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August 11, 1915] oi l IOIAIj missionary institute. David H. Scanlon. Our Executive Committee of For.11 Missions reeentlv inmiciirnfoH n n,.\v movement which augurs large things for the great cause of missions, .mil promises rich blessings to many of . , ur churches. This advance step is the sending out from the headquarters at Nashville a dele ition of our choicest men to make a tour of the leading cities of ;i given section of the country to present the great cause of foreign missions from various viewpoints. It was the good fortune of this city to be tl?e second visited 011 the first illicial visitation made under this new regime. Dr. James I. Vance, chairman of the Assembly Executive Committee, In two magnificent addresses presented, first, the business methods and plans in vogue at Nashville; and secondly, the subject of "Our World Obligation." Both of these subjects, of course, were dealt with in that masterful way in which Dr. Vance alone can present them. Dr. H. F. Williams, our efficient field secretary, spoke on the "World Summons," and his second address was on the "Survey of Our World Field," the latter being illustrated by views taken by himself in the Orient. We also had the pleasure of two splendid addresses from Rev. R. D. lieilinger, of our Congo Mission Station. The first one was "Lights and Shadows of Mission Life," and the second, which was an illustrated lecture, was upon "In the Heart of the Dark Continent." Large audiences were present at every service, and a profound impression was made upon the religious forces of our city by the visitation of those brethren. The call was distinct, and the note optimistic and compelling. No city can be visited by such men with such messages without stimulating the missionary interest and disseminating valuable missionary information. It in in rPnlitv a mlnlotnpn laymen's convention brought to every city, without losing its force from lack of numbers, but rather accentuated by the personal touch with those from tin* field abroad and from headquarters at home. The immediate results consist in bringing a broader vision, stimulating enthusiasm, removing objections lurking in the minds of many regarding the mission work and the principles of missions, and causing the people to realize the common brotherhood of nian and the transforming power of the gospel of Christ on the individual heathen, as well as upon heathen lands at large, and hence an enlargement of the substantial Interest in the ?ork at home and abroad. It is to l)e hoped that our Executive Committee win arrange for many such itineraries, as the results obtained will amply justify making this new movement a permanent part of our missionary education. Meridian, Miss. THE BRITISH WEEKLY'S VIEW. Things are looking better. We know that our readers, and indeed >e whole nation, are now determined to face the situation as it exists. The lr,ith is often harsh and bitter, but Ulf,.v prefer it to fiction. Sometimes is reassuring, and then especially 't ought to be told. So long as we are im * - - - - - - 1? luvaDiy aeierminea to win this war, a,"l know that we have the power to win it, we shall not allow our hearts ln sink, even when dark days are passes. All the same, th.o streaks of 'lawn are thrice welcome to those who watch for the morning. Military operations have, on the ______ THE PRESBYTERL might go further, but we wiBh to coutine ourselves strictly to facts. It is not possible to discuss the situation in detail, but certain remarks mav be made. 1. The moral and material value of General Botha's great victory, won in a fashion so masterly and complete, cannot well be overrated. It has been said that the victory will not hasten the end of the war. When the men who have fought with General Botha come to fight in Europe it will be seen that they count, and that their presence implies the shortening of hostilities. If their noble leader accompanies them, so much the better. Apart from this. General Botha's victory is a testimony which we may humbly accept, and an achievement of which we may be proud. We may be sure that its significance is not missed either by Germany or by the world. 2. The resistance of Russia has not crumbled away, as many feared that it would. The experts of Petrograd, always wise and self-restrained, warn us against attaching too much importance to their recent successes. Our people are fully alive to this. They know that the situation is by no means finally determined. Russia may find it necessary to make further retreats, but Russia and the Russian Army remain. They are tremendous facts, and the day is not far off when their might will break through all hindrances and leave them masters of the field. We will not speculate on the aids which Russia is receiving and may receive. 3. What can be said in further praise of the spirit and demeanor of France? They are beyond all eulogy. Their army is magnificent. The leaders are worthy. The nation is patiently and bravely putting its heart and all into the strife with the firmest purpose and continuance till the end is reached. Any misconceptions of British action are being cleared away. We nrn rlnJlv aiwJncr on/1 nl%oll v%. w b1 * **??>? UMU ounii cuiuiiiuc hj give, to France new proofs of our fidelity and resource. Unless all signs are false, France is steadily becoming more formidable as her organization becomes more complete, and she is prepared to bear the brunt of any further attack, however fierce it may be. 4. We may claim that our own gallant and magnificent troops have beer found worthy comrades of the Allies. Their number, as we write, is being steadily increased. New soldiers ol the highest type are taking the place of those whose lives have been sc grandly given away, and reinforcing the men In the field. What we owe to our Dominions?to Australia, tc Canada, and to India?cannot be told The nation has watched, with unutterable pride and gratitude, the heroic achievements of the empire's soldiers Thfiv AY AAA/1 nlronrlv oil tV?af wo Arm hoped, and they are being increased day by day. We shall have a stead) flow of recruits, not inferior to those who have done their part, who wil never turn back till victory is secured In spite of the many tributes paid t( the men of our Dominions, we doub whether enough has been said; we doubt whether the actual value of the work they have done has been pui at its true rate. 5. Our enterprise in the Dardanelles is one of almost unique difllculty, bui the position there is more hopeful thar I lion I*** ? 1 Ji linn aypctti cu iu uc iui Illclliy wuuk8 and it is the opinion of those win know best that the object will b( reached without exorbitant delay. I is satisfactory to the nation that Mr Balfour, as Secretary to the Admiralty is giving his days and nights to th< carrying through of an enterprise witl which he has from the first strongl; and closely identified himself. \N OF THE SOUTH. 6. It becomes clearer and clearer that Italy is thoroughly prepared, and Is carrying out a well-considered plan. ANTI-ALCOHOL. DAYBREAK IN EUROPE. The nresent nnnnniiiolo<i political supremacy, among a dozen nations of the so-called "civilized world," has prevented the American public from realizing the great changes in the alcoholic sentiments of the old world, recently inaugurated. Strange to say, that within two or three years previous to the beginning of this terrible conflict there, a revolutionary movement of wide extent has been taking place on the continent against the drinking customs of the nations; which have had an age-long continuance of great extent. That a movement of such great significance should come up so quickly despite tradition and prejudice is amazing to American minds. It would seem from the history of that three years' agitation, that v.. ? - ? - - nuuiu u?cu lurge aiieau 01 mo United States in the prohibition of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages. This revolution of sentiment commenced about thirty years ago in Scandanavia, and about the beginning of this country extended into Germany, and even Russia. It is remarkable that this reform should have ueen inaugurated and vigorously espoused by the universities and edu, cated men of Europe. Many conferences and discussions led up to the final general opinion of the people, that Europe was really "alcohol , sick," anu would eventually die of alcoholism unless antidotes in the shape of total abstinence principles and laws were early instituted. The "International Alcoholic Congresses," that were instituted first at Antwerp in 1885, have been one of the great means of spreading among the thoughtful minds of the various nations of Europe, the great dangers concealed in the consumption of ardent liquors as beverages. By a series of wonderful experiments among drinkers, these Congresses, which have met annually in various capitals of i Europe for the last thirty years, finally decided unanimously that alcohol was r not only a poison and narcotic, but also a parnlyzcr. They have made thousands of tests among drinkers of all grades and classes, and have sclen1 tiflcally proved, that even one small drink of alcoholic liquor, from beer ; and wine, to distilled spirits, is an inevitable cause of injury to the brain 1 of man and the whole human system. ' What is called the "germ theory" has ' been brought into view to show this * fact beyond any doubt. Hence, France, ' Germany and the Scandanavian countries, as well as in Great Britain, governments themselves, have been 5 aroused to teach the people, by lectures, anti-alcoholic exhibitions, and legal enactments, the dangers of the 1 drinking customs of society. Even r *. . . ngni wines ana Deer, as well as stronger drinks, have been shown as 1 the enemies of nations and races of people, calculated to destroy rapidly ' the increase in the birth rate, and L causing the degeneration of all im5 bibers of these poisonous drinks. i Hence, we in America, although now ^ earnestly engaged in fighting the saloon evil, and the manufacture of ' alcoholic drinks, are in danger of being t excelled in this important warfare, by ? the aroused sentiment of Europe. Wo . need, therefore, not only flying squad) rons' anti-saloon leagues and prohibi* tion conferences, but a renewal of i. temperance societies ana pledges, . among the children and educational , Instruction In our schools to more 5 fully instruct the people the terrible i evils connected with drinking customs;/ which in their results far exceed the destruction of life and property in (553) 15 curred, even in this fearful war now being enacted. Even this bewilder ing sanguinary conflict has had already some beneficial results, notwithstanding all its horrors. It lias been teaching all the nations engaged that alcoholic beverages are not only destructive to national life in times of peace, but in time of war destructive to all military operations carried on by armies that still imbibe alcoholic drinks PntlcnniinnH.r " ? VvM?vHu?uva/t CICI J IltlllUU lias been seeking, not only to instruct civilians in habits of temperance, but also to interdict the drinking of liquor among the soldiery. As we all know, Russia particularly, by edict, has prohibited the manufacture nnd sale of "vodka," that national alcoholic drink which has heretofore enslaved its people. Thirty years ago a wonderful temperance reformer among the people, started a crusade in a small way against drinking. Like the best temperance advocates of any country he persisted for years in his advocacy of the suppression of the governmental laws for the sale of this deadly drink. He was unable until the breaking out of this war last year to pursuade the Czar and his advisers to totally stop this governmental method of raising taxes, which has at the same time injured the productive power of the Russian people. This wonderful reform, put immediately into effect, has, as we all have learned from the papers, produced magical changes in the habits of the people for the better. Russia, with its population of over 150 millions of people, pays Its taxes far more easily., and in spite of the war now going on is growing in productive wealth among its large agricultural population. Germany, France and even Great Rritnin nr? realizing that military operations cannot be carried on successfully while their soldiery drink wines, beer and distilled liquors. Hence, as God makes "the wrath of man praise Him," we may hope that the termination of this war, whenever that desired event may occur, will show a people regenerated from the centuries-long drinking customs of all these countries. All lovers of humanity and social and moral progress, despite the sorrows of this warlike period, have good reasons to rejoice in a great future of higher life for mankind by this marvelous temperance reform in Europe. Henry M. Hall. Jesus chose humble fishermen to be his first followers, and God, through all the ages, is calling ordinary men to be His witness-bearers and to tell to others the story of His love and grace.?Exchange. HK MADE A HIT. A commercial traveler had been talking his hardest, his most eloquent, his most persuasive for nearly an hour to a shrewd old Yorkshire business man. The old fellow seemed convinced and pleased, and the traveler thought he had his fish landed. But the Yorkshire man said: "There's ma lad, Jo^k. Ah'd laike him to hear what ye have to say. 'Will ye coom this afternoon and go over your talk again?" "Certainly, sir, with pleasure," replied the traveler heartily, and at the hour appointed presented himself again for the interview with father and son. Again he went over the puuiLB ui me article ne naa 10 sell? forcibly, eloquently, persuasively. Never had he acquitted himself of a finer "selling talk." When he had finished the old Yorkshire man turned to his son and said enthusiastically: "Do you hear that, I want ye to sell our goods on the road."?Kansas City Star.