GERMANY AND ENGLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 14636, 4 August 1911, Page 1

GERMANY AND ENGLAND.

(says the Berlin correspondent of the 'Daily Chronicle ') by a remarkable address delivered to the Evangel! cher Soziale Congress at Danzig by Professor Harnack, tne eminent theologian and ecclesiastical historian. As Professor Harnack stands high in tho estimation of the Kaiser, and is undoubtedly one of his most intimate friends, additional importance is lent to his utterances. Speaking of the amendments to the Imperi;il Insurance Hills passed lecently in the Reichstag, Professor Harnack deeply regretted that, it was found impossible to lower the as;o limit for old age pensions from 70 to 65 years, and blamed the majority in the Reichstag for their niggling treatment of the motion to increase maternity grants. Turnimi to the British scheme, he was pleased to note that the maternity grants were on a more liberal scale. The simple and finely-conceived British measure, said Professor Harnack, filled the Germans with admiration, and still more the unanimity with which it had been received in England. Germans, said the speaker, may possess deeper eultuie, but they are certainly behind the British in political maturity. Professor Harnack also praised the trust in the working classes felt in England, ard was certain that were a similar trust placed in German workers they would show themselves worthy of it. As a Gorman he felt proud that it was a German model which had triumphed in England. Good insurance laws, however, are not enough. Social reformers must begin at the beginning, and until the question of suitable homes for the people is solved, and thereby the power and the joy of life and the independence oi the people assured, all insurance and protection of mothers and infants and care for consumptives will avail but little. In conclusion, the professor raised his voice against the spirit and pride of casta holding such sway in Germany. In Germany one missed the fine flavor of justice, which treated all classes alike: one missed the courtesy of the heart, and also of the outward forms, wh ; ch, were they more observed, would be some set-off against the unavoidable hardships and inequalities of