430 
NATURE 
[ Sept. 29, 1870 
every man over 17 years of age, and unconvicted of crime, is 
eligible for membership, and after election continues to be 
a member so long as he pays his three silver groschen 
(somewhat less than 4¢.) every month, The affairs are 
not conducted /or the members by the philanthropic no- 
bility, clergy, and gentry of the place, but éy the members, 
through a representative assembly chosen annually, two- 
thirds at least of whom must be engaged in trade, and 
through a triennial committee, two-thirds of whom must 
also be engaged in trade. There is also a president, with 
vice-presidents, and a teacherhood, chosen either directly 
or indirectly by the members. 
Yet in spite of, or rather perhaps because of, this 
working of self-help, they are enabled to enrol among 
their members, and receive active support from, the best 
and most active minds of Berlin. The leading professors 
of the University, the energetic young literary and 
scientific men of the city, the chief men of industry and 
commerce, all come forward to help them; and in their 
lists of popular lectures we find many names of European 
reputation. 
The lectures, free to all members, and delivered in the 
club building, are intended to stir up the minds of the 
members to what is going on around them; while all 
those who are alert to the value of knowledge have access, 
on the payment of a small fee, to classes in which such 
subjects as reading, writing, arithmetic, geometry, me- 
chanics, book-keeping, &c. &c., are taught in a thoroughly 
earnest and business-like manner. There are, besides, 
technical practical classes in construction and architec- 
ture ; and the managers, having very definite views about 
play and work, take the greatest care that the musical and 
social gatherings shall be eminently successful in giving 
delight, and helpful in building up those “good manners ” 
which are so desirable. 
Then again, it is thoroughly catholic in spirit. It be- 
longs to no religious or anti-religious party, advocates no 
political views, democratic, socialistic, or conservative; and, 
in fact, has no shibboleth of any kind whatever. It does 
not try to introduce serious learning and sound knowledge 
under false pretences. It does not call its members 
together to hear music, and then give them the stones of 
science. Every one can do as he likes. If he desire solid 
knowledge, there it is. If he care only for music or for a 
promenade, he can listen to the very best of the former, and 
walk about on fixed days among a crowd of comrades, all 
bent onpretending to be happy. He may,if helike, take out 
the whole of his monthly three groschen worth in abundant 
exercise on the parallel bars. So long as in any whole- 
some way the heavy burden of the artizan’s daily life 
is lessened, and his dull life lighted up, the club thinks 
that it has in a measure accomplished its ends. 
We imagine that most of our readers have read the 
article by Mr. James Stuart in No. 3 of NATURk, and they 
who have any experience of English workmen will, we 
venture to think, agree with nearly all that js there laid 
down. Putting together the burden of ‘hat article and the 
Report of this Berlin Working Mer} Club, the question 
naturally suggests itself, Could we net in England do as 
much and a great deal more Caan ig done in Berlin? Jt 
is one of the qualities of sciryoc, that he who has any is 
always anxious to give to “atheys ; and there surely could be 
no difficulty in establisying in London and in other large 
cities scientific teacherhoods willing to hold out the right 
hand of fellowship to all working men’s clubs which were 
felt to be really acting on the principle of self-help. 
There are many excellent and flourishing working men’s 
clubs in London and elsewhere, and more than one 
working men’s college. But we believe we are not going 
beyond the truth in stating that they lack the catholicity 
of the Berlin society. They are not all free from the 
suspicion of arrivre pensce of some kind or other. 
Moreover, as separate institutions they tend to distract 
efforts, and cannot make a united appeal to the whole 
body of scientific men ; while some of them at least are 
worked from above, the principle of dependence being 
more conspicuous than that of self-help. And so it comes 
to pass that those who are eager for knowledge have to 
struggle on without the counsel which they might otherwise 
share, often drawing their truth from wells by no means 
undefiled, and the dull unawakened multitude but rarely 
hear the voices which might rouse them from their sleep, 
and which now are wasted on the listless ears of fashion- 
able audiences. 
It is true that our scientific men are burdened far more 
than their German brethren with work undertaken for the 
sake of getting their daily bread, and for that alone; and 
so far unremunerative labour is to them a double task. 
But we have no doubt that, in spite of this, many would be 
led to come forward by the strong convictions they have 
that the welfare of their countrymen and their country is — 
tottering for the lack of knowledge. By means of a little 
organisation, in which ourartizans are pre-eminently skilled, — 
much work might be got out of such teacherhoods, with 
the least possible wear and tear. They might deliver 
occasional lectures both for instruction and for rousing 
attention; but their chief use would be to advise the 
tion, directing their studies, and assisting them in the 
selection of teachers. 
way of imperial secular education ; but while waiting for 
the good time coming—in which the ladder of learning, 
from the lowest to the topmost rung, shall be free to every 
man, of every rank—much lies in the hands of the work- 
ing men themselves. Let them show that they are ready 
for instruction, and have adopted the principle of self 
help, and we believe that they will find scientific men 
ready to meet them half-way. It will not cost the work- 
men much to establish schools; it will not cost the 
teacherhood very much to give counsel; and the ma- 
chinery for the payment of the actual class teachers is 
already in large measure provided for by the Science and 
Art Department of the Government. 
The lamentable war that is now desolating some of the 
fairest provinces of Europe, and the unproductive cur- 
rent in which the energies of all Germans are at present. 
conducted, must necessarily throw back this movement 
on the Continent, As long as we hear of peasant and 
professor working together in the field and on the ram- 
parts, we cannot expect that they will also co-operate in 
the pursuit of scientific knowledge. But when this war- 
cloud has passed away, when France and Germany alik 
again turn to the arts of peace, it will be, we trust, vig 
a renewed determination to persevere in that read whicly 
can alone lead to true national greatness. : 
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various clubs in their more serious work of class instruc- | 
Far be it from us to throw the slightest obstacle in the 
