Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/897

 NOTES AND ABSTRACTS.

CONDUCTED BY J. D. FORREST, A. T. FREEMAN, AND H. A. MILLIS.

Social Christianity. Social Christianity differs from Christian socialism in its point of view. Its end is not merely amelioration of the material condition of men, but especially their moral and religious progress. The practice of morality is an essential factor of religion. Neither individualism nor socialism can attain this end the moralization of the individual and of society through religion. The two prin- ciples, individual liberty and the superior influence of society upon the individual, taken separately, are destructive to each other. Only their simultaneous application permits rational action toward social progress. They are not mutually exclusive, but complementary. Christians employ both methods of action. The exclusively individ- ual method of religious propaganda is to be criticised as attaining results not in pro- portion to the effort expended. It saves some souls, but does not touch the social classes. A rational method of evangelization ought to take its departure also from the scientific fact of the influence of environment and heredity on the individual. It is necessary to modify the environment as well as to preach the gospel. The active Christian must be an active politician. The social Christian movement must adapt itself to the new economic and social ideas, must impregnate them with a high ideal, must transform them. W. VIOLLIER, Revue du Christianisme Social, March 1897. Fr.

How to Attain the Eight-Hour Day. The eight-hour day is the greatest benefaction which can now be bestowed upon the wage worker. An adequate method is a vital necessity to the shortening of the working day. This adequate method must be such that in its nature and working every interest shall be protected. This sugges- tion is offered to meet this demand, namely, that all organized bodies of capitalists engaged in manufacturing industries form an agreement that on the Monday fol- lowing the first Thanksgiving day after the agreement is made they will all take off permanently one-quarter of an hour from the working day, and that each year there- after on the corresponding day they will take off another quarter of an hour until the eight-hour day is reached. The eight-hour day in itself gives no occasion for anxiety on the part of the capitalist. The proposed scheme meets the practical difficulties, because of the regularity and small amount of the change and because of the favor- able time in the year when the change is made. REV. JESSE H. JONES, Guidon's Magazine, March 1897. Fr.

Workers' Insurance Legislation in Germany. Germany was the pioneer in that part of social legislation which has to do with obligator)' insurance for workers, and the experiment has proved a marvelous success. This Workers' Insurance islation falls under three heads, each fund being under separate administration but with kjrowitiL: cooperation between them. I. The Sick Fund embraces in its operation all workers in factories, workshops, mines, salt works, on railways, in navigation, in the building trades, as well as clerical workers in general, of both sexes, with an income not exceeding 2000 marks. It is legally bound to provide the following l>cne- fits at least : (i) medical attendance; (2) medicine and other remcdu to work, a weekly payment of not less than 50 per cent, of the mcmlxrr'* wages for at least thirteen weeks ; (4) in case of death a funeral benefit <>f not ;<- th.m days' wages. In 1894 there were 21,552 legal sick funds in Germany with 7 V " of members, an income of 136 million marks, an expenditure of 128 millioi reserve funds of 94^ millions. II. Accident Insurance embraces agricultural as well

88 1