New-York tribune., 1919-04-08
Episcopal Prelate Says Amer.
lean Ideals, if Known,
Will Serve to Combat ALI
Socialists and Bolsheviki
Favors Christian Unity
Close Study of All Causes of
Social Discomfort Urged
as the Proper Preventive

The Right Rev. David H. Greer,
bishop Of the Protestant Episcopal Dio-
ccsc of New York. in an interview with
The Tribune yesterday stated that the
wlsc means Of coping with whatcver
tendencies toward eocialism and Bol-.
"hcVlfIn may have grown out Of the
world war "a odfaehioncd tolerant,
liberal, patriotic Amcricnnism
'Nnlcas our form Of government ia
failure, success lies along those
1nea,' snid Bishop Greer.
Especially is the bishop opposed to
the use Of force to check or regulate
revolutionary propaganda. At n time
"hen the peace congress is groping for
an enlightened policy for dealing with
boIshevlk Russia, with a resort to force
among the suggestions seriously con-
sldered, Bishop Greer utters an earnest
warning.
"Force begs the ISSUE" he declares.
and settles nothing"
Urges Careful Study
AS substitute for force he urges a
study of the sources and causes of dis
content, and through that study the
application of remedies for eradica-
tior.
Like Archbishop Hayes, who dis
cussed the causes of social unrest in
The Sunday Tribune, Bishop Greer
speaks from the background of hun
dreds of thousands of churchgoers.
Like Archbishop Hayes, also, deep down
at the roots of the problem, he believes,
is the necessity for return to the
practise of the old-fashioned Chris
tianity, upon which the prcsent-day civ
ll1zation rests.
"Onc self-evident fact said the
bishop, lis that, as the outcome of the
war, there must be a larger and closer
Christian fellowship, or, as | might
express it, church fellowship
Bishop Greer was asked his views on
the outlook. He replied:
1t would not be wise to attempt to
PREDICT what the world win be like as
result of all the ferment through
which 1t is now passing. The future
IS too vague for that. Forces with
which. hitherto. we have not had to
grapple have been liberated and we
shall nave to pursue a policy of watch
fu waiting until the confusion attend
ant upon the ending of the war has
sofewhat abated, and we are able to
obServc definite trends. Not even then
Wlll the call be for prediction. Not the
luturc, but the present, with its many
problems, will demand attention."
Regulation Is Needed
(Which of the problems of the pres
ent STANG out as demanding immediate
attcntion?" was asked
. AS result Of the war" said BISHOP
Greer, there has been q wide change
IN conditions under which we had
previously lived changes of a social
as we'll as of an economic character.
Labor has emerged in a new attitude
with claims which merit the thought
full consideration of capital and the
state. Elements which we had been
able to direct and regulate have freed
themselves from control, with whatever
problems of evil they present
II refer, of cousc, to socialism and
the advanced form it has taken under
Russia.
How the changed and changing condi-
tions can be SO regulated and directed
as to minister to the welfare of man
kind is the problem we face, and it is
IN the solution Of this problem that the
safety Of the future lies
81 feel that in dealing with this, as
with every other problem of govern
mcnt, it is desirable to get down to
sources and causes. Symptoms may
point to the nature Of a disease. But
a disease cannot he treated from
symptoms alone.
"Thc cause of the disease must be
located. Having asccrtaincd the cause
from which disease of the body or
the body polltlc springs, one is then in
q position to take up the study OF meth
DDS for cradicatng it. ! think, there
fore, that the pressing duty is first to
study the causes of the discomfort and
unrest among the masses Of the people
the world over
Agitators Arc Opposed
Bishop Greer paused and brief ref
crencc was made to the peace congress
and tho problem which confronts it of
dealing with the soviet government in
Russia.
"For one thing" he resumed, 81 do
not believe that we shal accomplish
anything in Attempting to remedy
these present conditions by the use of
force. In isolated cases, perhaps
whore, through the evil counscls of
agitators, unrest results in outbreaks
the safety of the people may demand
such force as is necessary to preserve
law and order. But the application Of
force as general policy for dealing
with such conditions as VIC face begs
the issue and settles nothing
''Ih1 NOT tho American ,oV Of