ALL MISSION.) The law of 1875, giving full religious liberty, opened the due,r to an active home-mission Nvork, already initiated in 1572 by the Interior Mission. .oeial questions have large ly occupied the attention of ProtestaMs. E. de Pressen-4% pastor. historian, Senator, led the movement for the purification of the press, a movement which in 1902 took on TIM life under the energetic action of Pastor Wilfred Motiod, of Rouen. Charles Robert introduced and advocated profit-sharing. Jules Siegfried headed the move ment for improved workingmen's dwellings ; Gide and Boyer that for business cuiiperation; Leon Say that for Sunday rust : Richard Wad dington that for labor unions. Dr. Legrain has been prominent in the temperance movement; Pastor Robin in that for prison reform and 'as sistance by work;' Pastier Arbourg in that for benefit associations; Pastor Fallot in that for public morality. Protestant pastors have a league for the study of social questions. A large proportion of the younger pastors, led by Elie Gounelle, of Roubaix, and Wilfred Monod, with many of the younger laymen. are actively pro moting the movement for social Christianity. which seems better adapted than any other movement to make a stand against the rapidly growing anti-religious socialism. Amen:: the ac tivities of these Social Christians is the founding of 'solidarit ies'—socia I sett lements distinguished not only by their evangelistic character, but by the prominence given to 'mutuality,' to works of economic betterment, and 'get-together' methods of bringing class into normal relations with class.
The latest figures for French Protestantism (census of 1593) put the number at 700.000. a gain of 176,000 over the census of 1806. Of these about 5(;0000 are in the Reformed (Calvinistic) Church, 50.000 in the Lutheran. 70.000 in the Free churches, and 4000 each in the Methodist and Baptist churches. The number of pastors in tile Reformed Church has increased from 72 to about 1200.
The eareer of French Protestantism has been very closely interwoven with the modern political development of the country. Though a small mi nority, it has always been aggressive and resolute in maintaining its position. Many distinguished men have appeared in its ranks throughout its history. In education. law. finance, and reform it has taken a prominent part. In the founding of savings banks. the abolition of the slave trade. the revival of various industries. French Protes• tants have ever been foremost, and to-day are a very influential element throughout France.
Titnuocamntr. The standard history in Eng lish is the series of volumes by 11. M. Baird, which are an admirable product of American scholarship: History of the Else of the Huguenots of France (New York. 1579) ; The Huguenots and Henry of No rarrc ( 1556 ) ; The Huguenots and the Peroeation of the Edict of Nantes (ib., 1895)• Consult, also: C. \V. Baird. HistorY of the Huguenot Emigration to America (New York. 1585) : Smiles. The Iluattenots1 in Eng land (American ed.. with an appendix relat ing to the Huguenots in America. New York, 1R05) ; \Vi Bert, Henry of Nararre and the Huguenots in France (ib., 1893), a convenient little volume. popular in treatment ; Black burn. Admiral Coliany and the Else of the Huguenots (Philadelphia. 1869) ; Puanx, His toire de la reformation francaisc (Paris, 1359 64) ; Meaux, Les luttes religieuscs cn France au .\ 1 It MC Cie ( Paris, 1876) liervyn de Let• tenhove, his Huguenots ICS (it/ efi.r. i5617..S.; t trilges. s53.55 ; Durand. Histoire du Prohs tanfismc fro tic,.a is pendant /a Re'rol t ion et FEmpire I Paris, 1902) : Felice, Les Protestants d'autrefois; lie intirieure des egliscs, ct usages I vols., Paris, 1897-19(12).