PERMANENT COMMISSIONS COMMISSION ON INTER-CHURCH FEDERATIONS (State and Local) Chairman Executive Secretary .Fred B. Smith This Commission seeks, in every community having two or more churches, the development of some form of organization by which these churches can coöperate in doing for the religious, social, and civic welfare of the community what they cannot do by working independently of each other. It plans to do this by personal visitation, correspondence, and literature. It seeks to help construct the machinery in the community through which the churches can work with one another and with other organizations and through which the Commissions of the Federal Council can function. During the year 1917 this Commission held a conference at Pittsburgh for the purpose of standardizing certain methods of work which have become successful features in the programs of many federations, or are in the period of testing. The eight reports carefully prepared by eight sub-commissions are now published in "The Manual of Inter-Church Work." COMMISSION ON EVANGELISM Chairman Executive Secretary ..James M. Speers .....Rev. Charles L. Goodell This Commission is organized to coöperate with the pastors and leaders of the churches in developing and maintaining an effective evangelistic movement throughout the nation. Where there are church federations, it will render any assistance in its power to make effective their federated evangelistic work. It will coöperate with denominational evangelistic commissions where there are no federated movements. In denominations where there are no organized evangelistic commissions it will be glad to give aid in the forming of such commissions and to supply such literature as may be helpful in the development of their work. The Commission has an aggressive evangelistic program and will furnish literature and methods wherever desired. It will act as a clearing house for the work of all the denominations and will keep each informed of the methods and results in other fields. Where vocational evangelism is desired it will furnish a list of accredited evangelists. It hopes to be of special service in urging upon churches, where such is needed, in view of the return of our soldiers, a federated Sunday night service. It will also by addresses and literature seek to develop home religion and to make the Sunday school a greater power in the spiritual life of the church. The Commission is the clearing house for the evangelistic work of the churches. Pastoral evangelism is being emphasized and the Secretary has addressed more than twenty thousand pastors in different church assemblies and has given courses of lectures on evangelism at many of the theological schools. The help of the Commission has been asked in federated movements in twenty-one states. COMMISSION ON THE CHURCH AND SOCIAL Vice-Chairman Executive Secretary Research Secretary SERVICE .Shelby M. Harrison .Rev. F. Ernest Johnson Assistant Research Secretary ..Miss Inez M. Cavert The purpose of the Commission is to coöperate with similar church organizations in the study and improvement of social conditions; to encourage the organization of departments or commissions of social service in denominations not so organized; to coöperate with the denominational agencies in organizing local churches for neighborhood and community service; to assist departments of social service in community federations of churches; to coöperate in public welfare effort with national social movements and agencies, and with departments of the national and state governments; to labor to establish social justice, democratic institutions and a Christian international social order. The following denominations have social service organizations with executive or field secretaries : Baptist, North: American Baptist Home Mission Society, Department of Social Serivce and Rural Community Work, Rev. Rolvix Harlan, Secretary, 23 East 26th St., New York, N. Y.; American Baptist Publication Society, Department Social Service Education, Rev. Samuel Z. Batten, Secretary, 1701 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa.; Baptist Social Service Federation, Rev. J. Foster Wilcox, Joint General Director, 23 East 26th St., New York, N. Y. Congregational: Social Service Commission, Rev. Arthur E. Holt, Secretary, 14 Beacon St., Boston, Mass. Disciples of Christ: Commission on Social Service and the Country Church, Prof. Alva W. Taylor, Secretary, Bible College, Columbia, Mo. Methodist Episcopal: Federation for Social Service, Rev. Harry F. Ward, Secretary, 150 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y. Presbyterian, U. _S. A.: Social Service Department, New Era Movement, Rev. John McDowell, Department Head, 156 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y.; Board of Temperance and Moral Welfare, Prof. Chas. Scanlon, Columbia National Bank Bldg., Pittsburgh, Pa. Protestant Episcopal: Department of Christian Social Service, 281 Fourth Ave., New York, N. Y. A representative from each of these denominations, together with the Secretaries of the Commission, compose a Secretarial Council formed to secure harmony of action. During the year 1919, the time of the executive secretary has been given largely, by consent of the Commission, to the work of the Interchurch World Movement. In February, at the request of the Department of Industrial Relations of the latter organization, the Secretary made a study of logging camps on the Pacific Coast. The report of this investigation has been printed and made generally available as a norm study. In July the Secretary went to Europe on a special mission for the Inter-church World Movement to study industrial conditions in the allied countries. During the three months spent abroad he gathered extensive and valuable data concerning industrial movements and social conditions in Great Britain and on the continent. During this time the Secretary held conferences with representatives of the various nations looking towards a conference in 1920 of social service representatives of the churches of these nations at a time just preceding or following the next World Alliance Congress. On the return of the Secretary from Europe an arrangement was made whereby he assumed the superintendency of the Division of Service of the Industrial Relations Department in the Interchurch World Movement. In addition to this close relationship the Secretary has been in frequent conference with the Department of Surveys of the Movement on the setting up of their various studies. In March, 1919, the Secretary, at the request of the Committee of Direction undertook to prepare material for a general statement on the relation of the church to the problems of social reconstruction. After much thought, research and several conferences, "The Church and Social Reconstruction" was presented by the Commission to the meeting of the Federal Council in May. The convention approved the statement for study by the churches and it took its place beside similar pronouncements of religious bodies throughout the world. This statement has been widely used and commented upon and has undoubtedly been influential. The Labor Sunday Message for 1919, including the statement just referred to, a discussion of democratic methods in industrial management and other similar material, was mailed to every Protestant pastor in charge of a congregation in America. The necessity of developing a wide constituency for the support of the Commission led in July to the establishment of a finance department which has been securing funds for the regular work of the Commission by continuous correspondence and publicity. This effort has resulted in multiplying many times the number of contributors. At the end of the year the Finance Department was taken over by the Federal Council and a common budget prepared including the work of the central office and of the several Commissions. The activities of the Research Department have been mainly in the field of industrial relations. A protracted investigation of the Lawrence textile workers' strike was made during the spring and a report prepared which is being made one of the standard pamphlet reports of the Commission. The Lawrence situation was, in many respects, typical and the investigation gave the Commission interesting and valuable contacts. Current labor movements throughout the world have been carefully studied, and the Secretary prepared a small volume "The New Spirit in Industry" for the use of ministers and others who desire to be informed concerning the major movements and tendencies in the labor world. The recent strike in the coal mining industry led to a careful investigation of conditions in the industry and of the negotiations leading up to the strike. A report designed to correct popular misunderstandings concerning the moral issues of the strike was given to the press. The Secretary has been coöperating with the Committee_on Industrial Relations of the Committee on the War and the Religious Outlook, both in conference and in the preparation of material for the report of that Committee. A relationship has been established with the Research Division of the Industrial Relations Department of the Interchurch World Movement and an agreement has been entered into in regard to assignments in research in order to prevent duplication and to make the results of both available to all. Original studies have been made in industrial establishments which have undertaken experiments in democratic management. An investigation was made into the extent of the development of church forums and a questionnaire conducted as to the success of these undertakings. A folder on the "Church Forum" was issued and has been made available for ministers who contemplate the installation of forums. Extensive correspondence has been carried on and information secured in all departments of religious social work for persons desiring it. The Secretary has attended a number of conferences and has made addresses before groups of ministers, college students, Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. groups and elsewhere. A Committee on Research has been created by the Committee of Direction, to make extensive plans for researches by the Department. An assistant research worker has been secured who is just commencing her duties. The plan for the future calls for researches in the field of routine social work by the churches and in the field of industrial relations from the ethical point of view. Especial attention is being given to social legislation. COMMISSION ON THE CHURCH AND COUNTRY Chairman LIFE .Gifford Pinchot Executive Secretary .Rev. Edmund de S. Brunner The Commission has assisted in the organization of a Rural Life Association in Ohio, and a Committee of Interchurch Cooperation consisting of leading officials of eleven denominations to investigate and report upon conditions of country life as affecting the churches. A survey has just been completed covering the country districts in Ohio, comprising an area of 40,000 square miles. The findings have been published under the title, "Six Thousand Country Churches." Substantial results have been achieved in the forwarding of the movement for conservation and improvement of the country churches and rural life in Ohio, including the awakening of a strong desire among the farmers for Christian coöperation in the small communities and a radical change in the program of many churches in a large area. The work of the Commission is indicated in the volumes entitled, "The Country Church" and "The Church and Country Life." NATIONAL TEMPERANCE SOCIETY AND Chairman ..Hon. Carl E. Milliken Chairman of Joint Exec. Com., Rev. Rufus W. Miller This Commission, united with the oldest American temperance society, works with the denominational and other agencies, to promote personal abstinence from intoxicating beverages, by research, exhibits, photoplays, lantern slides, literature, and the creation of public sentiment to ensure proper legislation. A "Strengthen America Campaign" makes large use of the daily press through the country. An active part was taken in securing Congressional action favoring the Constitutional Prohibition Amendment. Temperance mass meetings have been held in several cities. The following periodicals covering temperance interests are published: The National Advocate: A comprehensive temperance paper, designed primarily for use in churches and Sunday schools. Published monthly. Price, $1.00 per year; special rates to pastors, clubs, and Sunday school classes. The Youth's Temperance Banner: A "Youth's Companion" devoted to temperance stories and articles. Published monthly. Price, 30 cents per year; in clubs of ten or more to one address, 15 cents. |