Social Settlements

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) groups of social workers who live among the lower classes in the slum districts, first, to obtain first hand information of conditions which create poverty, and, second, to offer relief and educational assistance at first hand. The idea of obtaining such close contact with the sources of social misfortune originated with the Christian Socialists an association of educated Englishmen who were active during the middle of the last century. One of these, Edward Dennison, was the first who went to live among the poor of London, in 1867, to obtain first hand information of social conditions among them. Another deeply interested student was Arnold Toynbee, who, on his death, left a legacy which was to be devoted to the establishment of what was to be the first social settlement, Toynbee Hall, opened in London, in 1885. Only two years later the Neighborhood Guild, now known as the University Set- Guild, tlement, was opened in New York City. The largest social settlement in this country is Hull House, opened in Chicago, in 1889, at whose head is Jane Addams. Its influence has extended all over the city of Chicago, and the results of its sociological studies form an important part of sociological literature in general in this country. The object of the settlement house is strongly in contrast to that of any charitable institution in that it seeks to stimulate the poverty-stricken classes to improve their condition by their own efforts. To this end clubs and associations are organized among the people of the neighborhood for the purpose of studying a multitude of subjects and for selfimprovement. Credit unions are formed for the purpose of assisting mutually those who may meet unexpected misfortunes. As another instance, the Neighborhood Guild Settlement House, in New York City, has organized among the women of its neighborhood a co-operative society, which carries on a successful grocery store business through which the members obtain many of the necessaries of life at lower cost. Many other settlements stimulate their neighbors to purchase their winter supplies of coal by this method. Other settlements devote much attention to the training of mothers. One, the Nurses' Settlement, in New York City, sends trained nurses to the homes in a wide district in cases of sickness, especially in maternity cases. Throughout the large American cities there are about one hundred settlement houses. struggle in Roman history. M. Livius Drusus proposed a law for investing the Italian allies with the privileges of Roman citizens; but it was strongly opposed by the senators, the knights, and the people, and Drusus was assassinated 91 The Marsi, who took the lead B. C. (whence the name Marsian or Marsic, also given to that war), the Peligni, the Samnites, the Lucani, and almost every nation in Italy except the Latins, Tuscans, and Umbrians, revolted and established a republic in opposition to that of Rome. In the first campaign the Romans met with some severe losses. Nola was taken by the Samnites; the consul, P. Rutilius, and his lieutenant, Q. Cæpio, were defeated and slain, and many cities were captured. On the other hand Sylla Marius a great victory and obtained the Marsi, and L. Cæsar defeated the Samnites. In the second campaign, 90 B. C., the Romans defeated the Marsi and induced them, together with the Vestini, Peligni, and Marrucini, to make a separate peace. Sulla, the Roman general, destroyed the town of Staliæ, defeated a large army near Nola, reduced the Hirpini to subjection, and defeated the Samians. The Romans were induced, hearing that Mithridates VI., King of Pontus, intended to aid the allies, to adopt measures of conciliation, and one state after another submitted and received the gift of Roman citizenship. After the close of this campaign the war dwindled away till conclusion, 88 B. C., it was brought to a by the remainder of the Italian states receiving the concessions they required. During this war, called the Social War, 300,000 men were slain. SOCIETIES FOR ETHICAL CUL- TURE. The first Ethical Culture society was founded in New York City in 1876, by Dr. Felix Adler, who was then a lecturer at Cornell University. His object was to offer a substitute for the orthodox church to those who had abandoned belief in orthodox religion, forming a movement which should retain the ethical teachings of the churches without their religious ceremonies and rituals. The original society in New York later established a kindergarten and a school for older children which became models of their kind in this country. The latter was the first to adopt manual training and demonstrate its value as a medium for education. Similar societies were soon organized in other American cities, and, later, in Berlin, Paris, London and other large European cities.