Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/598

 NOTES AND ABSTRACTS

Social Work : A New Profession. The educated man, in deciding on life's work, wishes two things : to fill the place fitted to his talents, and to touch and affect the vital things in the life of his own times. Consider first the demand of one's times made upon him. The patriots of the revolutionary period were patriots because they grasped, with the moral imagination, the immediate and prospective bearings of the facts and conditions which confronted them. How can one be sure of touching the realities of one's own day? Not by education nor by philosophizing, but by actual contact with people and conditions.

The new profession social work has its quality in understanding and affecting by direct contact all men, in politics, industry, and culture. To do this two social forces must be understood and grappled with, viz., democracy and cosmopolitanism. This cannot be done by studying the past alone. The democ- racy of the future will be, not merely a scheme of government, but an ethical system touching all life, intending to bring all classes together. Cosmopolitanism is presented in our many immigrants and the problems of bringing them together, giving them an education and an economic basis. Thus the social worker will unite the now scattered industrial, racial, and religious elements.

Social work is in results and intentions unofficial statesmanship. It may mean personal sacrifice, but it is the same kind of devotion in times of peace shown by our forefathers in times of war. This work offers a career of service at the points where public need is greatest ; it opens the way in some cases to public career and public office. Social work in its wide scope includes the exten- sion of the older professions to meet new needs ; e. g., the doctor, lawyer, clergy- man, musician, etc.

This work offers peculiar opportunities for woman, where her co-operation with man is based on a really sound type of equality between the sexes. The social worker is not a builder, but uses existing institutions where he can, creating only when adequate means do not exist to embody his ideas ; does not dream of Utopias, but takes the next immediate step for improvement.

The great variety of work offers problems for any talent discovering a person's special aptitudes. It places him in contact with the practical scholars of his community, thus furnishing fellowship and inspiration. A living must be con- sidered by a person thinking of giving himself to this work. Social work in this country is not so well paid as in England, yet on an average it offers a living equal to the clerical and educational professions. It also offers a good temporary employment as preparatory to other professions, e. g., the law. This work had its origin in the university, and it calls for fulfilling the university ideal a life of service. Robert A. Woods, in International Journal of Ethics, October, 1905.

S. E. W. B.

Recent Tendencies in German Social Democracy. The convention of the Social Democratic party in Germany was recently held in Jena. Discussion before and at the meeting indicates a climax reached in the party development in Germany.

Never has a convention been held when the times were so violently revolu- tionary. The events of 1870-71 are insignificant compared with the Russian revolution. This is a revolution of the proletariat, not of a single city, but of a whole nation.

The Russian revolution is the conclusion of the era of bourgeois revolutions in Europe, and also the beginning of the era of proletarian revolutions on which we are now entering. The period means unstable relations or war, famine, the overthrow of the present legal order of landlords and usurers, violent resistance of the proletariat. Every moment is pregnant with the unexpected.

The report of the convention shows an increased strength at every point. Institutions for instruction of the membership of the party have been founded,

582