The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-06-28
ARE GERMANS
| IMMORAL RAGE?
Just Because They Do Not Attend
Church, But Enjoy
Picnics on
Sunday.
GOD IN THE COUNTRY
kafsers Chaplain Comes to TheIr
Support and Declares
They Are Good
People.
GOD IN THE COUNTRY
|f[By Karl Won Wiegand, Berlin Cor
respondent of the United Press.l

-
respondent of the United Press.l
BERLIN. June 27.-Are the Ger
mans less God-fearing than the peo-
pie Of other countries? Is Berlin tho
gayest and most immoral capital in
the world? The Rev. DR.. Ernst bryan.
der, the kaiser's aged chaplain, an
swers both questions with most en-
phatic no
In an interview granted the United
Press, his excellency. Dr.. Dryander.
protested against the reputation Ber-
lin was being given abroad by writ
ers and others who delight In painting
the gayety Of the kaiser's subjects in
rather lurid, and as he thinks. much
exaggerated colors. He said: II know
very little about conditions in other
capitals, but l do know Berlin and the
Berliners. have the conviction that
morally, Berlin Ia no worse than 9TH
or large cities. base my opinion up
on my knowledge OF our people. There
DIS no more immortality and no greater
dangers in our city than can be found
in other large cities. One usually
finds what one seeks. Strangers are
apt to search only for the places OF
amusement They see little Of the
substantial life led by our people and
judge the entire city by the highs
Cafes
DR. Dryander is the chief chaplain
of the kaiser's court, vicar OF tho
Dom as the big cathedral opposite
the kaiser's palace. is known. and Is
vice president of the Protestant
uutheran) high church consistory-
He said he thought Berlin was being
given q name abroad for gayety, care
less life and Indifference OF morals
which it did not deserve and whicA
was unjust to the great bulk Of the
cdty's population. He denied that the
movement for leaving the church
which has been on for some time, and
the fact that a very small percentages
Of Bsrlin's population attends church
on Sunday, was any indication that
the Berliners are more Goddess"
than other people.
Berlin has II protestant churches
for a population Of over 2.000.O0O as
against Chicago's 800 churches. A re-
cent census showed that less than 49,
900 people attended the 72 churches
on one Sunday and to get this figure
It WAS necessary to add the attend
anoe Of morning and evening serv-
Ices. This tended to show that less
than three out of every 100 Persons
In Berlin go to church. In contrast to
these figures, the American church in
Berlin shows a Sunday attendance Of
between 20 and % per cent of the
American colony.
DR.. Dryander did not consider that
the census Of the German churches
was either correct Or a fair criterion
of the church-going or religious prin-
,iples of the Berliners. The Ameri-
ian colony includes few who are en-
gagged in daily labor, hence they arc
lot reluctant to get UP Sunday morn
ng to 20 to church. The Americans
,ere are in foreign country and the
act that they meet their countrymen
1t church adds some zest to their
church going.
rhe kaiser's chaplain takes a very
LIBERAL and tolerant attitude toward
hose who go out into the fresh air
If the country on Sundays instead OF
attending church. The berliners are
amous for their fondness for little
'ausflues" or excursions on sunny
Sundays. Half the population WIKI,
luncheon and dinner baskets-usually
he entire family-begin early Sunday
morning to move toward the forests,
axes and rivers which surround Ber-
in. In society and exclusive cir
lies, the day has begun to be regarded
Is the working peoples day" Be
ause of the jammed conditions OF the
trains, river and lake boats
nd street cars, the tony" set stays
t home and for them Sunday has bs-
ONE a day of real rest.
DR.. Dryander said that he found Il
ute comprehensive that men and
who have labored long houra