UNIFIED THINKING 
 
 IN 
 
 HOME MISSIONS 
 
 By 
 
 M. Katharine Bennett 
 
 Home Missions Council 
 and 
 
 Council of Women for Home Missions 
 156 Fifth Avenue 
 New York 
 
'1(f)/ 
 
 A / 
 
Unified Thinking in Home Missions 
 
 M. Katharine Bennett 
 
 All endeavor should" be subjected to such review 
 and to such scrutiny as would measure both direc- 
 tion and results. This heed is peculiarly great where 
 work is undertaken by a group oi agencies each of 
 which has its own responsibilities that press for in- 
 creased support, and in each of which are diverse 
 opinions as to relative values. It is only through the 
 fullest understanding that co-operation can become 
 increasingly effective and that forward-looking plans 
 can be clear and constructive. If there be any who 
 shall read these pages and feel that actual accomplish- 
 ments are small when viewed in the light of the great 
 task and of the far-reaching service of the denomina- 
 tional Home Mission Boards, they should be re- 
 minded that unified thinking is a thing of slow 
 growth and that it must be developed and become a 
 part of the common body of thought before action 
 can result. 
 
 Sixteen years is but a short span of time, yet since 
 its organization the Council of Women for Home 
 Missions has drawn into its membership twenty 
 national women's Boards and societies representing 
 as many denominations, while the Home Missions 
 Council organized the same year has in its member- 
 ship forty-one national Boards and societies repre- 
 senting twenty-seven denominations. At the first 
 meetings of the two bodies time had to be spent in 
 the mere getting acquainted and in finding a point 
 of departure from which to move out into co-opera- 
 tive service. This has been by no means the least 
 interesting part of the coming together; each Board 
 has thought in terms of its "peculiar problem," and 
 
lo, their "peculiar problems" were the common prop- 
 erty of all the Boards. Each Board had seen a sector 
 of the country as its responsibility and in terms of its 
 own relation thereto; suddenly it had opened before 
 it the relation which it bore to other agencies serving 
 nearby and its denominational viewpoint was given 
 another slant by the new knowledge of agencies serv- 
 ing similar groups in contiguous territory. It was 
 inevitable that the viewpoint became more national 
 and less sectional and that the objective became one 
 common to all rather than the property of a single 
 group. Had the two Councils accomplished nothing 
 beyond the bringing together of the leaders of de- 
 nominational home mission service and of enriching 
 the thought of each by the knowledge of the work of 
 all the others, their existence would have been amply 
 justified. 
 
 Mission Study Books. The preparation and publi- 
 cation of textbooks presenting some phase of home 
 mission need and accomplishment have been of basic 
 value in co-operative thinking, and when one realizes 
 that more than 100,000 copies of these books are sold 
 each year, one gains some idea of the force unleashed 
 and set at work. The effect is felt from Board head- 
 quarters, where books are handled, to the small com- 
 munity, where the members of the various Protestant 
 churches unite in a mission study class, together 
 facing the problem of home mission need and effort, 
 and in so doing coming to see their own community 
 problem and program as a unit of service. No one 
 effort toward unified thinking has been of larger 
 impulse than the textbook, which serves a quarter 
 of a hundred denominations, is studied by tens of 
 thousands in local churches and is the basis of study 
 at summer conferences that draw together each year 
 for a week of intensive thought and preparation large 
 groups of women and young people and, increasingly, 
 groups of ministers and laymen. 
 
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Comity Arrangements. The most prompt and 
 natural result of united thinking has been the ac- 
 knowledgement of the need of comity arrangements 
 in some of the mission fields. It was a new day and 
 a prophetical one when, almost twelve years ago, a 
 group of Board Secretaries of a number of denomina- 
 tions together visited a section of the country, called 
 into conference the workers of the Boards they repre- 
 sented, and around a table studied the Church prob- 
 lem of their combined parishes. Re-allocation of 
 people and transfer of denominational responsibility 
 was_ suggested with frankness, that the maximum of 
 territory should be ministered to with a minimum 
 of workers and of funds. Space would not serve to 
 tell of the many scores of similar conferences that 
 have been held and of the oftentimes amazing results 
 that have been achieved. These things have been 
 done quietly, but effectively, and as a result in some 
 States following the good example of Montana which 
 showed the new road, interdenominational home mis- 
 sion agencies have been permanently organized that 
 distribution of responsibility may be prompt and 
 effective. 
 
 It is of interest to quote briefly from the stirring 
 report of a deputation of secretaries of five Boards 
 that visited the Northwest in the summer of 1923 : 
 
 "We find that the spirit of co-operation is greatly reinforced, 
 as compared with former years. ... A large factor in the 
 progress is the new spirit of service which is replacing the 
 spirit of denominational aggrandizement. 
 
 "We find that_ there are not a few serious instances of over- 
 lapping, concerning some of which there is hope of early cor- 
 rection, by conference of those immediately involved. Concern- 
 ing many others, the overlapping is far more serious in 
 appearance, when stated in figures, than it is when studied in 
 the field, because many of the churches enumerated are either 
 of foreign-speaking groups, who are not yet fully Americanized, 
 or of sporadic sects, which do not co-operate in the Home Mis- 
 sions Council, or in any other general movements of the King- 
 dom of God. We find, however, that the instances of over- 
 looking are so much more numerous than those of overlapping. 
 
 3 
 
that the great stress of home mission activity must be in 
 meeting the unmet needs of the people. For example : The 
 remarkable table prepared by the Western Washington Home 
 Missions Council shows that of the small places which have 
 any church, 78 per cent, have only one church, leaving but 22 
 per. cent, which could have any semblance of competition, but 
 that 66 per cent, of all the places tabulated are without religious 
 provision of any kind. . . . We believe that more than one- 
 half of the neighborhoods which have more or less community 
 life of their own, are without any regular religious ministry, 
 and great numbers of them without any religious ministry what- 
 ever. 
 
 "This most delicate and difficult undertaking on earth — 
 sectarian readjustment — has, in less than a dozen years made 
 positive, intensely practical, organic advance in a solid block 
 of seven states in the northwest section of the country, with 
 yet another, nearly contiguous state farther east asking for it. 
 When this situation in the northwest is coupled with the 
 entirely distinct achievements in a similar direction by two 
 New England states, and by a number of cities, while others 
 are approaching it, your deputation is convinced that the 
 endeavor to secure systematic co-ordinate, practical co-operation 
 in home missions, in place of haphazard and sometimes competi- 
 tive action, is as sure as the rising of the sun. It is obviously 
 imbedded in the providential order." 
 
 The Associated Evangelical Churches of Alaska. 
 
 A further result of the new knowledge each of the 
 other, and one similar to the above, may be found 
 in "The Associated Evang-elical Churches of Alaska," 
 in which are represented the ten denominations work- 
 ing in that territory. Distribution of responsibility 
 has led to some adjustments and others are under 
 consideration. 
 
 Cuba and Porto Rico. In Cuba and Porto Rico 
 most definite allocations of territory have been made 
 so that two denominations may not be working in 
 one section while other parts of the island are 
 neglected. In Porto Rico an Evangelical Seminary 
 serves six denominations as do, also, a religious paper 
 and a printing press. Cuba has not gotten so far 
 on the road of interdenominational co-operation but 
 she is thinking in the right terms. 
 
 4 
 
The Board for Christian Work in Santo Domingo. 
 
 Entrance into the Dominican Republic three years 
 ago by five Boards representing three denominations 
 which incorporated as "The Board for Christian 
 Work in Santo Domingo" marked a new step in 
 interdenominational agreement, for here is not a 
 comity arrangement but a unified piece of work with 
 a common treasury into which each co-operating 
 Board pays its part and from which all expenses 
 are met. There is single administration of the 
 work inaugurated in the island, workers are chosen 
 irrespective of their denominational affiliations, and 
 the church established is known as "The Evangelical 
 Church of Santo Domingo." This venture has been 
 signally blessed and the work, evangelical and medi- 
 cal, far outstrips the resources of the Board, while 
 an educational program of much importance waits 
 on larger reinforcements. The Committee on Co- 
 operation in Latin America and the two Councils 
 have a Joint Committee on the West Indies and 
 the inauguration of service in the Dominican Re- 
 public was the work of this combined group. 
 
 Conferences. Conferences are the vogue of the 
 day. It is easy to disparage them ; more easy to 
 weary of them and to clamor for peace and to be 
 allowed to remain in the comfortable rut. But it is 
 through knowledge and understanding that progress 
 is made. These come from the comparing of facts 
 and ideas, and from seemingly casual conferences 
 of small groups are often brought dynamic truths 
 that lead to great accomplishment. Representatives 
 of the two Councils annually attend scores of con- 
 ferences — east and west and north and south. At 
 these are discussed the problems of rural regions 
 and of city groups, of many races and of alien 
 tongues. Some have brought about co-ordination of 
 Jocal working forces, others have resulted in plans 
 afifecting the national Boards, but in all cases they 
 
 5 
 
have had but the aim to acquaint all with the work 
 of each, to simplify methods, to stimulate to more 
 adequate service, and to co-ordinate efforts when by- 
 such a plan better results may be obtained. Some 
 of these getting-together conferences, either of special 
 groups or of a regular Joint Committee of the two 
 Councils, have resulted in accomplishments that 
 should be recorded. There are others of equal or 
 greater value that are still in the conference stage 
 but which are dynamic in possibility, as, for ex- 
 ample, the small and vital conferences between 
 representatives of the Home Missions Council and 
 Jewish rabbis — an effort to promote understanding 
 and good will to counteract the tragic influence of 
 anti-Semitism. 
 
 Orientals in. the United States. Four years ago the 
 Joint Committee on Orientals in the United States 
 presented a report elaborating the competition of 
 denominations among these people in two or three 
 large cities of the Pacific Coast and the tragic neglect 
 of great numbers of them in smaller communities. 
 So serious was the situation to which attention was 
 directed that a special Committee was appointed 
 made up of representatives of the Boards carrying 
 on this work, this Committee being urged to take 
 cognizance of the situation and to find remedies 
 therefor, if possible. The Committee has met both 
 on the Pacific Coast and at New York and has 
 evolved a plan of co-operation and consolidation that 
 will not only do away with the unfortunate competi- 
 tion but that gives promise of an advanced program. 
 A first step has already been made by the plan of 
 the Methodist and Presbyterian women to unite their 
 Homes for Chinese girls, and it is expected that by 
 the next school year the denominational day schools 
 will have been consolidated into a graded school. 
 Some of these pieces of work are of long standing 
 and it will take time to put into working effect the 
 
 6 
 
full program as planned, but a start has been made 
 and it can confidently be expected that the consolida- 
 tions and adjustments will be made. 
 
 Study o£ Phases of Work. United study of a 
 phase of work may lead to the betterment of existing 
 conditions, to new plans of comity adjustments, or 
 to the development of pieces of work that cannot 
 well be done by any group alone. Some most 
 interesting studies have been made of the types of 
 work among Mormons, Spanish-Americans and In- 
 dians, among which groups a number of denomina- 
 tions are working. A detailed study of the educa- 
 tional problems of Utah was prepared and has been 
 of much value in determining future developments. 
 One year a lecturer who presented Christian prin- 
 ciples and the Christian life was sent to Utah in the 
 hope of breaking down Mormon isolation by giving 
 to those people the opportunity to hear something 
 of churches other than the Mormon. The speaker 
 was welcomed in the towns to which he went and 
 large and interested audiences came to hear him. 
 
 Religious Work Directors in Government Indian 
 Boarding Schools. Conferences on work for Indians 
 brought out the unexampled opportunity presented 
 by the presence in Government Indian Boarding 
 Schools of thousands of the choicest young people 
 of many tribes, and the fact that the opportunity 
 offered by the Government of two hours per week, 
 besides Sunday, for religious instruction was not 
 often being utilized by Protestant forces. Following 
 the conferences three years ago a number of the 
 Mission Boards, using the Councils as their agent, 
 subscribed a fund whereby it was possible to place 
 Religious Work Directors in six of the largest of 
 these schools. These Directors organize the re- 
 ligious life of the Protestant students, enlist the 
 co-operation of the local communities, carry on Sun- 
 
 7 
 
day Schools and young people's societies, form 
 social and friendly centers, and in places where it is 
 needed, organize the play and recreational life. They 
 have been men and women of choice spirit and their 
 mitjiistry to these young people has been fruitful of 
 results. From it there will come Christian leaders 
 for remote and neglected tribes. In a few of the 
 Government schools denominational Boards finance 
 Religious Work Directors which serve all Protestant 
 groups, and not only those of their own denomination. 
 
 Student Fellowship for Christian Life-Service. 
 
 While Indian students were thus being cared for, 
 groups of other students in widely scattered sections 
 of the country were organizing themselves, each 
 group independent of all others, to bring together in 
 each College and University those young people who 
 desired to prepare for Christian service in the home- 
 land. The Joint Committee on Recruiting the Home 
 Mission Force sent two secretaries, a man and a 
 woman, into the Colleges to present the claims 
 of this great cause: these secretaries found the 
 groups already organized. Immediately the nation- 
 wide need of workers claimed the attention of the 
 students and they urged that they might be organized 
 nationally, as were the students preparing for service 
 in the foreign mission fields. As a result of their 
 urging, in February of 1922, 54 students from 12 
 States representing 33 Colleges met at the University 
 of Illinois to consider together the challenge of the 
 homeland. Out of this gathering there came the 
 Student Fellowship for Christian Life-Service, a 
 student-organized and student-managed body, which 
 keeps a close relation to the two Councils through 
 mutual representation on Committees. The Fellow- 
 ship is the child of the Councils and of the Boards, 
 and as such should bring to their help in coming 
 years many trained and efficient men and women. It 
 
 8 
 
is of interest to note here that another Joint Com- 
 mittee of the two Councils is striving to standardize 
 "common policies in securing, equipping and support- 
 ing missionaries" and to standardize the educational 
 requirements and training to be required of candi- 
 dates. 
 
 Work among Farm and Cannery Migrants. To 
 
 speak of students and home missions is to think 
 of the work some of these young people are doing 
 during the summer months. The Interchurch World 
 Movement having made a study of the migrant, 
 workers of the United States recommended that the 
 Woman's Boards of Home Missions should concern 
 themselves with the conditions surrounding women, 
 girls and children on the truck farms and in the 
 many fruit and vegetable canneries that work at 
 such pressure during the few weeks when they are 
 open. Eight Boards agreed to co-operate in service 
 to this group and asked the Council of Women to 
 contribute its machinery to further this co-operative 
 work. A supervisor was secured, locations chosen, 
 and in the summer of 1920 work was begun. 
 
 In one county of Maryland there are over two 
 hundred canneries, and other counties of that State 
 as well as Delaware, Southern New Jersey and 
 Southern Pennsylvania have hundreds more, so that 
 this section of the country was chosen in which to 
 begin a demonstration program. The workers in the 
 canneries are usually foreigners brought out from 
 the nearest cities, whole families coming, men, 
 women, and children. As the running time of each 
 cannery is brief the housing preparations are of the 
 most primitive kind, often unsanitary and devoid of 
 opportunity for proper decency. Each family fre- 
 quently has one room in a long row of attached 
 shacks and the family cooking is usually done out 
 of doors under open sheds, a number of families 
 using one stove. The older children work in the 
 
 9 
 
cannery when there is a pressure of work and both 
 parents work. This leaves the younger children 
 without supervision or care. 
 
 The original plan was to secure a small house, 
 store or even shack immediately adjoining the can- 
 nery, to place in charge three young women, two 
 of each group being College undergraduates, to open 
 a Day Nursery for the care of the babies, and a 
 Summer School on the plan of the Daily Vacation 
 Bible School for the children too young to be in 
 the cannery. On days when there is no work older 
 children and even adults are interested onlookers and 
 occasional participants. There are also clubs for 
 older boys and girls and Mothers' Clubs at hours 
 when they can attend. 
 
 It is not possible to give a detailed account of the 
 work, nor the success achieved — that is recorded in 
 the special leaflets on Farm and Cannery Migrants, 
 but it can be said that the co-operation and en- 
 thusiasm of the cannery owners who have put up 
 buildings for the various activities, who have piped 
 water and in numerous ways co-operated, is one of 
 the greatest testimonies to the value of the under- 
 taking. One does not know which to admire the 
 more, the quick and fine response of the little ones 
 to the teaching of manners and morals, of Bible and 
 patriotism, of cleanliness and kindness, or the joyous, 
 unflinching spirit of these young College women who 
 carry on through days of intense heat, amid condi- 
 tions unattractive and diflicult. There is new hope 
 in the hearts of those who watch the service they 
 give and know they represent many of their genera- 
 tion. Each season there are scores more of appli- 
 cants for this opportunity to serve than there are 
 places. 
 
 Immigrant Aid at Ellis Island. One cannot close 
 this inadequate summary of the co-operative spirit 
 that is abroad without speaking of the splendid activ- 
 
 10 
 
ities that head up in the Joint Committee on New 
 Americans. One of the interesting phases of the 
 work is that done at and for ElHs Island, the great 
 immigrant station in New York Bay. Through the 
 courtesy of the Commissioner a Hmited number of 
 welfare workers are allowed to be on the Island to 
 provide assistance to those detained there. Because 
 of the unbelievable number of organizations desiring 
 to be represented on the Island and because of the 
 limitation of space, it has been necessary that a 
 fixed number should be allowed there, and no more. 
 As the outcome of years of experience and of much 
 consultation there has been formed a General Com- 
 mittee on Immigrant Aid at ElHs Island, this com- 
 mittee having in its membership Protestant, Catholic, 
 Jewish and non-religious organizations. By common 
 planning it has become possible to have representa- 
 tives speaking all the major and some of the lesser 
 languages so that there is a daily clearing of people 
 from one worker to another. 
 
 Follow-Up of Protestant Immigrants. Out of all 
 
 of this background, and through the courtesy of the 
 Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church, which has contributed 
 part of the time of one of its secretaries, a plan has 
 been evolved for a Follow-Up of Protestant Immi- 
 grants, similar to the very elaborate and successful 
 system used by Catholics and Hebrews. The name, 
 address, destination and denomination, of the immi- 
 grant being secured by the worker on the Island are 
 sent to the offices of the Councils from which place 
 this information is sent to the nearest pastor of that 
 denomination, urging that the immigrant be located, 
 invited to church and made welcome. Duplicate 
 reports make it possible to know the final results 
 in many cases, and the service has proven itself very 
 worth while. As many as 800 or 900 names are thus 
 reported in a month. 
 
 11 
 
Race Group Studies. Also in behalf of immigrants 
 and their needs has been the interdenominational 
 co-operation in producing the Race Group Studies, 
 and in making available information concerning pub- 
 lications in foreign languages in America. This in- 
 valuable service has been made possible through the 
 special co-operation of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Board of Home Missions. 
 
 A Foreshadowing of Larger Accomplishment. The 
 
 whole story of co-operating among denominations 
 cannot be told in one brief article. This is but a 
 suggestive presentation, but it may be that it will 
 be helpful to some who have not known of the 
 developments of recent years. It may foreshadow 
 something of the possibilities that await the churches 
 when they shall more and more have come to know 
 that in union there is strength and that, preserving 
 denominational integrity, there is yet a large field 
 in which conference and comparison may clear the 
 way for larger accomplishment, and that there are 
 times and places where only a unified service can 
 meet the need. 
 
 12