IDEALS OF SOCIAL REFORMERS 203
gies of the Spirit in it, bringing out of its chaos the beauties of a new world.
We have this two-sided faith. But cur faith is not yet sup- ported on all sides by knowledge. The two chemical elements have not yet completed their union in us. A long and earnest process of thought is necessary. We must overhaul all the departments of our thought and work out that social Christianity which will be immeasurably more powerful and more valuable to the world than either an unsocial Christianity or an unchristian socialism. After the process of union is in a measure completed in ourselves, we can become mediators for others, breaking down the middle wall of partition between Christianity and the social movement, bringing them into their just and natural relation to each other, infusing the exalted fervor and power of religion into the social movement, and helping religion to find its ethical out- come in the transformation of social conditions.
In examining the ideals of social reformers I shall try to take up the great ideals that are common to the whole social movement, rather than isolated schemes and measures. I shall first set forth the elements and tendencies in which we can heartily concur, and then the points where the dangers of the social movement seem to me to lie.
The starting point of the social movement is the conviction of the inherent worth of a human being. Its goal is to secure the recognition of that worth in all departments of life. The mention of a few facts will help us to realize that this feeling, that human life is a precious thing, is the hydraulic force in the social uplift.
We view with pity and indignation single concrete cases of suffering or wrong. Last summer the case of Maria Barberi agitated the people of New York. The pity may have been foolishly bestowed in this case ; I pass no judgment on that ; but the pity was there; thousands of people took thought for it that a single human life, one among two millions, was to be ended. Remember also the public resi-ntim-nt when wrongs done to a whole class are brought to light. Remember how the common
