The Presbyterian of the South : [combining the] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian. [volume], August 22, 1917, Image 1

About The Presbyterian of the South : [combining the] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1909-1931

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
VOL. LXXXVI.
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RICHMOND, NEW ORLEANS, ATLANTA, AUtfuo* 22, .7.
No. 32
Cbttortal Jiotes attb Comment
PROHIBITION'S influence on production
and consequently on prices of necessary
supplies in this country is not generally
realized. It has been claimed that the tremen
dous advance in the price of coal is due in part
at least to the fact the miners cannot produce
enough to meet the demands. Suppose all
the mining regions could make the same show
ing that one mining company in West Vir
ginia made. There would be no shortage of
supply. Mr. W. B. Reed, chief accountant of
the White Oak Coal Company of McDonald,
W. Va., has published a statement showing the
coal mined by his company before and after
prohibition was established in his State on
June 29, 1914. For the three months previous
to that date these mines produced 35,615 tons.
During the next three months the amount was
67,813 tons, a difference of 32,198 tons. This
shows that the average efficiency of each man
was almost doubled. Suppose that result
should be accomplished in all the mines and
in all other industries, what a wonderful dif
ference there would be in this country. It
seems strange that enlightened people, like
Americans and the British, should hesitate a
moment about establishing prohibition.
+ * +
AMERICAN feeling towards Germany is
strikingly illustrated by the present
condition of affairs. The American govern
ment is at war with the German government,
yet all over this country Christian people of
almost every Church are commemorating or
preparing to commemorate the life and work
of a German. Four hundred years ago Martin
Luther, a German monk, crystallized the re
formation spirit that was beginning to mani
fest itself in the world, and led those who had
this spirit out from the tyranny of the pope.
He did more than almost any other man to
bring the people of his day out into the light
of the pure gospel truth. American Christians
are anxious to give honor to him to whom honor
is due. We have not heard of any church or
congregation which has even considered the
question of abandoning or curtailing the cele
bration this year of the four hundredth anni
versary of Luther's nailing his theses to the
church door. We hope that this wonderful
event will be duly celebrated in all our
churches.
+ ? +
REHEARSING the faults of others is one of
the serious faults of most people. Henry
Ward Beecher said: "Every man should keep
a fair-sized cemetery in which to bury the
faults of his friends. " It would be well to
enlarge it to include others as well as his
friends. In front of the cemetery there should
be a garden, in which should be planted the
virtues of all those whom we know. They
will spring up and blossom and hide the graves
beyond.
IIE Scripture Gift Mission of London,
which has an American branch in Phila
delphia, since the world war began has given
about 20,000,000 Testaments and Gospels to
soldiers and sailors. In those given to the
British and Allied forces there is an autograph
letter from Lord Roberts. The Mission is now
preparing an edition for our soldiers and
sailors. In response to its request President
Wilson has written the letter which appears
on this page, and it will be printed in each
copy of the Testament or part of the Bible
given to the men who are fighting for our
country. Let those who can help to provide
the means to aid in this good work. Let all
Christians pray for God's blessing upon His
word.
+ + +
PRESIDENT WILSON'S LETTER TO
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.
The "White House,
Washington, July 23, 1917.
The Bible is the word of life. I beg that
you will read it and find this out for your
selves ? read, not little snatches here and
there, but long passages that will really be
the road to the heart of it. You will find it
full of real men and women not only but
also of the things you have wondered obout
and been troubled about all your life, as
men have been always; and the more you
read the more it will become plain to you
what things are worth wiiile and what are
not, what things make men happy ? loyalty,
right dealing, speaking the truth, readiness
to give everything for what they think their
duty and, most of all, the wish that they
may have the real approval of the Christ,'
who gave everything for them ? and the
things that are guaranteed to make men un
happy ? selfishness, cowardice, greed and
everything that is low and mean. When you
have read the Bible you will know that it is
the word of God, because you will have
found it the key to your own heart, your
own happiness and your own duty.
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
+ ? +
1ITERARY tests are now required of immi
j grants coming into this country, and the
National Department of Labor has selected the
Bible as the book to be used in making them.
This is not done because of the religious char
acter of the Bible, but because it has been
translated into all the languages which wiil
probably be needed. It can now be had in
more than five hundred languages and dialects..
Although it is used merely as a matter of con
venience, will not its use make an impression
upon the immigrant! To be met with the
Bible on his first attempt to enter this coun
try will necessarily impress him with the idea
that this is a land of the Bible. Would that
this impression might always be deepened after
he lias entered.
THE Mayo Brothers of Rochester, Minn., are
generally admitted to be the leading sur
geons of this country. One of them, Dr. C. II.
Mayo, who is president of the American Medi
cal Association, said recently: "No one ex
cept the policeman sees more of the results
of over-indulgence in alcohol, demonstrated
by pauperism, sickness, immorality and crime,
than the physician. Medicine has reached a
period when alcohol is rarely employed as a
drug, being displaced by better remedies.
Alcohol's only place now is in the arts and
sciences. National prohibition would be wel
comed by the medical profession." And here
is the testimony of a man in a very different
position, but fully qualified to speak on the
subject. He is Mr. Frank Case, the proprietor
of the Algonquin Hotel in New York. In giving
his reason for closing the bar in his hotel, he
said: "A bar is a hole, a squalid, rotten hole,
no matter how clean it may be kept, no mat
ter how well appointed and beautifully deco
rated it is. A public bar is a hole, and it
makes no difference whether it is in a hotel
or in a corner saloon over in Hell's Kitchen.
It is the place of repeated drinking, of treaty
ing to drinks that nobody wants, but that no
body has the nerve to refuse. It is the ex
change for oral filth which its patrons would
be ashamed to speak or listen to anywhere else.
All the troubles we ever had in this hotel could
be traced to the bar. I am through with it."
How long before all men will learn as much
wisdom ?
V f f
SUBSCRIBER writes: "By the label I
notice that my subscription expires this
month. Enclosed find check for renewal." We
wish that all of our subscribers would watch
their labels and act as this man did. It seems
strange that, when every week the label shows
how his subscription stands, a subscriber should
wait until a special bill is sent him before he
sends a check for payment. It is more strange
still that a subscriber will sometimes wait until
a second bill is sent, and passing strange that
some will wait until a third statement is sent.
What shall be said of those who wait longer
Still f In these days when every effort is being
made to conserve resources and efforts we
would like very much for our subscribers to
help us to save the labor and postage neces
sary to send out bills. Of course we know
that' there are some who have difficulty in
meeting obligations promptly. If this is the
case with any of our subscribers, we are en
tirely willing to wait for their payments. It
will be a great favor to us, if they will notify
us of this fact, and tell us when they think
they will probably be able to send us a check.
Tf they will do this, we will not send them
any bills until that time has passed. We need
-the help of our subscribers in these matters
and feel sure that they will give it.