
who told such gripping stories of the
men who are doing the real fighting.
| The Monday morning session was de-
voted to health, and the speakers We're
authorities in their lines. Dr. C. w.
Stiles, United States public health serv-
ice. read strong paper featuring the
evils of the ''black plague" and showing
what was being done to combat it. He
was followed by Maj. Bascom Johnson,
commission on training camp activities. q
livery important branch of army work.
The session was brought to close by
DR.. Max j. Exner, secretary. internal
4 tional ". m, C. A. committee the man
who did such splendid work on the Mex
lean border for the American army. The
addresses were all noteworthy
| The Monday afternoon session, which |
attended was given over to race rela-
tons. To me it was some of the most in
teresting conferences of it's, kind that |
have ever attended. 1t was one of the
things was, afraid might develop fric-
| ton, but in spite of the fact that the
white and the colored men present spoke
their minds freely, at no time was there
4 the least show Of impatience or anger at
the others viewpoint. But always there
was a spirit Of sympathy which went
a long ways toward sitting out soma
gritty questions without setting the races
against each other
| Now. l only got to hear portions OF
many of the addresses. but on Tuesday
afternoon heard William jennings BRYAN
deliver what DIR. George Stuart Pro-
nounces one of the best addresses
/ that he had ever heard the great COM
moner make. He was in good voice and
fine spirits. and really was at his best.
The man is born preacher, and the
ministry lost pulpit star when he took
Iup another profession. His close about
the lifting power of the Savior was as
effective a bit of pulpit work as l ever
saw. He may not have intended it, but
i he was preaching a wonderful sermon.
His subject was Temperance the FRS,
Line of National Defense
| l heard a part of the paper read by
Mr.. Frank Morrison, general secretary
American Federation of Labor. 1t was
a strong presentation, showing labor $
pa triosism in the War He has a fina
face and struck me as man of power
and sincerity. DR.. Frederick Lynch,
secretary Church Peace League Of Amer
lea, delivered a most interesting and in
forming address about the efforts to
i bring about letter international rala-
tions before and after the war Miss
Jane Adams is always worth hearing.
She is one of the notable women Of the
world There were many talks of grea,
Interest which / had to miss or get In
scraps. and SO ! will not try and make
mention Of them or the interesting men
and women who made them.