The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
CHRISTMAS FOR THE POOR.
Felix Adler Speaks About its Significance
TO Humble People.

"The Christmas festival is once more at our
door, says Pro-. Adler, land will be celebrated
in many families. But the question with which
we have to deal this morning il sHow will
Christmas come to thos- who live in tenement
houses p Christmas was originally festival
of good tidngs to the poor. Jesus was one of
those prophets sent by God whose soul re-
belled against the inequalities in the condition
of life. Christ said the whole terrestrial house
must be rebuilt, and a kingdom of perfect
justice established
'The second phase of the message of Chris
tianity was that the cherished hope of the
Christian faith should be fulfilled in the life
hereafter. Aud this has been the theme of
Christian teaching ever since. A great many
enlightened men ask to-day is 1t not cruel
thing to deprive the poor man of this Chris
tian comfort by telling him that there is no
personal Immortality of the soul 2 Must not
despair Of the lowly of this world be the out
come of a destruction of such faith And is
ths belief in Heaven not an indispensable
fancy that is necessary to keep the depressed
and poorer elements Of society in check?
''My answer is that this belief need not to
be weakened, though 1 admit that working
people nowadays read and have learned TO
make use of their common sense. l. is q fact
that is patent to all that especially the women
of the poorer classes have deserted the church
en- masse.
10 VHNSt peOplo WUdJ TleHsHpe OF nope
does this Christmas season bring? Christmas
js in reality only the old mildly winter festival
revived. 1t is the turning point of darkness
which has passed, and spring is certain to
come. 1t is therefore a festival peculiarly ap-
propriate for the poor to celebrate. The winter
of the discomfort Of the poor is not yet over
Their condition cannot be changed at once
But they may celebrate Christmas by antcipa-
ton.
"The turning point of darkness for the poor
is nothing but great moral movement among
the working classes and the employers as
well. The hopeful outlook for them is in CO.
operation. They must establish factories and
commercial houses with their own savings.
This idea of cooperation is not new idea. 1t
has been successfully tried in Germany since
Schultz-Delitsch, in 1852, started the co-opera-
tive associations. which have now capital of
$3.50, 000,0 900. But especially in France has
productive cooperation succeeded wonder
fully. The societies OF piano and chair makers,
the masons and many other branches of in
dustry on the cooperative principle are in a
highly fourishing condition. France is far
ahead Of the world in this respect.
"But the higher forms of cooperation has
very often failed in England. The reason of
this failure is deficiency in the moral qu1li-
ties of the people. At the outset sacrifices are
always necessary, and some enthusiasm is in
dispensable in making these sacrifices. The
cation. Those who unite in this manner
should keep down the spirit Of Jealousy and
envy. There must also be spirit Of strict sub
ordination under the appointed leaders The
masses must learn to yield to superior mental
power, for without these qualifications there
will be lack of conference and unity. Moral
! teaching alone can effect this change, which
! il necessary to success.
"But the lack of business ability is most ssri-
ously felt among tire working people Honesty
alone is not sufficient. Cooperative associa-
! tions must have the commercial equipment OF
| practical business men. The moral impulse
! must therefore seize the employers as well as
the employed, as the former generally possess
the commercial equipment. The manufac-
| turers and great merchants must learn to give
up their exclusive profits and employ part OF
| their talents for those who work under them.
! But you may say Can human nature be sc
changed p By that you really mean the dirty
SIDE of human nature. Employers must learn
| to value their work, for the sake of the work
and not for the sake of the profit. Practical
| business men have n higher profession than a
teacher, because they translate all our moral
ideas into practice. But l admit that it is al
most hopeless 10 preach unselfishness to men
who live under the competitive system of to-
day, because everybody else is doing his best
to out-bd his neighbor complete change
of the outward nature of life is necessary liz
order to accomplish such relief.
g" l saw plainly, therefore, that the ethical
movement must lead to such attempts as
those. 1t must reach the life or else it is but
a mockery. We must live our moral principles
out No partial approval is asked. Our teach.
ings must penetrate to life and spread among
the working classes. address myself espec
ally to the young men in the Society of ETH
cal Culture. But has this Christmas season nc
encouragement for us? Yes. it has. There is
a consolng thought We all have our burdens
to carry we are fellows of the poor in endur.
ing many hardships and we suffer from the
imperfections Of human existence on earth.
Christmas is the festival of childhood, anC
our children are the consolation of our souls
We ought to try to keep away from them wha'
has proved bitter experience to us. In our
children remains to us species of immortality
| n, ~