The Tupelo journal., 1918-07-12
BISHOP BRATTON EXPLAINS
SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF
SOCIOLOGICAL CONGRESS.


In response to this call Bishop Theo-
dore D.. Bratton, President of the
Southern Sociological Congress has
set forth in the following clear ac-
count much valuable information con
corning this great movement.
The Southern Sociological Congress
The Southern Sociological Congress
was organized in Nashville in 1912,
and has held it's annual meetings each
year since. It's object was and is to
provide a forum for the open and Sc
rious discussion of the social problems
which confront the South; problems
of health, tuberculosis, and syphilis,
etc. of justice in the administration
of law; of racial relations, with spe-
ciabreference to the negro race whose
presence in large numbers in the
! South constitutes u chief. racial
problem; of poverty and i~lliteracy, the
first an inconsistency in the brother
hood Of democracy, and the latter a
menace to its safety.
1t is a well known fact of psychol-
ogy that the operation of law, whether
of State or of society, depends quite
as much upon the public sentiment
behind the law as-upon the enactment
of right law. 1t is the aim of the
Congress to contribute to public sem
timent by educating the social con-
science of our citizenship. To ac-
complish this, the most profound stu
dents of each of our social problems
have been Communicated, and have
willingly and gladly answered the call
to serve as speakers and teachers.
The various bureaus of our Govern
ment, the State Associations and
Commissions on labor and health and
the like the Foundations National
and internationally have all adopted
the work of the Sociological Con-
.gress, and furnish speakers for u
meetings. In addition we have always
been able to secure the best local
speakers upon topics which are local
in nature and in application. Thus
those who attend the Congress enjoy
the advantage of the most accurately
scientific treatment of the great prob
lens which profoundly effect our life
and our civilization.
At the present time the great war,
which has enlisted the whole life and
all the of our beloved
America, has brought new kindred
problems, and has tremendously m
phasized the Importance of the old
of the solidarity of life in III Repub-
lie requires a new and vastly larger
Interpretation of Democracy, which is
not a form of Government, but the
spirit of the Government of free and
self determining peoples. This lar
ger Interpretation must become the
inspiring force in the public opinion
of today and of the era of Reconstruc-
ton which must succeed the war.
Consequently the directors of the
| Congress are seeking to study the
spirit of the Administration upon
whose shoulders the gigantic task of
America rests, that this spirit may be
interpreted to every community. This
is the meaning of the title "Win the
War Congress" and this the explana-
ton OF the program for u Gulfport
meeting, whose chief subjects have to
do with the National Campaign of
Education for the great task whose
completion is to make safe the world
for democracy and democracy for the
world.
The newspapers Of the country are
the chief means of education of the
peoplr. to whom information and in
struction thus finds quick commune
cation. Behind the press must stand
the forums of accurate and scientific
Interpretation of the life of society.
In cur Southland there is no other
forum save the Sociological Congress
which gathers into one all the prob
lens which confront US and provides
profound studies of them all, so that
each problem of disease for example
has risen to the forefront and it's APP
rlication to army and other national
service has emphasized im~measurably
its far reaching, vital relation to
world issues. Upon the successful
handling of the health problem to-
day may depend the future of the
world.
The Congress has also it's prophetic
task. 1t must look forward to the
era of peace and the great and peril
Gus task of Reconstruction. After
L 1 -. - II. -. 49,