km 2i -
SOCIAL SERVICE MANUAL
FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE
SOCIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
OF
THE AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY
PHILADELPHIA
BOSTON CHICAGO ST. LOUIS LOS ANGELES
KANSAS CITY SEATTLE TORONTO
Some of the material of this Manual, especu
Sections III to V, is an adaptation of a leaflet p
pared by the Secretarial Council of the Comn
sion on the Church and Social Service of
t:
Federal Council of the Churches.
Printed in U. S. A.
SOCIAL SERVICE MANUAL
The young people of today make the world of tomor-
row. If we are to have a better world in the days to come,
with more justice and less wrong, with more brother-
hood and less war, the young people of today must play
their part. If our communities are to be safer places for
boys and girls to grow up in, and the city where we live
is to become a city of God, young people must be good
citizens and community builders. As every group of
young people is interested in evangelism, in missions,
and in Christian activities, so it is interested in Social
Service.
Where to Begin
In one of our cities, just before Christmas, a group of
young people were moved to help some persons who were
needy. They were brought in touch with a Brotherhood
Mission and cooperated with this in preparing a number
of Christmas baskets to be taken to homes where there
was need. On this errand of love several of the young
people found an old woman living in a cellar. She was
living alone, and for five years had not been out of her
poor, gloomy quarters. This case was reported to the
young people's society and started it on a course of
social study and service.
What can we do to help those who are needy and suf-
fering?
3
How did this woman come to be in this unfortunate
condition ?
What can we do to prevent such social evils as poverty,
disease, and misery?
What can we do to create a better type of community
life?
I. SOCIAL SERVICE—ITS PLACE
The will of Christ is our program of action. If, there-
fore, we can know what Christ wants done in the world,
we shall know what we have to do; and if we can under-
stand his method we shall know how to proceed in our
work. On these questions the Scriptures are definite
and explicit.
The Master declares that he came " to seek and to save
the lost." In the Nazareth synagogue he announced his
commission: " The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, be-
cause he hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the
poor; he hath sent me to proclaim release to the cap-
tives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at
liberty them that are bruised, to proclaim the acceptable
year of the Lord." He gave as his credentials his own
works: " The blind receive their sight, the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised
up, and the poor have the good tidings preached to them."
He says expressly that he came not to condemn the
world but to save the world.
In his teaching on this subject he is no less definite
and positive. He connects the love of God and the love
of men. He pillories forever the priest and Levite who
saw a man in need and yet passed by on the other side.
The Sermon on the Mount, which deals with the life of
4
the members of the kingdom, has to do with righteous
living and loving service. In the parable of the Judg-
ment he shows how the destinies of men, their fitness or
unfitness for the kingdom, are revealed in the way they
have fulfilled or have neglected the humanities of life.
Above all, there is the example of the Master himself,
who went about doing good, helping the needy, healing
the sick, feeding the hungry, adjusting the relations of
men, seeking to establish justice among men.
In the complete program of the kingdom there are
four chief aspects: Evangelism—winning men unto
Christ; missions—making the good news known to the
nations; education—training lives for the kingdom and
building them up in Christlikeness; and social service—
serving the whole life of man and applying Christian
principles in all the relations of society.
Social service, as now understood, includes all those
forms of effort for man's redemption which seek to uplift
and transform his associated and community life. As
such it is the social application of Christian principles,
the effort to realize in the social order the will of Christ;
it is a new name for that spirit of philanthropy and ser-
vice which is as old as Christianity.
Social service, it is evident, cannot take the place of
personal salvation and Christian living. It is not a sub-
stitute for evangelism and conversion. It is rather the
social expression of the Christian spirit. It directly aids
all other forms of Christian effort. It should always be
viewed in relation to all other lines of Christian effort.
The worker in social service should live in full sympathy
with all other workers and should cooperate most heartily
with workers in all fields of Christian service.
5
Its Method
Social service deals with man as a social being in his
social relations. To know a person, we must know him
in his relations; to help him, we must also change the
conditions of his life. It deals with social causes and
conditions. Social evils have social causes, and these
must be known and changed. It demands social and col-
lective action. Personal charity may feed the hungry
child, but social service seeks to create a social and
industrial order wherein all parents may be able to fur-
nish their children sufficient food. Charity will lift the
drunkard out of the gutter, and social service by State
action will seek to abolish the liquor traffic. And it
demands service in and through all the agencies and
institutions of man's life. The church is here in the
will of God, and is a divine agency through which we are
to advance God's kingdom; and the State, the family, and
the industrial order are also divine institutions in which
and through which we are to advance the kingdom of God
and its righteousness.
Its Program
In a large sense the social service program has three
aspects:
Relief. In the world as we find it there are many peo-
pie in need and suffering. The church, which is the
organized love of its community, is to help these people
wherever they have need and we have opportunity. There
are hungry to be fed, sick to be nursed, fallen to be
lifted, wanderers to be sought, delinquents to be saved,
children to be guided, streets to be cleaned, needy to be
6
clothed, discouraged to be cheered. And Christian peo-
pie should not merely wait till need forces itself upon
their notice, but they should be diligent in knowing need
and trying to meet it.
Prevention. Social service is not satisfied merely to
lift up the fallen and relieve distress. It seeks to know
the causes of social evils and to prevent them. Things
have causes. These, being human causes, can be known
and cured. This demands a study of the causes of social
evils, with wise, united community action in removing
them.
ConstructionRelief is the immediate thing, but we
do not stop here. We want to go on and build up life to
its fullest stature, that it may realize its possibilities. In
every plant there are possibilities beyond anything now
realized. We seek to unfold human capacity, to create
such conditions as shall help each life to grow up tall
and straight and pure and good, that there may be life,
abundant life, life physical, life mental, life moral, life
spiritual.
Under this head we include helpful recreation, adequate
education facilities, moralizing social customs, higher
community interests, an efficient city administration,
everything that will create new interests in life and make
virtue attractive.
This demands also the adjustment of human relations
in terms of justice, love, and brotherhood, in the Church,
in the community, in the State, and in the industrial
order. And it consummates its work in the building up
in the earth of a Christian type of human society. The
work of man is not complete, the purpose of Christ is
never fulfilled, till this Christian social order is realized.
7
Every church should be a serving church; it should
develop a ministry to the persons in its community, but
it should be no less earnest in developing a ministry to
the community itself. In this serving church every mem-
ber will have a part, and every department will have a
social service program. And in this church there will be
a definite educational policy and program which will seek
to prepare the young people by study and activity for
practical and fruitful service in all the relations and in-
stitutions of life.
Team-work
Social service, by the nature of the case, means much
more than individual effort. People ask what they can
do in the line of social service, and they imply that any
one by himself anywhere can do social service. We need
to remember that it deals with social causes and condi-
tions, and that it demands united and'collective action.
The first requisite in this form of service is a willing-
ness to cooperate with others and to do team-work.
We need to remember that social work demands service
in and through all the relations and institutions of one's
life. Religion is not something apart from life, as a spe-
cial exercise or a special service; it is something in life, it
is life itself. In the same way social service is not some-
rhing apart by itself, as a special kind of work; but it is
something in life, living and serving in the place where
one is, and through all seeking to carry out Christ's re-
demptive purpose.
Very little can be done in any church unless some
people are in earnest, are willing to prepar-e themselves
for service, and are prepared to pay the price of success.
8
But in practically every church there is an inner group
of young people who are ready to work. These should
seek to prepare themselves for service and should under-
take some possible and practical things.
There are many definite and vital things that young
people can do along various social service lines. And the
suggestions may apply to the efforts of young people,
whether in a young people's society or in an organized
young people's class.
II. ORGANIZATION
Social Service Committee
The young people in each church should create such
an organization as may be necessary for the work in hand.
In most cases it is found wise to appoint a Social Service
Committee to have general direction of the community
activities. This committee should be carefully selected,
and persons should be chosen for membership who are
especially interested in the subject and show fitness for
the work.
The committee should have regular meetings, once a
month at least. It should direct the social studies of the
group. It should study the community to know its special
needs. It should have a well-formulated plan of social
service effort. It should keep the young people informed
concerning matters that demand their attention. It should
cooperate with the various agencies of the church, and
especially with the church committee on social service.
The first condition of social service is to do good team-
work.
9
Social Studies
Social service to be successful must be intelligent. To
be intelligent it must be based upon a knowledge of ac-
cepted principles and methods. People must have an
intelligent and Christian idea of the great institutions of
life, as the family, the Church, the State, and the industrial
order. And they must know what to do in each in order
through them all to advance the work of human redemp-
tion. They must have an understanding of the chief
causes of social evils that they may work in an effective
way in removing bad causes and in setting good causes
to work.
This study may be promoted in several ways. In the
Sunday school there should be some classes engaged in
social study for a part of the year at least. All young
people should give attention to these lessons and should
be in some class. In many cases a study class may de-
vote its attention to social questions and conditions. Ex-
cedent material for such classes will be found in " The
Bible and Social Living," in the Keystone Graded Elec-
tive Courses for Young People. Study groups may take
special lessons, and excellent material is now available.
Other studies are: " The Christian Ideal in Industry," a
three months' course; "The Social Principles of Jesus,"
by Rauschenbusch; " Christianizing Community Life," by
Ward and Edwards; " The Gospel at Work in Modern
Life," by Whitaker; " Christ and the Nations," by Batten.
For discussion groups: " What is the Christian View of
Work and Wealth?"; "The Practice of Citizenship."
Many young people who do not join a class may yet
be enlisted in a reading course, especially if those who
10
are reading the books in the course are brought together
occasionally for a social hour and for discussion. Every
group of young people should have its Social Service
Library, so that books may be passed around freely. A
list of books will be supplied which cannot fail to catch
and hold the interest of young people, because they deal
with typical American conditions from an intimate, per-
sonal, and practical point of view.
To supplement this group and class study a course of
five or six addresses can be arranged for the Sunday
evening devotional meetings, these addresses to deal with
various aspects of social service. The Social Service
Department can supply a list of speakers in almost every
State who are available for such addresses.
Another popular form of education is known as the
Open Forum for the presentation of community issues.
At this meeting, which may be held on Sunday after-
noon or evening or a week-night, representatives of vari-
ous groups in the community may be heard at first hand.
The question-and-answer form of communication may be
used to establish a closer sympathy between the speakers
and audience and to promote clarity of thinking. Such
interest may be aroused in social questions by debates.
These may be carried on by the young people them-
selves within the church. But it may be well, occasion-
ally, to have a debate between various groups, as for
instance the young people and the men's class or
brotherhood.
Occasionally it may be well to substitute a social ser-
vice meeting for the monthly missionary meeting. Espe-
cial attention should be given to the social aspect of mis-
sions, both home and foreign.
11
It is essential that literature bearing upon the social
applications of the gospel should be distributed. The
Young People's Society should keep in touch with the
denominational agencies in the field of social education
and service; it should secure and distribute leaflets and
literature carefully and systematically. It should coop-
erate with the other organizations in placing a rack for
leaflets in the vestibule of the church and in seeing that
it is kept well supplied with leaflets.
III. TYPES OF COMMUNITIES
In all times there have been several types of com-
munities, as the city, the smaller city, the town, and the
rural community. These types are still found and must
be recognized. But in these days, due in part to modern
economic conditions, some changes of community life
have come. This demands a very different classification.
Modern industry segregates our people in specialized
communities. As a result most of our communities have
an overwhelming predominance of some class of people
who represent the major industrial interest of that com-
munity. There are at the present time several very dis-
tinct types in American community life. These may be
named as follows:
Open Country
Rural Industrial
Village
The Town
Resort Community
City
Suburban
Industrial
College Community Down-town
Residential
12
The conditions that exist in these various communities
are very different; and the special needs are consequently
quite different/ It follows naturally that the forms of
community service must also be quite varied. The type
of social work carried on by a church in a good resi-
dential section where many people own their own homes,
will be quite different from that of a church in a crowded
industrial community where the population is changing
and nearly all families live in rented houses.
It is essential that the young people of each church
should study carefully their own community and should
know its special type, its conditions, and its needs. It is
essential also that the young people should then frame a
program of study and service that is adapted to their
community. It is important, however, that the people
of each and every type of community should see their
work in relation to the whole life of society. We must
cherish the Christian world vision and must not allow
our outlook to be limited by our own community. We
must realize our membership in the nation and the world,
and not permit our fellowship to be lowered to the plane
of a merely natural economic grouping. Christians must
understand the breadth and inclusiveness of the Chris-
tian ideal; they must learn to see their own lives and
services in their church and community in relation to the
whole kingdom of God on earth.
In all these communities, large and small, there are cer-
tain constant conditions and needs. In every community
attention should be given to social study and to the
community survey. In every city and country attention
should be given to such things as recreation, to children,
to health, and to world citizenship. (See pp. 24, 29.)
13
In the Industrial Community special attention should
be given to industrial conditions (p. 26) ; to foreigners
(p. 21); to dependents, to recreation, and to health and
Americanization. (See pp. 15, 16, 19, 21.)
In the Open Country and Small Town special attention
should be given to the church (pp. 6-8, 22); to recreation
(pp. 22, 24); to health (pp. 16, 19, 24).
Young people should know their community; they
should know its special needs; they should then be in-
ventive in finding ways of helping people and serving
their community; they should select out the suggestions
given in this manual as applicable to their situation.
" Where there's a will there's a way." See the need, deter-
mine to meet it; and love will find a way.
IV. COMMUNITY STUDY
Any program of social service for the individual or the
group must be based upon the needs of the local com-
munity. Therefore, these must be discovered. The only
way to discover them is to make a study of local con-
ditions, which will outline the field of needed activity.
Before any work is attempted, the young people should
know what agencies are already at work to meet the
needs of the community and how they are doing it, in
order that their efforts may not duplicate the work of
other societies, but supplement it. A chart can be made
and placed on the wall of the church, showing the agencies
which will help in caring for poverty, sickness, or de-
linquency, or in meeting any civic or social emergency.
It is not advisable or even possible for the young peo-
pie's society or class to make a thorough study of the
14
whole community, especially in the larger centers. In a
community of ten thousand and under, however, it may
be possible to get a good general view of conditions; but
even in this case the effort should be confined to the things
in which young people are naturally interested. This will
limit the study and activity and concentrate the effort on
a few things. Any group may well limit itself to dis-
covering and improving the conditions of life for the
young people of the community. This will include con-
ditions of social life and recreation, conditions of educa-
tion, conditions of health and housing and occupation.
Knowing the Community
Poverty and Delinquency
What charitable agencies exist? Their general ef-
ficiency? Any cooperation between them?
Approximate amount spent for relief in one year and
number of cases helped.
What relief work is done by churches? Is there co-
operation between the different departments of the in-
dividual church? With other churches? With other
charitable agencies?
What city, county, or State provision for relief of
poverty or sickness is there in the community? Does
anybody inspect these institutions for efficiency?
Social Life and Recreation
What organized recreation is provided? In schools,
churches, Young Men's Christian Associations, etc.?
What amusements are operated for private profit ? Gen-
eral character ? Any that are flagrantly vicious ?
15
What educational facilities are there for young people
who wish to continue their education while working?
Night-schools? Special classes in Young Men's Christian
Associations and Young Women's Christian Associa-
tions ? Lecture courses ? Are these facilities efficient ?
Health and Housing
Death-rate? Infant mortality? Compared with neigh-
boring communities ?
Does the health department control contagious dis-
eases? Does it educate the community to measures of
prevention?
Is there any section of the town in insanitary or con-
gested houses ?
What laws relating to such conditions, and how en-
forced ?
Labor
How many young people over sixteen are wage-earners
in the community? (How many, if any, under six-
teen?) Where do they work? How many work more
than ten hours? More than nine hours? Eight hours?
How many on Sunday? How many girls working
nights ?
What are the wages of the lowest paid group? Young
men? Young women? Is there a minimum wage law in
the State, and is it enforced? Average wage in the
various industries in the community? How does it com-
pare with the cost of living in that place?
What are the conditions of health in the community's
industries? What labor laws in the State? Do they
16
protect the worker, and to what extent? Is there a system
of factory inspection, and is it enforced?
What is done to help young people find employment ?
Government
What form of government? Who are the officers?
What are their functions, and what power have they?
What are the forces that really control ?
What departments of the local government most vitally
affect the welfare of the community ?
What cooperation is there between the church group
and these departments?
V. COMMUNITY PROGRAM
A good way to begin is for the Social Service Com-
mittee to make a general study of the community accord-
ing to this schedule, modifying to fit local needs, and
striking out such questions as are not applicable. This
information should then be classified and worked up in
the form of charts, so that it may be presented to the
whole society in graphic fashion. The stereopticon can
be used to good advantage in this part of the work.
From this general study the members may select that
particular condition which appears to call for the most
urgent action. When this has been done, a more detailed
study of that condition should be made before anything
is done to meet the need. The denominational agency
for social service can give assistance and suggestions in
the work of classifying the information and preparing
the charts, and can furnish schedules for the more de-
tailed study of the field selected for action.
17
In the case of city groups, the district should be defined,
and other young people's groups should, if possible, be
enlisted in the effiort.
Constructive Relief and Mercy
Relief Work
The practical work of the young people cannot be called
social service until it becomes constructive and preventive,
as well as palliative. Social service is not content to re-
lieve, without at the same time investigating, the causes
of distress and seeking to remove them.
The first principle of relief work is cooperation. Co-
operation within the church itself, seeing that one organ-
ization does not duplicate the work of another; coopera-
tion with other churches of the same denomination and
of other denominations, and cooperation with agencies
outside the church, especially with the organized charities
of the community.
The second principle is quite as important: There
should be continuity of service. Spasmodic help will not
only do little good, but may work harm. Whatever work
may be selected, it should not be dropped until it has been
carried through to completion and there is no further
need of it. It is much better to select a permanent prob-
lem and give attention to that, than to attempt many
different pieces of work, doing only a little of each. For
instance, if a family is given help, it should be helped
continuously until the members are able to care for them-
selves; not given a basket at Thanksgiving or Christmas-
time and left to itself the remainder of the year.
Nearly every group has among its members one or
18
more young women who are able to give a good deal of
time to visitation and other relief work. These should
be trained as friendly visitors in the community, so that
their service may be guided and directed in such a way
as will make it doubly valuable. The local charity organ-
ization will accept such volunteer help and give the de-
sired training. If there is no local organization, the
young women may study " Friendly Visiting Among the
Poor," by Mary E. Richmond, and " The Charity
Visitor," by Amelia Sears; these will give valuable help.
" How to Help," by Mary Conyngton, is valuable.
Work for the Sick
Where there is a hospital in the community, many small
services may be performed for the patients, especially
for those in the free wards. Reading-matter may be
provided, and some one assigned to read aloud a certain
amount of time each week. Letters may be written;
often in the convalescent wards a program of music and
readings will be appreciated.
If there are dispensaries, social service work may be
carried on by a system of following up the patients to see
that the physician's orders are carried out, and that the
patients are provided with the means of procuring what
is prescribed, and to improve the home conditions so that
further illness may be prevented.
Rural societies may provide, fruit and flowers for the
sick in the city by cooperating with the city societies.
Express companies will usually carry such gifts free of
charge.
If the mercy and help department is to be made a
genuine social service agency, it must not end with relief.
19
It must look also to the prevention of illness and to the
aggressive advocating of public-health measures. The
local health department will be glad of volunteer help in
spreading knowledge concerning its plans for sanitation
and proper care of disease, in reporting violations of
health laws, in distributing literature dealing with public
health, in its effort to eliminate improper housing con-
ditions, and in the effort to enforce the health laws of
the community.
In many cities the health department is now issuing
certificates to moving-picture theaters which have good
ventilation, and calling upon the public to patronize only
those having such certificates. This plan may be followed
in any place, and may be applied to all buildings used for
public gatherings, including churches.
Aiding the Prisoner
Reading-matter may be distributed in the jails, and if
this service is attempted it should be systematic and con-
tinuous. And such reading-matter should be fresh and
interesting. Out-of-date church papers will not interest
the people usually found in jails.
Find out whether the prisoners are given employment.
If they are not, insist that they be given something to do
for a reasonable number of hours six days in the week.
Interest the judges and legal officials in helping to secure
modern equipment and modern methods of handling
prisoners.
Socializing the Social Department
In every community there are groups of young people
who are not touched or brought into contact in any way
20
with the young people in the church societies. Every
group of young people should make an effort to get into
contact with these.
Homeless Young People. Take, for instance, that in-
creasing number of young men and women in the cities
who are away from home, without the restraints of their
former environment, and without proper social life in
their new surroundings. Practical help may take the
form of finding proper boarding-places, and getting these
homeless ones invited into Christian homes to spend Sun-
day, that they may have a touch of home life. The social
hour after church, at which light refreshments are served,
has been used as a weapon against the loneliness and
dangers of that hour.
Young People from Abroad. Then there are the immi-
grant young men and women. If America is to care for
the new peoples who are drawn in such numbers by the
promise of greater liberty, it will be only as the American
young people, and especially those of the churches, see in
these groups an opportunity for splendid service. Race
suspicion and prejudice will never be disarmed until the
young people meet face to face and find out for them-
selves the essential unity of the race.
Classes in English and Civics afford a good opportunity
of getting acquainted. There are now a number of books
designed for the purpose of teaching foreigners in simple,
untechnical fashion, so that any ordinarily well-educated
young person may successfully lead such a class. The
denominational department for social service can furnish
a list of such books.
The Nation Social, in which the various groups of for-
eigners furnish the entertainment by appearing in native
21
costumes and giving exhibitions of the manners and
customs of their own countries, is another excellent means
of getting acquainted. In the cities where these foreign
groups have their own editors, singers, and other leaders,
these will usually gladly aid in an enterprise of this kind.
Devise your own methods for extending the circle of
friendship outside the church group. The essential thing
is to come into vital contact with the young people of
other nationalities in the community, for this will open
the way to larger forms of service to the immigrant
group.
Education and Recreation. Has your society or class
a consistent and persistent program of recreation, or does
it merely give a " social" occasionally ? A well-planned
program, covering the half-year season, will yield far
more satisfactory results than a haphazard effort to fur-
nish recreation. The plans should be extended to include
every possible group in the community. The fall season
may begin with informal " welcome " receptions to the
various groups who have been away for the summer,
teachers, students, etc., and the program for this period
may take many forms, such as musical and literary eve-
nings.
Education, especially in the city, may be combined with
recreation by making visits in groups to various places
of interest in the city. This is a particularly good plan
in the summer on Sunday afternoons, when the trip may
end with a picnic or social of some kind out-of-doors.
The Rural Society. The rural young people's group
has quite as many advantages as the city group when it
comes to planning for organized recreation. Here, as
in the city, there may be musical evenings, debates, mov-
22
ing pictures, and athletics for the winter seasons; in
addition, the rural group may plan in the summer for
such events as the community fair, patterned after the
county-fair idea, giving prizes for the best flowers, fruits,
samples of cooking, hand-work, etc., and worked up by
the young people themselves.
Combining education and recreation is easy in the
country community, for there are less attractions than in
the city, and such events when planned are more likely to
succeed. The State University and the agricultural
schools will usually cooperate in furnishing lectures on
various subjects.
The pageant and the festival for national holidays or
other times can be used by both city and country group,
but the country group will have some advantages over
the city group.
City and rural young people's groups may work to-
gether in planning for fresh-air and summer-vacation
work. The district may be organized, and a list of the
farmhouses secured where young people from the city
will be taken for short periods at moderate rates. The
city group may furnish the names of young people who
would be benefited by a vacation on a farm, but who can-
not afford summer-resort prices.
Another plan which can be worked to advantage is for
the rural societies to organize summer camps by furnish-
ing the place and the equipment for the camp. The
city group may pay the running expenses by appointing
a club to handle this part of it, making the rates cover
the operating expenses of the venture. The good accom-
plished does not stop with the individuals benefited; it
will establish as well a working acquaintanceship between
23
city and rural societies which is sure to result in further
successful ventures together.
Organised Recreation, by means of these and other
methods, is taking an increasingly large place in the work
of the young people's societies and groups. But as the
society continues to develop plans for the recreation of
its own members and as many others as can reach it, it
will discover that the combined efforts of all the young
people, and of all the older people even, cannot reach all
the individuals in the community. There will be groups,
especially in the larger centers, that remain untouched.
How is the society to help here? It will first reveal
the need of community recreation, by lectures, by pictures,
by charts, by contact with conditions; and then it will
work for the broader program of community recreation
by means of public parks, playgrounds, and social centers,
all properly supervised and directed, in the meantime do-
ing its full share of the work of supplying wholesome fun
for as many of the community as it can reach. In this,
the American Playground Association, 1 Madison Ave-
nue, New York City, will give helpful suggestions, as
will also the Extension Department of the University at
Madison, Wis. On the use of school buildings as social
centers, E. J. Ward's book, " Social Centers," will be
found illuminating.
Social Purity. No young people will be content to pro-
vide wholesome amusement without the effort to prevent
improper types. And the prevention of improper recrea-
tion will lead to the problem of organized vice, for the
two are inseparable. The public dance-halls, the amuse-
ment-parks, and the excursion steamers are recruiting-
stations for the dealers in commercialized vice.
24
The first step in prevention is to understand that a
segregated district in any community is unnecessary, that
it remains only because of the consent of the community.
It cannot be too emphatically stated that segregation as
a policy is no longer considered necessary or even sound.
This stand is taken not only by the religious forces, but
social workers and progressive thinkers the country over.
This distinctly new attitude is the resujt of the scientific
investigations made within the last few years by specially
selected commissions in various parts of the country.
If there is a segregated district in your community,
why should it continue to exist? If it continues, it means
assuredly that some girls and boys must be sacrificed.
The young people of the community should be interested
to see that no girls or boys are drawn into that life.
The second step is education in personal standards.
Commercialized vice can be rooted out as soon as the
community wills. But the only way in which the social
evil will be eradicated entirely will be by the recognition
of the single standard of morality. The influence of the
church young people should be thrown on the side of the
single standard and everything that makes for it.
The society will lend its influence in the suppression of
songs, pictures, and literature that may be suggestive, and
will avoid in every way anything which may tend toward
evil thoughts. Conscientious young women will avoid
extreme fashions in dress, which are usually not only
lacking in modesty and utility, but inartistic as well.
Notices should be placed in the public buildings of
the community directing young people going into the city
to apply for information or direction only to officials in
uniform. Societies and classes in the smaller towns
25
and cities may see that their members who are moving
into the larger centers are put into touch with the city
church.
Christianising Industry. The modern church has
started on the task of making industry Christian. The
young people of the churches will find their share of this
task in endeavoring to improve the conditions under which
young people are now working. The most pressing need
is for legislation concerning the hours of work and the
creation of minimum wage boards. If there are no such
laws, work for them. Whether the effort shall be for an
eight-, nine-, or ten-hour law will depend upon how far
advanced your State is, and what the industrial group is
fighting for.
Find out where and under what conditions the young
people of your community are working—in factories,
stores, laundries, telephone exchanges. It is frequently
possible, by arousing sentiment in a community, to secure
the immediate improvement of conditions by bringing
local influence and pressure to bear on employers without
waiting for the slow process of legislation. If satisfac-
tory laws already exist, help to get them enforced.
The rural young people may concern themselves with
the conditions of agricultural labor. The work of women
on the farm needs to be made lighter, more attractive,
and enjoyable. The Agricultural Department at Wash-
ington, as well as the State agricultural school, will fur-
nish many suggestions which will aid in making farm
life more profitable as well as more interesting. Com-
munity gatherings for the open discussion of ways and
means may be made the occasion of social as well as
educational meetings.
26
VI. CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP
Young people are, or soon will be, full citizens, with
the responsibility of voters. This offers a large oppor-
tunity for service and carries some real obligations.
It is necessary that we have a body of informed, con-
scientious, active, and watchful citizens. We must know
what is the meaning of the State and what are the things
it can do in behalf of justice and progress. We must
understand the questions that are before the people in
order that there may be intelligent action. We must prize
our privilege as voters and must learn how to exercise
this in the interest of justice and right. Above all, we
must know how to do team-work and thereby make our
efforts most effective. Young people must learn that
real citizenship means much more than going to the
polls occasionally and casting a vote. They must rather
realize that it demands constant interest and all-the-year
activity.
The young people, like all good citizens, are enlisted
in the work of improving community conditions and of
building a Christian nation. The moment young people
set out to seek these ends, whether it be in recreation,
health, or industry, they find that they must work through
the government.
The young people may well follow some of the methods
that are here suggested. They may provide for the pres-
entation of subjects in the Sunday-evening meetings,
which will inform the young people concerning the local
government and its management.
The society will provide for the public discussions,
preferably on a week-night, of all measures which touch
27
the community welfare and especially measures touching
the lives of young people.
In many places a prelegislative institute has been
worked with success. This institute consists of a full
discussion of all the important measures which are to
come up at the pending session of the State legislature, by
prominent men and women who are qualified to speak on
the proposed legislation.
In some communities a junior government has been or-
ganized, in which a group of young people elect some of
their number to fill offices similar to those held in the local
government. These junior officers become auxiliaries to
the regular officials, assisting them in every way, and
using the other young people as auxiliary forces to this
end. In aiding the health department there has been
organized in some places a junior sanitary police whose
duty it is to inspect the health conditions of the com-
munity and to endeavor to secure the observance of health
ordinances.
Every society or class should have on the wall of its
meeting-place a directory of public servants—senators,
representatives (both State and national), aldermen,
county commissioners, members of school board, and
others. Then, when it is desired to bring the influence
of the members to bear on officials who have certain
measures under consideration, the names and addresses
will be easily accessible to all.
Christian young people should do their utmost to de-
stroy such evils as the liquor traffic and the social evil.
They should cooperate with the church brotherhood or
men's class, also with any and every organization in the
community that is seeking to abolish these evils. Co-
28
operate in the enforcement of good laws. Work to secure
better laws. Let public officials know that they will have
your support in the enforcement of law and your opposi-
tion if they are negligent.
Christians are called to love good and hate evil. They
should know what needs to be done and should be ready
to get it done. The worst kind of doing is doing nothing.
World Citizenship
One of the supreme tasks of the coming generation is
that of making an end of war. Related to this, in part as
cause and in part as result, is that of creating such a
federation of the nations as will establish justice through-
out the world and promote the well-being of all peoples.
World peace must be an ideal, a chivalry, a religion, be-
fore it will ever be a reality. It is worth while to live in
this day and to have a part in making the better world
that is to be.
The Christian is a member of the human race and so
must practise a world citizenship. The central truth of
the gospel as revealed in Jesus Christ, is that of God
as Father and men as brothers. He who taught us to
look up and pray, " Our Father who art in heaven,"
taught us also to look over the world and to say, " My
brothers here on earth." According to Christ's teaching
all people of all races are equally dear to the Father in
heaven. Christ died for all men, and all are called to
share the blessings of the kingdom.
The kingdom of God which sums up Christ's purpose
for our world is a world ideal. It rises above all barriers
of class and nation. The Christ comes to bring men unto
God, and to break down all walls of division between men.
29
(Eph. 2 : 14-16.) " They shall come from the east, and
from the west, and from the north, and from the south,
and shall sit down in the kingdom of God " (Luke 13 :
29). In Christ Jesus, says Paul, " there cannot be Greek
and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian,
Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all and in all"
(Col. 3 : 11). Christianity is not opposed to nationality,
but it always sees each nation as a part of humanity;
and it insists that each nation shall serve all mankind.
In our time questions of race and nationality are among
the chief issues before the world. The nineteenth cen-
tury, it has been said, made the world a neighborhood. It
is the special task of the twentieth century to make the
world a brotherhood. If men are to live together on
this crowded earth, the nations must live in justice and
brotherhood. It is essential that young people especially
should realize that they are citizens of the world and that
they should practise a world citizenship.
The young people of today determine what kind of a
world we shall have tomorrow. By their outlook upon
the world and by their attitude toward people of other
races; by their faith in peoples of other nations and their
loyalty to the ideal of human brotherhood; by their ef-
forts in behalf of international justice, and by their be-
lief in a real federation of nations, they make an end of
war and insure a better future for the human race.
Several things enter into the practise of World Citizen-
ship.
Cultivate an International Mind. " The field is the
world," says the Son of man. " God has made of one
blood all nations of men," says the great apostle. " The
world is my parish," said John Wesley. "Above all
30
nations is humanity," said Emmanuel Kant. The Chris-
tian by the very nature of his faith believes in all mankind
as one family. He understands the sweep and meaning
of Christ's purpose for mankind. He takes an interest in
everything that concerns any people on earth. He culti-
vates a world outlook; a planetary consciousness. He
respects the people of all other races; he learns to trust
them; above all, he wants each people to live its own life
and to fulfil its own mission. The Christian is a citizen
of the world. His vision overleaps town, class, church,
national frontiers, and embraces humanity.
Cherish a World Patriotism. As the Christian loves his
own nation and lives that it may prosper, so he loves man-
kind and seeks the good of all. He is loyal to his own
nation, and he is loyal to all mankind. As his devotion
to his own family circle expands with a loyalty to his
own nation; so his loyalty to his own nation expands into
a loyalty to all humanity. This world patriotism is the
enlargement of his vision and the crowning of his national
loyalty. This world patriotism means addition and not
subtraction. It is the exaltation of national love; it is its
transfiguration into a complete love. No man truly un-
derstands the meaning of his own nation till he sees it in
relation to all mankind. The more he loves mankind
the more he will love his own nation for what it means
to the world. He who sees nothing beyond his own
nation neither understands the mind of Christ nor under-
stands his own nation. This world patriotism is thus not
an interest competing and conflicting with a true national
patriotism; it is rather the crowning of one's national
citizenship and the harmonizing of all interests in the
great purpose of God.
31
Practise a World Citizenship. It is essential that Chris-
tians should know what are the things that cause mis-
understanding and war between nations. It is essential
also that they learn to test their national policy and legis-
lation by its relation to international justice and the wel-
fare of all peoples. They must be quick to protest against
any measure that is calculated to cause friction in other
nations. They must be active in upholding all measures
which make for world justice, the disarmament of nations,
the prevention of war, and the promotion of world peace.
VII. THINGS TO BE DONE
We submit here some suggestions showing what can
be done by a group of young people. These are not
based on theory, but are all statements of things done
by groups in various places. One caution may be noted:
Do not attempt too many things at once. Find out the
first needs of the community and give attention to these
first. Do the things that are most urgent and in which
you can enlist workers. But get some things done and
do not merely talk about them. Begin, and you will learn
how as you go on. The worst kind of doing is doing
nothing.
Some Definite and Practical Suggestions
In Daily Life and Conduct
Be thoughtful of others, and be especially considerate
toward children, the aged, and the poor.
Show respect for teachers, strangers, police officers;
toward clerks and customers.
Visit the sick and invalids with flowers and cheer.
32
In the Church
Cooperate heartily in the work of all its organizations,
Have a committee for the sale and distribution of good
literature.
Have a library containing volumes on the church and
its work, on missions and social service.
Have a " Pleasant Sunday Afternoon " in the church
for strangers, with refreshments and welcome.
Join with any other organization in the church in
holding church sociables.
In the Community
Study the community and know its needs by first-hand
information. Maintain a community club with such
things as band, orchestra, dramatic clubs, lectures, de-
bates, prize-speaking, spelling-bees, indoor games, classes
in sewing, manual arts, cooking, etc.
Carry on a systematic campaign against such evils as
intemperance, impurity, gambling, and foul literature, by
discussion, distribution of literature, and law enforcement.
Have a community extension school, with classes and
lectures in home-beautifying, civics, current questions, etc.
By all means hold a " Citizenship Service," in which
all persons who have come of age are recognized as full
citizens and charged to meet their responsibilities; in
most cases it may be well to cooperate with other or-
ganizations in these exercises.
Health
Plan a health crusade with the study of diseases, and
give attention to milk, flies, disinfectants, sanitation, hous-
ing.
33
Study housing conditions, secure a good building and
housing code, and see that it is enforced.
Inaugurate a " clean-up " day, and aid in keeping the
community clean, orderly, and sanitary.
Recreation
Study the question of recreation, and have a recreation
program covering all ages.
Carefully supervise places of amusement, such as dance-
halls, moving pictures, pool-rooms, news-stands, etc.
Have an art exhibit, with pictures from homes, schools,
clubs, etc.
Have a crop exhibit, showing the products, and re-
sources of the community.
Hold a corn carnival, showing the work of boys' corn
club.
See that public drinking-fountains are provided, and
place a fountain in front of the church.
Offer a prize for the best window-gardens and best-
kept house yard.
Conduct a flower show, and carry on a flower mission
for the sick and hospitals.
Foreigners
Have an Americanization program for foreigners be-
ing naturalized.
Have classes for benefit of foreigners, with instruction
in English, housekeeping, care of children, cooking, food
buying, etc.
See that sections where foreigners live are clean,
sanitary, well lighted, free from immoral agencies, with
proper recreation facilities.
34
Aid foreigners in finding employment; see that they
have fair play and proper police supervision.
Cooperate in folk festivals representing different na-
tionalities by dress, song, etc.
Plan historical pageants, showing history of the neigh-
borhood by song, costume, float, drama, etc.
Children
Cooperate in securing regular medical inspection of all
children.
Secure open-air schools for weak children, with physi-
cians and nurses.
See that every child is well nourished and well pro-
tected.
Give every child a chance to play and be a child.
Know what child labor laws we have and see that they
are enforced.
Find out whether boys and girls are on the streets at
night; urge parents to look after children and have a
curfew ordinance enforced.
Dependents
Study poverty, sickness, unemployment, and be more
active and efficient than lodge or union.
Secure employment for those in need, and induce the
city to maintain a public employment agency.
Maintain a wayfarers' lodge, where work is offered to
any who desire it.
Jails and Prisons
Visit jails and prisons, hold religious services, get ac-
quainted with prisoners, and find them work on their
release.
35
Insist upon proper separation of all prisoners, and
have instruction for all, with manual training.
Induce the city to maintain a city farm for tramps and
short-termers, with work in the open air, the pay for
work being given to the family.
Secure a curfew law, and see that it is properly en-
forced.
Industrial Conditions
Study industrial conditions and needs in the com-
munity, giving special attention to working conditions,
hours of work, wages, health of workers, etc.
Insist upon one day of rest in seven for all workers,
securing such by State law, and providing wages based
upon a six-day week, and not a seven-day week.
Advocate brotherhood in industry by encouraging con-
ferences for discussion of industrial questions and pro-
moting industrial democracy.
Organize a working-girls' club, with supper for a dime,
with study, music, and friendship.
Study what is being done by employers and workers
in behalf of industrial partnership, cooperation, and more
Christian industrial conditions.
Send to the Secretary of the Department of Social
Education for literature interpreting the industrial prob-
lem and showing what can be done to secure a more
Christian industrial system.
City Administration
Know what the city administration is doing, getting
behind it when doing well, but getting after it if it is
negligent.
36
Have a committee on conferences with city adminis-
tration and police department.
Ask for a school of instruction for police officers.
Insist that the people provide a police matron and
women police officers.
Have a city reference bureau, giving information on
taxation, lighting, heating, water-supply, sanitation, city
planning, housing, franchises, and other community safe-
guards and interests.
Study all city franchises, seeing that they are for
limited terms and that the interests of people are properly
safeguarded.
Study the system of taxation, and provide that taxes
shall be equitably levied.
Know the qualification of all candidates for public of-
fice, maintain a high standard, and have every citizen
register and vote.
Cooperate with the local federation of churches and
with other community agencies.
Emphasize the duty of every Christian to be an in-
formed and active citizen.
World Citizenship
Keep informed concerning international questions, and
know what are the issues at stake.
Whenever possible invite some qualified person to come
and explain the questions involved.
Keep in touch with the denominational and interde-
nominational agencies that are working for world justice
and an end of war.
Send for literature bearing upon international questions
and see that it is carefully distributed.
37
Arrange for a course of at least six talks or addresses
on world questions.
Gather a few good books bearing upon questions of
war, the relation of nations, the federation of peoples, the
world-wide scope of Christianity.
Have one or more classes studying world questions,
using such study-books as " Christ and the Nations,"
by Batten; "Marks of a World Christian," by Fleming;
" International Aspects of Christianity," by Davis;
" Everybody's World," by Sherwood Eddy; " The Chris-
tian Basis of World Democracy," by Latourette; " World
Facts and America's Responsibility," by Patton.
Any effort that will help anybody in any way is the
translation into deed of some article of the Christian
faith. The most fatal heresy here or hereafter is an un-
loving heart and an unserving life.
Available Information
The following list of available information is offered
in leaflet form (it is free and may be had upon applica-
tion):
Social Service Defined
" A Social Service Catechism."
" What is Social Service ? "
" Social Service Ideals."
Organizing the Church
" The Social Program of the Local Church,"
" The Efficient Church."
38
Social Studies
" Social Studies for Adult Classes, Brotherhoods," etc.
" A Social Service Reading Course."
" Bibliography on the Rural Church and Country Life."
" The Social Service Year."
" Social Suggestions for Program Makers."
" Training for Citizenship."
Community Study
" What Each Church Should Know About its Com-
munity."
" The Town Program."
" The Civic Program."
What to Do
" The Social Program of the Local Church."
" The Practice of Brotherhood."
" A Plan of Social Work," by the Federal Council.
" Brotherhood in Action."
" Adult Class Activities."
" The Brotherhood Standard."
" The Church and Industry."
" A Christian Industrial Program."
" Social Justice."
Information on any point will gladly be furnished free
on application to the Rev. Samuel Zane Batten, Secretary
of the Department of Social Education and Brotherhood
of The American Baptist Publication Society, 1701-1703
Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
39
PITTS THEOLOGY LIBRARY
EMORY UNIVERSITY
300000439972