The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-17
NEW BOOKS
THE woRK1NeMAN AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

THE WORKINGMAN AND SOCIAL PHOBLEMS.
By Charles Stelzle. Chicago: Fleming H. Rev
ell company. Minneapolis: N. Mccarthy.
Price 10 cents.
The author Of this book, Rev. Charles
StelZle, was for some years a resident OF
Minneapolis and wasEConspicuously iden-
titled with the effective mission and So
Geological work of Westminster church,
having charge Of Hope chapel and the di-
rection Of the boys club and rescue and
other ameltorattve work Of that active
church. He has notable experience in set
Element and mission work-activity which
Is engaging the attention of thousands OF
Christian people, who are stimulated by
its promising results and are impressed
with a new sense Of personal obligation to
look away from and out of themselves for
the betterment of the conditions under
which very many of their fellow men ex-
1st The author was himself trained to
mechanical labor and served his appren-
t1ceship That experience was worth much
to him. He has since come in touch with
all classes of workingmen and also the
classes called he--."submerged,. and his
story OF his experiences is most valuable
to the willing yet inexperienced reformer.
Mr.. Stelzle first gives general view Of
the unpromising conditions under which
thousands live in the big cities; shows,
briefly and incisively, the reform -obstruct-
ing character Of the alluring saloon, for
which he thinks the best substitute is the
purified and Christian home; points out the
disadvantage to. labor of poor and not in
frequently vicious leadership, relating an
incident where sound Christian talk led to
the abandonment of q. proposed strike, the
sense Of Justice of the men being appealed
to. He shows that the class spirit exists
between the workinginen and Is detrimen-,
tai to their interests. A fine plea is made
for the claim Of the Christian church upon
the workingman, on the ground that
,{1%{~ t. II, HS1
than any "ism.' Christianity makes the
development of a high, unselfsh moral
character its chief business and thus the
church has very important part in work
which concerns the social life of humanity.
In the chapter on THE Workingman and
the Church. the author i discusses the
paucity Of the attendance of workingmen
at church, He gives the views Of many
workfngmen. The Average view IS that the
church zis..full of hypocrites and of people
who do not practice what Is preached in
the pulpits and is too full Of plutocrats,
and workingmen are not welcomed to the
pews. In the eighth and ninth chapters
! the author analyses the replies. admitting
| the justice Of some Of the complaints and
suggests that the church will only be doing
4 her full work: when she ministers to the
! physical needs Of men for the same reason
that she ministers to their spiritual needs.
| The work must be- specialized. Men with
/ SPECIFIC talents Sla0Ntu ~ 2LletuS Use VI "
direct the social work OF the church. La
Dor leaders protest against a working
mans church," and, in the closing chap
| ter, some practical suggestions as to how
| workingmen, may be- reached and won by
! the church are given. The author writes
from a practical Christian standpoint and
in a very attractive manner. The book is
an, excellent hand book for Christian SO.
biologists. - ,>....'- 49,. -,
u a. Pc
THE TRAITORS. BY p. Phillips oppenheim
/ illustrated. New Yofk: Dodd, Mead & Co.
1 372 Fifth avenue. Price $1.5O - -
This book is full Of love, adventure ant
tragedy. The scene Of action, 3Theos, thu
kingdom commended for, stands, doubtless
for one of the Balkan states, for the con
troll of which Russian Intrigue Is active
} Domiloff represents the inscriptions Rus
sian agent. who uses any means to &C
complsh his purposes, to make the Lawful
heir to Theos the servile tool of Russia
} How he failed in llfs7 foul purpose, thru
the opposition Of an English newspape
correspondent, Brand, and Prince Mich
| olas Relish is told with deep interest
} Princes Ughtred secured his throne, ant
! married an American girl, Sara : Val
Dechb, making her queen Of Theos, Will
) the English, newspaper man married tn
) sister of Prince Relish, who was the mos
) beautiful and courageous woman Il
, Theos. Domiloff's methods are employee,
: to-day by Russia in the Balkan PENN
sula. - - - -,