, 1880-03-28
FELIX ADLER

NAA<%%
work he is doing. It is quite the fashion to say
with sneer,-that is, in fashionable circles, and
| which arc, of course, church circles
| - Felix Adler!-a tJew-and d renegade Jew
| at that Very true, yet strange enough
sneer after all, for, US o. B. rockingham once
remarked, ia very large portion of the world
| worships Jew, and another very large portion
| Jewess;" yet we always hear snir and sneer
| Tor Jew in any guisc. But enough; Listen to
| little story Of the work Of one jew. Felix Ad-
Ter preuches IN Chickor!ng Hall to the "Soeiety
Of Ethical Culture It. is society which h is
many do not know; but that immense hall is
| damned every Sunday morning to hear this
stands q small desk with natural flowers
upon it, screens behind and ut either side
At II clock the doors are closed; not to keep
meetings, but to Keep them out, as Prof. Adler
wishes TO speak in quiet, 4 German singing So
cicty sing something, and then Prof. Adler steps
forward In front Of his desk uud speuks, ut first
in rather low tone, and with dellberation, but
soon with IN mpassioned vehemence which in
senso carries Ms hsare[s Win q am ad 1rnYs
applause. Theologically one may believe every
thing or nothing and yer hear Prof. Adler
with satisfaction, for he pleads the cause of hui
manity aoue, and it seems to ms that no ono can
hear him without being stirred to the very
depths Of the soul with desire to live for
Others He feels with many other people in our
great cities that we arc upon the eve OF
COMMUN1sTtC REyoLUTION,
and that the mass Of the very poor-lfke many
others more fortunate in worldly ahatra-are
fast coming to believe that we have but one life
to live aud that they are, therefore, to grasp a!l
that they can get here, and are no longer content
to be told that 1t Is easier Tor poor man to got
into Heaven than it is for Il ricn one, and t1l.it
they are to be content with treasures in Heaven
instcud Of having good time on earth. Io
avert the danger of d revolution, these people
must be given some resources, something to
make life pleasant How Is 1t to be done? This
is his plan. He personally works among these
people; he sees that their lives arc all drudgery,
with need Of better food, and more foud and
material comforts Of all kinds, and they are III
many, indeed, in most cases, too poor to send
heg 5a It clothes G foe help
established in New York a gear or two ago 4
dozen schotars, they now have several hundred;
III connection with it they have district nurses
who are enthusiasts in their profession. There
is also Il society house, where the women who
are interested in this work go and sew once Il
week. and send out bed linen md clothing that
the While a TEX t tho ek 4hn bass n5o
at the time te,lch cleanliness order, thrift
and tho little rchnements of home life; The
telling OF the plans of the school, Prof. Adler
pianted some telling blows ri f. IT the ribs OF Our
He ran ovor with amusing ruplty and to the
delight Ut the audience the way in which chill
drsa tauht seaGEphi e. 4paoie etS Si 4ne
lasting Injury that is done by the constant up
peal 10 the memory rather than to tne
Of re9 c
So many capitals and chief cities, so many
churches. so many tobaceo, raising counties IN
&c tnad easy Forgotten, and axays 70 be found in
the pages Of gazetteer: He would teach geog-
rnphy by heg!nninf WIN me ~ aouSu, ~. WIN ~
with the lay OF tho land, with tho rivers that
flow BY our doors, whore thoy come from, where
they 80 to, and Whit they pass. ae W. wouln ,enc1 20
socrntcs and bis unpleasant wife. and So lctdng
to Greece OF esus st nu ~ as j afSer ru
9 M IL tne ,xaH wd nd reform l he redin
pooK ING cnlhlron snu44 eair ~ sptG tap {hni uIr
G0the, anu schll!cr' una onAhsE'ease tn'' 'ne's
A''''4>'s '4'' The @ HIGHER LlrEnArunE,
and to so elevate them that thc;. might not care
for the lower and so hrii1I, into their lives
science and chemistry to interest tho
nurhjne-tcndcr in the puwcr that drives
tho wheels, and to appreciate partially
ut least the great discoveries. In the
new school they h0Ee to do these things,
and in this way hc would make the laooring man
content to remain II his work, having somc-
he makes bis appeals Intensely personal. He
says, With slight accent which is very charm.
ng s a eee ws to o den In fhe
and always will pc; but that is not our work.
You-you man in that scat there" pointing
l0n6 QECfuuS IHcEDc uAls ntlE - WITH III
you; here IS Il sick man in such d street ana
number; he needs food, fire, and nursing;
give him your time. your money. 1ou>
have none, you say. It is not 50. You have nia-
terial comforts; deprive yourself and let him
keep his life. You have no right to let him lose
it while you can save. You, woman. listen:
here Is a little child, girl, her soul still pure
aud spotless as the driven SHOW. She will learn
to speak soon: she will learn to listen; it Is for
you TO say IT she shall grow up to her Inevitable
fa.e On tic streets or to a trus womanhood'
Such appc1 1ls US these stir the soul, and one
cannot nfter hearing them feel thnt there Is amy
exclse fer life that IS not one Of self
ubncgatiOn. PrOf. AulaF IS young-1ust -
l Am roll,-aud is Of medium hight. slight, nery-
Gus, aud wiry. His audience IL largely JEWISH,
but by no means wholly SO. There are many
thoughtfnl. carnest faces among them. ana it Is
amusing to sec people iook at each other; Gaen
The tant of hercsy is blown out Of the hall bG,
fore Monday morning w the Buptists. M1n hold
forth there every Sunday aitcrnoou' Nel1' may
peace attend tlielr doctrine. II IS more com
fortaple' aoupt!ess. 70 oe goo4 Itapt!st inan y
menDer of INC socicly oI Ethlcti tuiturg,
but aoubt II us doctrthes st1r SO deep1y the
inner heart ..,--
THE ARTIST II ENTER
er " s hs one IN lis M
which is especially remarkable. 1t is very small
and on near view Is Il mass Of dull and almost