JANE ADDAMS
Next week the Governor of Illinois, the Mayor of Chicago, and Senator Borah will join with other citizens in paying honor to Jane Addams. In so doing they will represent literally millions of thoughtful and grateful people throughout the world. America has possessed no finer exemplar of the highest patriotism than Miss Addams. For many years she has been the target of vituperation from those frightened super-patriots whose conception of citizenship is summed up in vocal flag-waving. With that sensitiveness characteristic of a woman so finely wrought she has suffered keenly under the stinging accusations that she was a "Red," a "Radical" and a "Communist;" but she has suffered with dignity and without public complaint. The militarists, challenged and confused into stupid recrimination by the reasoned presentation of a saner and more Christian ethic, have become touched with madness in their attacks on Miss Addams and those who stand with her for a better social order. Vitriolic and false accusations have been issued by such organizations as the Military Order of the World War, the League of Industrial Defense, and the Better America Federation. For many years THE CHURCHMAN has challenged officials of these and similar organizations to produce evidence for this accusations against such leaders as Miss Addams. The "evidence" produced has been, without exception, the reiteration of baseless slander.
With undimmed joy in her life of intelligent and Christ-like love for the [underprivileged] Jane Addams has calmly tread the pathway of ministry. Fired with vision and enthusiasm by the work of Toynbee Hall in the East End of London, she established Hull House in Chicago in October, [1889]. From the day of its opening until the present that social settlement, reflecting the insight and devotion of this discerning woman, perhaps more honored abroad than at home, has been the inspiration of social workers throughout the world.
Into the melting pot of Chicago, where racial lines cross and [recross], Miss Addams has poured the solvent of her love and wisdom, and goodwill has emerged from patterns drawn with taste and courage. For no venture in the realm of fellowship has tempered her daring. Cherishing and developing racial traditions she has broken down all barriers of racial ill-will and, with the hands of an artist, molded a kingdom of brotherhood.
One cannot but believe that from this source of high achievement emanated that faith in the potentialities of international goodwill which has brought upon her mountains of falsehood and misunderstanding. Each week one thousand people have come to Hull House for help, for information, for entertainment, for training. As she has watched this welding of many races into friendship and understanding, is it any wonder that Miss Addams should have found her faith in brotherhood justified, or that she should have projected her vision onto a larger and international canvas?
Of the stuff of Jane Addams have the saints of all the ages been spun. For to such all that may justly be called life is sacramental in substance.
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