COLLEGE VOLUNTARY STUDY COURSES

"A Challenge to Life Service" is the fourth of a series of text-books known as College Voluntary Study Courses. The general outline for this curriculum has been prepared by the Committee on Voluntary Study of the Council of North American Student Movements, representing the Student Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Associations and the Student Volunteer Movement, and the Sub-Committee on College Courses of the Sunday School Council of Evangelical Denominations, representing twenty-nine communions. Therefore the text-books are planned for the use of student classes in the Sunday School, as well as for the supplementary groups on the campus. The present text-book has been written under the direction of these Committees.

The text-books are not suitable for use in the academic curriculum, as they have been definitely planned for voluntary study groups.

This series, covering four years, is designed to form a minimum curriculum for the voluntary study of the Bible, foreign missions, and North American problems. Daily Bible Readings are printed with each text-book. The student viewpoint is given first emphasis-what are the student interests? what are the student problems?

INTRODUCTION

In the midst of our modern world, where confusion is made more confused by the immense publicity that is given to all our problems and shortcomings, the individual Christian man or woman wonders in a kind of amazed perplexity, "What can one of us possibly do in the face of a situation like this?"

These studies are intended to indicate the lines along which each individual may work out the answer for himself. Facing the great problems of the modern world, an attempt is made to point out the lines of Jesus' solution, and to examine frankly whether the Christian can apply them as he meets present day conditions. It is hoped also that help is given in the discovery of how one may make the entire round of life-working hours and spare time alike-serve the Kingdom of God.

Readings and Suggestions for Thought and Discussion have been omitted from Chapter I, which is introductory. Daily Readings have also been omitted from Chapter XII in order that full consideration may be given during the week to the actual questions raised in the Study for the Week.

The authors wish that these studies shall be regarded as suggestive. The themes handled are of such consequence that no one can claim any finality in their treatment.

While those who write must accept final responsibility, this book truly represents the results of the experience of many men and women who have put their material freely at the disposal of the authors. Throughout its whole course, the work has been done in the closest cooperation with the members of the Committee on Voluntary Study of the Council of North American Student Movements and the members of the Sub-Committee on College Courses of the Sunday School Council of Evangelical Denominations; they are especially to be thanked for their patience, persistence, and courtesy in constructive suggestion.

CHAPTER I

TENSION POINTS IN THE MODERN

WORLD

I

As he looks out upon his work in life, the first impulse of a man born under the influence of liberty is finely unselfish. Facing the world as yet beyond our immediate experience, each one of us wants to live a life of purpose and daring in the interests of mankind; we want to leave the life of men better for our having been a part of it all. No one of us is without some conception of a world as we would have it; but as we plan for the future and try to see our own part in making wrong right, we are confused and bewildered. The enormous extent and infinite complexity of our modern problems baffle us: where can a person begin? what can one individual do?

II

Our bright ideals of a new order in society seem remote and impossible. The rich stand over against the poor through the length and breadth of the land, labor and capital raise the noise of an incessant tumultuous wrangling, the races stand apart in suspicion or mix in sharp and bitter conflict, the nations of the world are tearing at one another's throats. Well may we ask, What's wrong with the world?

Vividly we realize the contrast between what is and what ought to be in the difference between the rich and the poor. There is enough land to give every family a little plot, there is enough food in the world to satisfy everybody; yet everywhere, even in our new American cities, the poor are crammed

into terrible tenements, condemned to a life from which even common decencies are debarred. Along Fifth Avenue in New York, along Michigan Avenue in Chicago, rolls the long line of automobiles bearing those upon whose maintenance enough is spent to provide every comfort for the thousands of their fellow-creatures who, a few blocks off, awake daily to a grim and desperate struggle for mere existence. Blame not those who ride who is free from responsibility?

And he who knows the slums of America and of Europe has only had a first lesson in poverty. Look at Asia. We know nothing of the terrible famines that leave a trail of death and disease across India and China. Not thousands or hundreds of thousands, but millions upon millions live with want staring them in the face every day of their lives.

Yet, over against the desperate condition of the poor must be set the new optimism of vigorous leaders in the social reform of our own days. As the representative of a class of serious students, Edward T. Devine, a worker at once scientific and enthusiastic, has dared to proclaim that poverty can be abolished in America. If in America, why not everywhere? After all, there may be something for us to do.

III

Again the difficulty appears in the labor question. It seems to have appeared among us as a great conflict-strikes and lock-outs, wild destruction of property and violent reprisals, sullen suspicion and furious hate.

The story of the process that has built up our modern system has been told many times.1 A kind of two-class system has been created: the capitalists have all the capital, plant, and machinery; the workers, just their ability to labor. The workers have no interest in the business they help to create, they have no control over those who direct their work. The trade unions have been organized so that by the force of united effort the laborers may secure certain conditions and wages

1 See Rauschenbusch, "Christianizing the Social Order."