SCIENTIFIC VALUE OF THE SOCIAL SETTLEMENTS.
No present-day effort for the elevation of society has attracted more attention, or been less understood, than what is known as the social-settlement movement. Toynbee Hall, the first university settlement, was founded about fifteen years ago. Since then the movement has spread, and there are now some seventy-five of these social clearing houses, of which forty-five are in American cities. Eleven of these are in Chicago. The Chicago settlements have formed themselves into a settlement federation that meets quarterly to discuss problems of city life.
It is difficult accurately to define a social settlement, as the work is so unique, differing according to the problems of the community. The Chicago federation spent several of its meet- ings in trying to formulate an adequate definition, but finally concluded not to be too hasty in the matter. So they left the forming of a definition to some future time when the settlement movement will have more history behind it. As what can be accepted as an adequate definition cannot therefore be given, a brief description of the events that led to the founding of Toyn- bee Hall will perhaps best introduce the subject.
The university-extension movement may be said to have opened the way ; or, to be more accurate, the university-exten- sion idea took root in the English universities at the same time that the social-settlement movement began; and both were the result of a dawning democratic spirit in the social evolution of England. It took the form of a generous sentiment in Un- English univ which demanded that wealth and culture should give the best it had to those who needed it most. Rus- kin, Maurice, and Professor Green were among the personalities who heralded this sentiment. The lar^ -lu arted English char- acter could not rest until this new idea was thoroughly cxpl>- On the one hand Cambn ned the mysteries <>t its lecture
171
