The Hawaiian gazette., 1872-03-20
a Social Reconnaissance.

The widening gulf which the Bishop Of Manehes
ter lately ACKNOWLEDGED to exist between the work
Ing men Of England and their spiritual pastors
and masters" sp9Ss-s TO be even wider, or At
any rats TO have attracted greater attention, in
Germany. A recent gathering at Berlin Of Pro
testaut Clergy, 10 the number OF about twelve
hundred, Was specially eouvoked TO consider this
and other kindred social problems, in their relA-
tioDs to the Protestant church. These gentle
men were then told BY Dr. Wiehern, the found
CT Of the famous Rauhe Hsus'' reformatory, that
the International Society the bugbear OF European
statesmen and the annoyance OF New York police
commissioners, Is also fast becoming the Chureh's
rival, with a gospel which embraces both atheism
and the hatred Of God ard the Bible, the abolition
all worship, OF individual property, and Of mar
rage The evil being thus broadly described, we
almost hesitate to add that Dr.. Wchen is reported
TO have sought its origin in such adequate causes as
novel reading the high-priced dancing rooms OF
Berlin, ard kept women The only report Of his
speech At hand, however, is from hostile source,
and ii is hard to believe that 1t is not trsvesty of
the setusl language used. The cyuieism OF The re-
porter appears TO have likewise led him TO make Sc
lection OF the poorest suggestions offered by the
other speakers, though We might except from this
NAAC-NEN kAc ENAlAIA UN OuC u LuNlE NlulNGN klaA
''nO,hing can afford help but true Lutheran spirit
meaning 90 doubt, one thoroughly earnest" An
other speaker, II is sneeriugly said explained to
the gaping rursls the working Of his new system Of
ventilation, BY which the knotty problem under
consideration would be easily solved" But this
gentleman also, it appears 10 Us, had glimpse OF
the truth that CREST amount OF social discomfort
teuding towards the eager reception Of communism,
or whatever other vagSry first comes along, springs
out Of material Ills many OF which could be remov-
ed If The proper amount OF attention were given
them BY those whose position affords them The ways
and means Of doing so. Among workingmen there
is widespread notion that the rich, along with
whom they class the Clergy, who are generally far
from rich, wrapped up in sel6shness and wholly
Indifferent to the welfare OF all below them in the
social scale, exeep; IN so far as the circumstances
RAY pretty directly touch themselves. The idea 81
fects the conversation Of workingmen as & refrain
does the character Of poem. Aceost Que Of their
number, or group OF them, and lead up to it how
dstaniy and it will be taken up and reiterated
with bitterness which would probably be consider
ed even more oninous if It were less generally en-
eountered- The common allegation is that the en-
ployer is solely intent on his own profit and cares
less for his employees than for the stock 10 his abes
while the clergyman is manly careful TO be on the
blind side Of bis weil-to-do parishiouers and to 1
swell the statistics OF his church and denomination
This sort Of talk has in fact like the weather be-
come staple Like that also it is perhaps little
worn, which explains the paradox OF supposugit 10
be less alarming than If it less widely diffused
But besides its glaring injustice to the implicated
parties it governs the course Of too many lives and
decides the attitude Of too many persons sntagons-
cslly to their highest interests both here and here
lfer 10 be consigned TO the list of merely curious
Ind harmless delusious 1t is doing great mischief,
md needs to be attacked with vigorous hand en-
7loyinS not merely argument, but specific prsctcsl
means of proving it false. The ventilation scheme
alluded to may be one Of this sort and at suy nate
eems to be aimed in the right direction. The con
-ention, however. failed 10 recommend Il, or any
'ther specific, and in thus refraining undoubtedly
Exhibited considerable prudence. For there is no.
hing TO be gained and considerable to be lost in
Gaping at conclusions upon so abstruse an inquiry.
The convention affirmed its conviction that the
'durch should cooperate with the State in the set
lemeut Of the great social questions of the day.
nd herein it on safe, but not uutroddeu ground
The assertion Of Dr.. Wicheru that Christianity
lone is able TO fight the International Association,
nd TO turn the social couvulsious of our times to
God account, Christianity being the true Interua-
ioual Association, and the true Communicates
Communism Of the Church. will prove to be true
T false according TO the faihfuneSs With which the
eachers and professors of Christianity conform to
be spirit Of the Master and prove, by uumstakable
violence, that devotion to him, aud to that humanity
7hieh be came to save, is their ruling motive and
lst The spirit Of party which has been long their
ane, eau be laid ssde in the crisis which is arising
I'd which it has largely helped TO cause.
A writer in FrG-sr's Hagl-iHs, himself working
ian, shows in the following sentences one of the
lora fruits produced BY the existing social eoud
on Of the poor in England; !
s. fr religious belief q creed exists amous not o1ly the
Itreue poC but the working classes generally it nav be
nnsd % in I've ideas Fss that it ought bs for
eh enter the ksgiou q heaven That verify the
Cd do have their god things this lfe and the poor evil
ns and that therefore pyinep'e q justice the os
sht 20 be considered first ia the distribution q the life to
me seoad that if there is ary truth in the doctrine Of
sras iazuAtioa thea osld have been veil for the poor
ID they 1sver been horn the life ofmaRy CITIZEN being even
this sKis'eucs little better than hell gPou earth.
The picture would probsbly answer for Germany
ID other parts OF the continent nearly as well as for
ngand and its outlines may be traced even in this
neriean home of the vorkiugman's prosperity. q
be Christianity Of this country, believing in Dr.
icherns sketch Of its mission, is invited to take
nelly notice Of the work here suggested, aud gov.
D itself neutrality-suspicious. Of Colnsaerrs.