HH3I F*3 Cornell University Library HN 31.F29 A plan of social work; the Federal counci 3 1924 014 043 388 A Plan qf Social Work The Federal Council qf the Churches qf Christ in America E. R. Hendrix, D.D., LL.D., President Rev. Charles S. Macfarland, Ph.D., Acting Executive Secretary Rev. E. B. Sanford, D.D., Corresponding Secretary PREPARED BY The Federal Council Commission on the Church and Social Service Charles S. Macfarland, Secretary National Offices, 1611 Clarendon Building, 215 Fourth Avenue, New York The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924014043388 A Plan of Social Work The Federal Council qf the Churches qf Christ in America The Federal Council is a federation of the churches, in unity of spirit, and with union of action upon matters of service in which all the churches are in common agreement. Its national office is the educative and administrative center, both guiding and expressing the common sentiment of the churches on na- tional and international issues, and also providing a common program for the State and local federations which are organized for community service. The various forms of social uplift which are before the church offer one of the most vital and permanent of reasons and opportunities for federation. On- the other hand, the opportunities for social service are of such a nature that they can be fulfilled, in large measure, only by the churches acting together. Social Service is thus in part the basis of the Federal Council, and the Federal Council offers the basis for Social Service. It becomes the duty of the Commission to carry out the recommendation unani- mously adopted by the Federal Council in Philadelphia, 1908, as contained in the Report of its Committee, published under the title, "The Church and Modern Industry," which should be read in order to see the meaning of this program, and of which the following are typical utterances : "The Churches of Christ in this Federal Council accept without reserve and assert without apology the supreme authority of Jesus Christ." "Christ's mission is not merely to reform society, but to save it He is more than the world's Readjuster. He is its Redeemer." "The Church becomes worthless for its higher purpose when it deals with conditions and forgets character, relieves misery and ignores sin, pleads for justice and undervalues forgiveness." "The Church stands forever for the two-world theory of life." "The Church's doors open upon the common levels of life. They should never be closed. Its windows open toward the skies. Let their light not be dark- ened." "The Church is not an end in itself." "The services of the Church become subordinate to the Church's service to men. "At no time have the disadvantages of the sectarian divisions of the Church been more apparent than when the call has come for a common policy or a united utterance concerning such problems as modern industry now presents." "This Federal Council may find some method for bringing the Protestant Christianity of America into relations of closer sympathy and more effective help- fulness with the toiling millions of our land." "The Church does not stand for the present social order, but only for so much of it as accords with the principles laid down by Jesus Christ." "The Federal Council places upon record its profound belief that the complex problems of modern industry can be interpreted and solved only by the teachings of the New Testament, and that Jesus Christ is final authority in the social as in the individual life." "The Church now confronts the most significant crisis and the greatest oppor- tunity of its long career." "We recognize the complex nature of industrial obligations, affecting employer and employee, society and government, rich and poor, and most earnestly counsel tolerance, patience and mutual confidence; we do not defend or excuse wrongdoing in high places or in low, nor purpose to adapt the ethical standards of the Gospel to the exigencies of commerce or the codes of a confused industrial system." "We deem it the duty of all Christian people to concern themselves directly with certain practical industrial problems. To us it seems that the churches must stand — "For equal rights and complete justice for all men in all stations of life. "For the right of all men to the opportunity for self-maintenance, a right evef to be wisely and strongly safeguarded against encroachments of every kind. "For the right of workers to some protection against the hardships often re- sulting from the swift crises of industrial change. "For the principle of conciliation and arbitration in industrial dissensions. "For the protection of the worker from dangerous machinery, occupational disease, injuries and mortality. "For the abolition of child labor. "For such regulation of the conditions of toil for women as shall safeguard the physical and moral health of the community. "For the suppression of the 'sweating system.' "For the gradual and reasonable reduction of the hours of labor to the lowest practicable point, and for that degree of leisure for all which is a condition of the highest human life. "For a release from employment one day in seven. "For a living wage as a minimum in every industry, and for the highest wage that each industry can afford. "For the most equitable division of the products of industry that can ultimately be devised. "For suitable provision for the old age of the workers and for those inca- pacitated by injury. "For the abatement of poverty." A National Office of the Commission, in association with the Federal Council, will be developed as a CENTER FOR INFORMATION, IN- SPIRATION AND GUIDANCE, in the social work of the churches. Through INTERDENOMINATIONAL ACTION, the Commis- sion will bring about CO-ORDINATION AND CO-OPERATION among the denominations composing the Federal Council, including, so far as may be possible, the adoption of A COMMON PROGRAM, the use of common literature and the presentation of the united, appeal of the Gospel in its application to social problems and opportunities. Through this interdenominational co-operation will come THE DE- VELOPMENT of this aspect of the work OF THE CHURCHES, the EDUCATION OF THE MINISTRY and the churches for it, and THE EQUIPMENT OF THE CHURCHES for carrying it forward. Representing the churches of the Federal Council, the Commission will co-operate with THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES, so far as invited and permitted, in the formulation of a policy with regard to in- struction and practical training in this important subject. The same co-operation will obtain with the various SCHOOLS FOR the preparation of SOCIAL WORKERS, that they, upon their side, may also come into a proper working relation with the Christian churches. THE INSTRUCTION in Social Science and Ethics IN OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, imparted to young men and women who should be leaders of the church life of the nation, will be the subject of investigation and mutual consideration, through confer- ences and inquiry. The relation of the churches to the multitude of AGENCIES FOR SOCIAL REFORM and betterment is an important problem before the Commission. Its influence, together with that of the denominations and churches which it represents, will be brought to co-operate, so far as possible, with such societies and movements, in relation, especially, to those measures which affect THE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL WEL- FARE OF THE PEOPLE. This will include such matters as Child and Woman Labor, Occupational Disease, Sunday Labor, Seven Days' Labor, the Reduction of Hours, the Betterment of Wages, Housing Conditions, and many other similar causes. The relations between LOCAL Charity ORGANIZATIONS, So- cial Settlements and similar local work will be taken up and considered from the viewpoint of the churches by conference and inquiry. Our HOME MISSION work involves many social problems and includes the WORK OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION. Indeed, the churches in Home Mission fields are often, if not generally, the initiators of the social and community institutions. This work will be studied, published, encouraged and developed. This Commission and the Home Mission Committee will work in co-operation to this end. In the FOREIGN MISSION field, this branch of Christian service has in some cases developed more fully than in our own land, especially in INDUSTRIAL, MEDICAL and EDUCATIONAL WORK, which has lifted foreign nations to a higher social level. This work will be made the subject of careful research and continued development, by a working relation between the Commission and the Committee on For- eign Missions. By the constant issuing of LITERATURE in Leaflets and Hand- books for serious study, and the use of the religious, daily and weekly press, the growing accumulation of material RELATING TO SOCIAL UPLIFT and social causes will be put into such shape as to BE USED BY THE CHURCHES for education and incitement to service. The Labor and Trade Journals will receive bulletins informing in- dustrial workers and managers of the deepening interest of the church in their common problems and duty. Lists of Speakers, Lecturers and Instructors will be prepared, and a Lantern Slide Bureau established and developed. The Bureau of Research will undertake INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS in relation to the whole social problem, especially as it re- lates itself to the duty of the Christian Church. Bibliographies will be issued. The Commission will co-operate, in its sphere, with the District Sec- retaries of the Federal Council and their associates in FEDERATING THE CHURCHES and will endeavor to provide its share of a program for State and community federations. Working partly by direct access, and partly through denomina- tional agencies and State and local federations, the work of LOCAL CHURCHES and communities will be developed, and successful en- deavors set before the churches in general for emulation and encourage- ment. The Commission will confer with LABOR REPRESENTATIVES and will send its delegates to their gatherings. Similarly it will confer with Groups of BUSINESS MEN and send delegates to their gatherings. It will confer in joint meetings of both of these elements in modern industry and issue its challenge to both of them to unite with the church in a common service. INVESTIGATIONS will be made IN various large and important INDUSTRIES, similar to the investigation of the steel industry by a special committee of the Commission in 1910. Similar investigations in local communities will be made through pastors and other local agents. A nation-wide CAMPAIGN will be carried on, endeavoring to cover all the States of the Union, FOR ONE-DAY-IN-SEVEN FOR IN- DUSTRIAL WORKERS. The Commission will continue to preserve and increase the observ- ance of LABOR SUNDAY in the pulpits and by the churches of the nation. Co-operation in the work of FORWARD MOVEMENTS IN PERPETUATION OF THEIR SOCIAL RESULTS will be carried out, in association with the District Secretaries of the Federal Council in their work of community federation for the same purpose. While all the departments of its program should relate equally, so far as applicable, not only to cities, but to suburban and rural communities, it is necessary to recognize that, in many ways, RURAL BETTERMENT has its own peculiar problems. The Commission will help to co-ordinate those churches and religious agencies which offer leadership in this work. It will endeavor to provide a clearing-house of bibliographic lists for the aid of rural helpers, instruction as to social surveys by local churches, programs for community service for country and rural churches, and a bureau of public service, relating to all rural studies, methods and prob- lems. In addition to these efforts, the Commission will stand ready to take up ANY SPECIAL TASK that may seem to fall to its lot. While at some points, its action will need to be direct and immediate, its chief purpose is to work through and for the denominational bodies and to place itself at the service of their agencies. Therefore, the Com- mission will endeavor, at every possible point, to bring about its ends through interdenominational co-operation in this work which is common for all the churches. Approved and adopted by the Commission, October, 191 1. FRANK MASON NORTH, Chairman. CHARLES S. MACFARLAND, Secretary. Now.— This Program was considered as a general plan for interdenominational work, and unanimously approved and adopted, at a conference made up of repre- sentatives from 17 denominations, at Chicago, November 8, 191 1. FRANK M. CROUCH, Recording Secretary. Approved by the Executive Committee of the Federal Council, December 13, 1912. RIVINGTON D. LORD, Recording Secretary. The following literature is, in part, an interpretation of this pro- gram and may be obtained on application : "THE CHURCH AND MODERN INDUSTRY;" "THE CHURCH'S APPEAL IN BEHALF OF LABOR;" "THE RE- PORT ON THE STEEL INDUSTRY;" "SUGGESTIONS FOR LABOR SUNDAY;" "REPORT ON THE INDUSTRIAL SITUA- TION AT MUSCATINE." THE FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN AMERICA President — E. R. Hendrix. Acting Executive Secretary — Charles S. Macfarland. Corresponding Secretary — E. B. Sanford. Treasurer — Alfred R. Kimball. The Commission on the Church and Social Service Frank Mason North, Chairman. Committee of Direction. Frank Mason North Ernest H. Abbott Edward T. Devine John M. Glenn Samuel Z. Batten Walter Rauschenbusch Josiah Strong Ernest H. Abbott Henry A. Atkinson Samuel Z. Batten George C. Chase Edward T. Devine Edwin L. Earp ' Levi Gilbert Washington Gladden John M. Glenn Howard B. Grose Peter S. Grosscup Thomas C Hall William I. Haven Hubert C Herring Charles S. Macfarland Henry A. Atkinson William I. Haven J. Howard Melish Willard L. Small Charles Stelzle Josiah Strong Literature Committee. Jacob Riis Graham Taylor Research Committee. J. Howard Melish Fred E. Tasker Charles L. Thompson Charles R. Towson Leighton Williams Harry F. Ward The Secretary John P. Peters Members of the Commission. Paul U. Kellogg William Lawrence John B. Lennon John McDowell A. J. McKelway Shailer Mathews J. Howard Melish William H. Morgan Frank Mason North John P. Peters Arthur B. Pugh John H. Prugh Walter Rauschenbusch Jacob Riis Secretarial Cabinet. Samuel Z. Batten Frank M. Crouch Charles Stelzle Willard L. Small Edward A. Steiner Charles Stelzle Josiah Strong Fred E. Tasker Graham Taylor Charles L. Thompson Charles R. Towson Alexander Walters Harry F. Ward Herbert Welch Herbert L. Willett John Williams Leighton Williams Harry F. Ward Warren H. Wilson G. Frederick Wells, Clerk. Caroline W. Chase, Assistant to the Secretary. CHARLES S. MACFARLAND, Secretary. 1611 Clarendon Building, 215 Fourth Avenue, New York. PAMPHLET BINDER Manufactured by GAYLORD BROS,lnc. Syracuse, N. Y. Stockion, Calif.