The Advocate and news., 1898-09-07

doctrines as since perverted are as different
as day and night. Most OF the working
men regard Christ as very prominent
man who took firm stand for the eman-
ciDation of the oppressed, and II he were
living to-day would belong to their party.
Some of the men, however, in their re-
plies, still retain a religious devotion to
the Lord and acknowledge his entirely
unique character, and do not deny the pos
sbility OF the miracles ascribed to him.
(D Concerning Luther Social democratic
and Ultramontaine innuendo has succeeded
In producing a caricature OF the Reformer
In the minds or the wOrkingmen OF Ger
many. They know Of him only I'm relation
to the peasants war and the double mar
riage OF Philip of Hesse. Many of those
replying know nothing whatever OF him.
90 Concerning God and creation. God is
regarded by many as an impossibility. Ma
ture Is God The fact Of creation seemed
to perpleX many Of the respondents. They
say that the world was not created, but II
came into existence. The word "evolu
ton solves the problem for them. They
are advocates Of Darwin's theory. The
Biblical account Of creation Is unscientific
and an offense to conscience and a him
drance to higher type Of faith. Even the
Christian class Of wOrklngmen do not stand
on much higher level They do not ac-
Cept the Biblical account as 1t stands, but
understand Ii symboliCally.
6) Concerning marriage and family life.
This Is the most cheerful and encouraging
CIdDleT III IllS WnOle series OF answers,
Radical and destructive voices are very
few, even among the social democrats.
Monogamy Is strongly defended, and pro-
tests are determined against anything that
would undermine it, II is generally de-
manded that women should have greater
rights than they have at present. Mar
riage and family life are regarded as
sources OF the greatest blessings and 1t is
deeply deplored that the present condi-
tiOns of Industrial life have a tendency to
interfere with this happiness. 1t Is a COM
mon complaint that the wOTkingman with
an education above the average has great
difficulty In finding a congenial companion.
The replies are almost unanimous in main
tanning the high moral value OF family life
for the education of the children.
CD Concerning the qualifications Of a true
man. The general consensus is that he
should be true to his convictions. should be
truthful and fitted with a noble ambition
for self-culture and Improvement Of mind.
There is little doubt but that SINH
lar inquiry set on foot in the United
States would give about the same re-
suits. American workingmen generally
feel that the church has Outlived its use
fulness. They look upon 1t as turning
its face more to the monied man, of
standing by those (which devour wild
Ows' houses, and for a pretence make
long prayers" rather than teaching the
truths that Christ taught. There are
few, IL any, representative American
, workipgmen who will quarrel with
Christ's doctrines as they read them in
the New Testament, but there are many
who claim that these are not really found
in the churches-the same complaint as
that Of the German workers. The ethical
movement among the churches has
shown that the wage-wOrkers are alive
to teaching Of what they feel to be the
true Christianity.