1915-03-29io

“Before a large congregation in Centenary church last evening, Rev. J. Woodsworth, B. A., secretary of the Canadian Social Welfare Society, spoke on the ‘Church and Community Problems.’ ””

Hamilton Spectator.    March 29, 1915.

It was an important message given by one of Canada’s most respected speaker on social justice, Reverend J. Woodsworth:

“Mr. Woodsworth is qualified to speak on this subject as he has made this his life’s work.”¹

¹  “Poverty and Social Conditions : Rev. J. Woodsworth,  B. A. On the Church and Community Problems”

Hamilton Times.   March 29, 1915.

The speaker readily admitted that the groundwork for the views expressed in his address came from his work in Winnipeg, but he was sure that the conditions were very similar in a city like Hamilton.

Bascically, Rev. Woodsworth was of the opinion that poverty was the primary cause of most social problems, and the reason for most social eveils:

“ ‘Theology teaches us that we must look after our brother,’ said the speaker, ‘when we do this we are following the first teachings of Christianity. We give a beggar a quarter on the street, but do you not think it is to still our own conscience and not help the beggar?

“ ‘Science has placed the means of dealing with the social problems in our grasp. Years ago, science found the well-known rule of cause and effect. This is particularly apparent in medical science. Smallpox is now practically eliminated, and they say by eliminating the cause, tuberculosis will be abolished.

“ ‘Social work is now being done along business lines. Instead of giving the beggar a quarter if he has lost a leg, as the case very often is, they give him a cork leg and help him to get work. They eliminate the cause of him being a beggar and help him to hold up his head.

“ ‘The same rule applies in sickness. Our sickness, in big cities, is generally caused from poverty and squalor. The social worker improves the dwellings and shows them hygienic methods of living. We find that this tends to lessen crime and degeneracy, and once more, we have the old rule of cause and effect. In Winnipeg, the housing conditions are bad and we are striving to eliminate this evil there.

“ ‘In social work, there should be no denominations. The hospital, recreation rooms, associated charity should be done by all the churches in a community. I see that you have no associated charity in this city, but I believe that it will come here because through this system the relief work is handled much better.’ ”¹

Rev. Woodsworth used charts to illustrate how infant mortality and other major problems associated with poverty could be reduced by either an increase in the wages of the working man, or by a reduction in the cost of the necessities average families needed to live properly and more healthily.

The speaker spoke hopefully of the future, that poverty and its resultant social problems could be significantly reduced, if not eliminated.