Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XI. The Government of Finland and its Future
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complaint in relation to this Church is the prohibition
to leave it, and the compulsion put upon parents to
educate their children in the same confession. Such
compulsion is contrary to the laws of Finland, but
it does not seem that the Finlanders desire to raise the
question. Members of the Greek Orthodox Church
are often attracted by the more intellectual, instructive,
and educating character of the neighbouring Lutheran
churches, while their own Church is great in
ceremonial and legends. In some very few cases young
Lutherans are said to have left their own Church
for the Greek Orthodox confession because they could
not read, an art which is demanded by the Lutheran
Church as a condition of confirmation and thereby also
of marriage.
The present communal organisation is modern; in
the country it dates from 1865, in the towns from
1873; but old Swedish experience in self-government,
and the self-governing organisation of the Church, has
brought about a wide-reaching development of
communal life. Towns of over 2000 inhabitants elect
municipal councillors by votes, which are to a certain
degree of a value proportionate to the taxes paid by
the voters. Towns of 2000 inhabitants or less may
elect representatives if they so desire, and they
generally do so. The large country Communes have,
on the other hand, nearly always preferred to decide
matters in general assembly. The executive authority
and the ordinary administration is in the hands of a
committee chosen by this general assembly. Also the
towns have a committee of finance and several other
special executive committees. Such a communal
organisation necessarily gives considerable strength
to the national life.
It is unnecessary to speak here of the higher-class
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