Rev. John Graham Brooks, of Brockton, addressed a large audience last night in Sever 11. He tried, as he said, to tell a few results of his experience, the knowledge of which would have saved him much labor and many grave mistakes.

In the first place it is necessery to understand the problem. In works among the poor, the influence of the Catholic church is most important. The work of the church is admirable, but its ideas of civilization are different from ours, and if more than amusement or manual training is attempted, the priest is sure to interfere. In the next place, work among the lowest class is of little benefit without a lifelong experience. Amiable feelings are held in contempt by these people, and unless there is some real work to be done, some common ground for both, friendly sentiments are useless. It is not worth while to attempt simple amusement, for the amount of sin or drunkenness is not decreased by it. Relations however, with the more intelligent and prosperous often prove of real benefit. There are many work men ambitious to study, and a few men could do much for these by giving the results, for a few evenings a week, of their training. There is much that students could do. The members of the Eight-hour League, for instance, in Boston want to discuss their subject. Why do not a few men go into them? Two groups of Socialists want to do the same. Henry George's Society has challenged business men, professors and clergymen alike without response. The work men have an intense and growing interest in taxation, and want knowledge. Here are great opportunities for scholars, for the practical workers are not trained to this.

The relations between big and little shops demand study. Many societies have been formed whose members are pledged never to buy in large shops. The error here should be explained. The cause of longer hours in small shops the movement to buy only before six o'clock, these, too, await investigation. More than all, the problem of the surplus unskilled sewing women calls out for remedies. Facts are wanted to show that the idea, that cheap living reduces wages, is a fiction. Are employers forced to take advantage of the over-supply of labor, and would wages fall if attempts were made to save? If a man wants to do something, let him read Mrs. Field's and Mrs. Lowell's books on charity, and then let him go to the Associated charities. He will be brought immediately face to face with the problem of immigration with its ramifications in socialism, intemperance and cheap labor. The people of America do not realize their social responsibilities. The comfortable doctrine is accepted that the problems of poverty are too complicated for interference, and that competition will work everything out in time. The poor are not suffering for their own vices and sins, but for ours. We are responsible, and it is the duty of each of us to help where we can. It is true that the statistics of Political Economy are beyond our control, but the dynamics are in our power. As Mill said, the moral forces of Political Economy are now coming to the front.