of the Inner Mission: "The soul of charity is charity for the soul."
Pestalozzi.—In this age of preparation the personality of the great Swiss teacher stands out conspicuous. In his career we discern the mingled elements of Pietism and of the Illumination. He studied theology and then law. In all his undertakings his plans came to grief through lack of practical sagacity. But his affectionate disposition, his genuine philanthropy, his lofty ideals of life and education gave to his writings a power which the world still feels. He gave a great incentive to the establishment of schools for saving neglected and abandoned children.
The wars of Napoleon and the wars of liberation multiplied the numbers of widows, orphans and neglected children. The cry of need fell on prepared hearts, made tender by Pietism and illuminated by Rationalism. Sympathy and the optimism of culture united in the doctrine that to elevate society we must begin with the children.
John Falk (1768–1826) was a personal embodiment of the conflicting forces of his age. The brief account of him given by Schafer may fittingly close this article. The times are summed up in the man. Falk was the son of a poor man of Dantsic and could not, without the aid of friends, gain the education for which his whole nature hungered. Those who assisted him said: "If ever at any time, sooner or later, a poor child knocks at your door, then consider that it is the gray old magistrates and councillors of Dantsic who knock, and turn them not away." At first he turned his attention to satirical poetry, and his fame reached the classic little city of Weimar. Trouble opened his heart to the poor whose sufferings were inexpressibly increased by the Napoleonic wars. Fugitives from devastated homes found refuge at his house. He founded the society of "Friends in Need" and the house of rescue, "Lutherhof," at Weimar. The great poets of Weimar befriended him. He regarded himself as a missionary. "For eleven years the chief purpose followed by our society has been a missionary purpose, a rescue of souls, a conversion of heathen, not in Asia or Africa, but among our-
