Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/38

 THE EVANGELICAL SOCIAL CONGRESS IN GERMANY. 1

THE Evangelical Social Congress in Germany is a unique institution. No other country, so far as I know, has produced a similar society. An association of men and women who are held together by the desire "to make fruitful the forces of faith and love in contest with the social evils and dangers of the age," may count upon interest in all places where similar tasks are undertaken with different means. The experience and develop- ment of this society is typical of what may be accomplished in this field by "Christian Socialism," and may prove instructive for other countries.

The first period of the Congress is now at its end. This stage is marked by the resignation of the former president, by the fact that for a full half-year a new president was sought in vain, and that, at last, the celebrated church historian, Professor Harnack, in November of last year, consented to accept the position. During the half-year while the search for a president was going on, the possibilities of the future were carefully considered. It was proposed by some to dissolve the Congress and give its work to one of the other organizations which had inscribed social reform upon their banners the Society for Social Politics, whose leader is Professor Schmoller, or, better still, the Society for Social Reform, which was founded by the former Prussian minister, Freiherr von Berlepsch, in the year 1901. The convic- tion was frequently expressed that the Congress had fulfilled the greater part of its task ; that there was no urgent reason for its continuance; there was much discouragement among the leaders, and the difficulties were great.

Apparently the obstacles have been for the time overcome ; for while such a man as Harnack stands at the head of the Con- gress there will be no lack of celebrated orators and enthusiastic hearers. The Congress may live for a decade on the world-wide

1 Translated by C. R. HENDERSON.

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