Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/236

 222 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

The usual function of institutions is to serve the individual in his development. The progress of society comes through the development of the individual. The state furnishes the freedom which results from protection against interference by others, and freedom must be had in order to make the realization of the individual, personal, ideal possible. The college assists in gain- ing intellectual strength. It serves other ends, but serves this chiefly. The home plays a large part in the fulfillment of the individual ideal by giving opportunity for the perpetuation of life in children, and for gaining the completeness of the individual.

The proper function of the church is like to that of the state, the college and the home. The church has all along been of service, though indirectly and by somewhat crude methods, in the struggle for self-realization. The church, to perform its func- tion, needs to render direct and skillful assistance. The ideal self is gained by personal growth, and if the church is to help in the gaining of this ideal self, it must be an institution for the production of development. But the production of development is education, and the church is, therefore, in the last analysis, an educational institution.

A common use of the word "educational" makes it mean the disciplinary processes connected with intellectual strength-gather- ing. The process of strengthening physical life is called "train- ing." But educational processes are not always directed toward the development of intellectual life. The gymnasium teacher is an educator. It is educational discipline by which he produces physical strength and perfect control of strength. The church, producing as it does a development of life, is in the full sense of the word an educational institution, and is to be classed with institutions of this kind.

The special work of the church is the education of the ethi- cal and religious life. The discipline of the college will con- tribute to this, and that of the church will contribute to intel- lectual development, but the centers of the activities of the two institutions are distinct. It is the business of the church to