66

Mary wud sune settled the minister gin she hed been in the kirk the day."

'Aye, aye," inquired Jeems, "noo what hud the hizzie hae dune ?"

"She wud juist hae sent for him an' lookit wi' her een, an' askit him what ill he hed at her, an' gin that wesna eneuch she wud hae pit her handkerchief tae her face."

"Of coorse he cudna hae stude that; a' micht hae gien in masel'," admitted Jeems, "but Knox wes stiff." "Maister Carmichael is no a Knox, naither are ye, Jeems, an' it's a mercy for me ye arena. Mary wud hae twistit Maister Carmichael roond her finger, but a'm judgin' he 'ill catch it as it is afore mony days, or ma name's no Elspeth Macfadyen. Did ye see Miss Carnegie rise an' gae oot afore he feenished?"

"Div ye mean that, Elspeth?" and her husband was amazed at such penetration. "Noo, a' thocht it hed been the heat; a' never held wi' that stove; it draws up the air. Hoo did ye jalouse yon?"

"She wes fidgetin' in her seat when he yokit on Mary, an' the meenut he named her 'our Scottish Jezebel' the Miss rose an' opened the seat door that calm, a' knew she wes in a tantrum, and she gied him a look afore she closed the kirk door that wud hae brocht ony man tae his

senses.

"Jeems," went on Elspeth with solemnity, "a' coont this a doonricht calamity, for a' wes houpin' he wud hae pleased them the day, an' noo a'm sair afraid that the minister hes crackit his credit wi' the Lodge."

"Div ye think, Elspeth, he saw her gang oot an' suspeckit the cause?"

"It's maist michty tae hear ye ask sic a question, Jeems. What gared him mak' a hash o' the baptism prayer, and return thanks. that there wes a leevin' father, instead o' mither, and gie oot the 103d Paraphrase? Tak' ma word for't, he's wishin' by this time that he'd lat puir Mary alane."

It was just above Hillocks' farm that the General overtook Kate, who was still blazing.

"Did you ever hear such vulgar abuse and . . . abominable language from a pulpit? He's simply a raging fanatic, and not one bit better than his Knox. And I . . . we thought him quite different. . . and a gentleman. I'll never speak to him again. Scottish Jezebel! I suppose he would call me Jezebel if it occurred to him."

"Very likely he would," replied the General, dryly, "and I must say his talk about Queen Mary seemed rather bad taste. But that's not the question, Kate, which is your conduct in leaving a place of worship in such an ladylike fashion.'

...

un

"What?" for this was new talk from her father. "As no Carnegie ought to have done. You have forgotten yourself and your house, and there is just one thing for you to do, and the sooner the better."

Father, I'll never look at him again and after that evening at Dr. Davidson's, and our talking . . . about Queen Mary, and . . . lots of things."

"Whether you meet Mr. Carmichael again or not is your own affair, but this touches us both, and you must write a letter of apology."

"And if I don't?" said Kate, defiantly.

"Then I shall write one myself for you. A Carnegie A Carnegie must not insult any man, be he one faith or the other, and offer him no amends.'

So Donald handed in this letter at the Free Kirk manse that evening, and left without an answer:

were going to Muirtown Castle to-morrow for a visit; but Janet had not lost hope.

"Do not be taking this to heart, my dear, for I will be asking a question. What will be making Miss Kate so very angry? it is not every man she would be minding, though he spoke against Queen Mary all the day. When a woman does not care about a man, she will not take the trouble to be angry. That is what I am thinking; and it is not Lord Hay that has the way, oh no, though he be a proper man and good at shooting."

CHAPTER XVIII.-LOVESICKNESS

College friends settled in petty lowland towns, and meeting Carmichael on sacramental occasions, affected to pity him, inquiring curiously what were his means of conveyance after the railway ceased, what time a letter took to reach him, whether any foot ever crossed his door from October to May, whether the great event of the week was not the arrival of the bread-cart. Those were exasperating gibes from men who could not take a walk without coming on a coal-pit, nor lift a book in their studies without soiling their hands, whose windows looked on a street and commanded the light of a grocer's shop instead of a sunset. It ill became such miserables to be insolent, and Carmichael taught them humility when he began to sound the praises of Drumtochty; but he could not make townspeople understand the unutterable satisfaction of the country minister, who even from old age and great cities looks back with fond regret to his first parish on the slope of the Grampians. Some kindly host wrestles with him to stay a few days more in civilization, and pledges him to run up whenever he wearies of his exile, and the ungrateful rustic can hardly conceal the joy of his escape. He shudders on the way to the station at the drip of the dirty sleet and the rags of the shivering poor, and the restless faces of the men and the unceasing roar of the traffic. Where he is going the white snow is falling gently on the road, a cart full of sweet-smelling roots is moving on velvet, the driver stops to exchange views with a farmer who has been feeding his sheep, within the humblest cottage the fire is burning clearly. With every mile northward the Glenman's heart lifts; and as he lands on his far-away little station he draws a deep breath of the clean, wholesome air. It is a long walk through the snow, but there is a kindly, couthy smell from the woods, and at sight of the squares of light in his home, weariness departs from a Drumtochty man. Carmichael used to say that a glimpse of Archie Moncur sitting with his sisters before the fire as he passed, and the wild turmoil of his dogs within the manse as the latch of the garden gate clicked, and the flood of light pouring out from the open door on the garden, where every branch was feathered with snow, and to come into his study, where the fire of pine logs was reflected from the familiar titles of his loved books, gave him a shock of joy such as he has never felt since, even in the days of his prosperity.

"The city folk are generous with their wealth," he was saying to me only last week, when I was visiting him in his West End manse and we fell a-talking of the Glen, "and they have dealt kindly by me; they are also full of ideas, and they make an inspiring audience for a preacher. If any man has a message to deliver from the Eternal, then he had better leave the wilderness and come to the city; and if he has plans for the helping of his fellowmen, let him come where he can get his agents and his laborers.

carries me to the harvest-field, till in my study I hear the swish of the scythe and feel the fragrance of the dry, ripe grain. And in winter I see the sun shining on the white sides of Glen Urtach, and can hardly keep pen to paper in this dreary room.

"What nonsense this is!" pulling himself together; "yes, that is the very chair you sat in, and this is the table we stuck between us with our humble flask of Mosel wine of a winter's night. . . let's go to bed; we 'ill have no more good talk to-night."

When he had left me, I flung open my window in search of air, for it seemed as if the city were choking me. A lamp was flaring across the street, two cabs rattled past with revelers singing a music-hall song, a heavy odor from many drains floated in, the multitude of houses oppressed one as with a weight. How sweet and pure it was now at the pool above Tochty Mill, where the trout were lying below the stones and the ashen boughs dipping into the

Carmichael once, however, lost all love of the Glen, and that was after Kate flung herself out of the Free Kirk and went on a visit to Kilspindie Castle. He was completely disenchanted, and saw everything at its poorest. Why did they build the manse so low that an able-bodied man could touch the ceiling of the lower rooms with an effort and the upper rooms easily? What possessed his predecessor to put such an impossible paper on the study, and to stuff the room with book-shelves? A row of Puritan divines offended him—a wooden, obsolete theology-but he also pitched a defense of Queen Mary into a cupboard-she had done enough mischief already. The garden looked squalid and mean, without flowers, with black patches peeping through the thin covering of snow, with a row of winter greens opposite the southern window. He had never noticed the Glen so narrow and bare before, nor how gray and unlovely were the houses. Why had not the people better manners and some brightness?-they were not always attending funerals and making bargains. What an occupation for an educated man to spend two hours in a cabin of a vestry with a dozen laboring men, considering how two pounds could be added to the Sustentation Fund, or preaching on Sunday to a handful of people who showed no more animation than stone gods, except when the men took snuff audibly! Carmichael was playing the spoiled child-not being at all a mature or perfect character, then or nowand was ready to hit out at anybody. His bearing was for the first and only time in his life supercilious, and his sermons were a vicious attack on the doctrines most dear to the best of his people. His elders knew not what had come over him, although Elspeth Macfadyen was mysteriously apologetic, and in moments of sanity he despised himself. One day he came to a good resolution suddenly, and went down to see Rabbi Saunderson-the very thought of whose gentle, patient, selfless life was a rebuke and a tonic.

When two tramps held conference on the road, and one indicated to the other visibly that any gentleman in temporary distress would be treated after a Christian fashion at a neighboring house, Carmichael, who had been walking in a dream since he passed the Lodge, knew instantly that he must be near the Free Kirk manse of Kilbogie. The means of communication between the members of the nomadic profession is almost perfect in its frequency and accuracy, and Saunderson's manse was a hedge-side wood. Not only did all the regular travelers by the north road call on their going up in spring and their coming down in autumn, but habitués of the east coast route were attracted and made a circuit to embrace so hospitable a home, and even country vagrants made their way from Dunleith and down through Glen Urtach to pay their respects to the Rabbi. They had careful directions to avoid Barbaraexpressed forcibly on five different posts in the vicinity and -enforced in picturesque language, of an evening-and they were therefore careful to waylay the Rabbi on the road, or enter his study boldly from the front. The humbler members of the profession contented themselves with explaining that they had once been prosperous tradesmen, and were now walking to Muirtown in search of work-receiving

their alms in silence, with diffidence and shame; but those in a higher walk came to consult the Rabbi on Bible difficulties, which were threatening to shake their faith, and departed much relieved-with a new view of Lot's wife, as well as a suit of clothes the Rabbi had worn only three times.

"You have done kindly by me in calling"-the vagabond had finished his story and was standing, a very abject figure, among the books-" and in giving me the message from your friend. I am truly thankful that he is now laboring in iron-did you say?-and I hope he may be a cunning artificer.

"You will not set it down to carelessness that I cannot quite recall the face of your friend, for, indeed, it is my privilege to see many travelers, and there are times when I may have been a minister to them on their journeys, as I would be to you also if there be anything in which I can serve you. It grieves me to say that I have no clothing that I might offer you; it happens that a very worthy man passed here a few days since most insufficiently clad, and

but I should not have alluded to that; my other garments, save what I wear, are .. kept in a place of safety by my excellent housekeeper, and she makes their custody a point of conscience; you might put the matter before her.

...

Assuredly it would be difficult, and I crave your pardon for putting you in a . . difficult position; it is my misfortune to have to-day neither silver nor gold;" catching sight of Carmichael in the passage, "this is a providence. May I borrow from you, John, some suitable sum for our brother here who is passing through adversity?"

"Do not be angry with me, John "-after the tramp had departed, with five shillings in hand and much triumph over Carmichael on his face-"nor speak bitterly of our fellow-men. Verily theirs is a hard lot who have no place to lay their head, and who journey in weariness from city to city. John, I was once a stranger and a wayfarer, wandering over the length and breadth of the land. Nor had

I a friend on earth till my feet were led to the Mains, where my heart was greatly refreshed, and now God has surrounded me with young men of whose kindness I am not worthy, wherefore it becometh me to show mercy unto others," and the Rabbi looked at Carmichael with such sweetness that the lad's sullenness began to yield, although he made no sign.

66

66

Moreover," and the Rabbi's voice took a lower tone, as often as I look on one of those men of the highways, there cometh to me a vision of Him who was an outcast of the people, and, albeit some may be as Judas, peradventure one might beg alms of me, a poor sinful man, some day, and, lo, it be the Lord himself in a saint," and the Rabbi uncovered his head and stood a while much moved.

..

Rabbi," after a pause, during which Carmichael's face had changed, "you are incorrigible. For years we have been trying to make you a really good and wise man, both by example and precept, and you are distinctly worse than when we began-more lazy, miserly, and uncharitable. It is very disheartening.

"Can you receive another tramp and give him a bed?for I am in low spirits, and so, like every other person in trouble, I come to you, you dear old saint, and already I feel a better man.'

"Receive you, John? It is doubtless selfish, but it is not given to you to know how I weary to see your face, and we shall have much converse together-there are some points I would like your opinion on-but first of all, after a slight refreshment, we must go to Mains: behold the aid to memory I have designed "-and the Rabbi pointed to a large square of paper hung above Chrysostom, with "Farewell, George Pitillo, 3 o'clock." "He is the son's son of my benefactor, and he leaves his father's house this day to go into a strange land across the sea: I had a service last night at Mains, and expounded the departure of Abraham, but only slightly, being somewhat affected through the weakness of the flesh.

"There was a covenant made between the young man and myself that I should meet him at the crossing of the

roads to-day, and it is in my mind to leave a parable with him against the power of this present world."

Then the Rabbi fell into a meditation till the dog-cart came up, Mains and his wife in the front and George alone in the back, making a brave show of indifference.

"George," said the Rabbi, looking across the field and speaking as to himself, "we shall not meet again in this world, and in a short space they will bury me in Kilbogie kirkyard, but it will not be in me to lie still for thinking of the people I have loved.

"So it will come to pass that I may rise-you have ears to understand, George-and I will inquire of him that taketh charge of the dead about many and how it fares with them.

The sun was setting fast, and the landscape-bare stubble fields, leafless trees, still water, long, empty road-was of a blood-red color fearsome to behold, so that no one spake, and the horse chafing his bit made the only sound. Then the Rabbi began again.

"And George Pitillo-tell me, Andrew?'

"Weel, ye see, Mister Saunderson, ye wud be sorry for him, for you and he were aye chief; he's keepit a gude name an' workit hard, but hesna made muckle o' this warld.' "And his soul, Andrew?'

""Oo, that's a' richt; gin we a' hed as gude a chance for the next warld as George Pitillo, we micht be satisfied.'

"That is enough for his old friend; hap me over again, Andrew, and I'll rest in peace till the trumpet sound.'"

Carmichael turned aside, but he heard something desperately like a sob from the back of the dog-cart, and the Rabbi saying, "God be with you, George, and as your father's father received me in the day of my sore discouragement, so may the Lord God of Israel open a door for you in every land whithersoever you go, and bring you in at last through the gates into the city." The Rabbi watched George till the dog-cart faded away into the dusk of the winter's day, and they settled for the night in their places among the books before the Rabbi spoke.

It was with a wistful tenderness that he turned to Carmichael and touched him slightly with his hand, as was a fashion with the Rabbi.

"You will not think me indifferent to your welfare because I have not inquired about your affairs, for indeed this could not be, but the going forth of this lad has tried my heart. Is there aught, John, that it becometh you to tell me, and wherein my years can be of any avail ?" "It is not about doctrine I wished to speak to you, Rabbi, although I am troubled thus also, but about . . . you remember our talk."

"About the maid, surely; I cannot forget her, and indeed often think of her since the day you brought me to her house and made me known unto her, which was much courtesy to one who is fitter for a book-room than a woman's company.

"She is fair of face and debonair, and surely beauty and a winsome way are from God; there seemed also a certain contempt of baseness and a strength of will which are excellent. Perhaps my judgment is not even because Miss Carnegie was gracious to me, and you know, John, it is not in me to resist kindness, but this is how she seems to me. Has there been trouble between you?"

"Do not misunderstand me, Rabbi; I have not spoken one word of love to... Miss Carnegie, nor she to me; but I love her, and I thought that perhaps she saw that I loved her. But now it looks as if . . . what I hoped is never to be," and Carmichael told the Queen Mary affair.

"Is it not marvelous," mused the Rabbi, looking into

"It was not fitting that Miss Carnegie should have left God's house in heat of temper, and it seemeth to us that she hath a wrong reading of history, but it is surely good that she has her convictions, and holdeth them fast like a brave maid.

"Is it not so, John, that friends and doubtless also . lovers have been divided by conscience and have been on opposite sides in the great conflict, and doth not this show how much of conscience there is among men?

...

"It may be this dispute will not divide you-being now, as it were, more an argument of the schools than a matter of principle; but if it should appear that you are far apart on the greater matters of faith, then .. you will have a heavy cross to carry. But it is my mind that the heart of the maiden is right, and that I may some day see her . . in your home, whereat my eyes would be glad.' The Rabbi was so taken up with the matter that he barely showed Carmichael a fine copy of St. John of Damascus. he had secured from London, and went out of his course at worship to read, as well as to expound with much feeling, the story of Ruth the Moabitess, showing conclusively that she had in her a high spirit, and that she was designed of God to be a strength to the house of David. He was also very cheerful in the morning, and bade Carmichael goodby at Tochty woods with encouraging words. He also agreed to assist his boy at the Drumtochty sacrament.

It was evident that the Rabbi's mind was much set on this visit, but Carmichael did not for one moment depend upon his remembering the day, and so Burnbrae started early on the Saturday with his dog-cart to bring Saunderson up and deposit him without fail in the Free Kirk manse of Drumtochty. Six times that day did the minister leave his "action" sermon and take his way to the guest-room, carrying such works as might not be quite unsuitable for the old scholar's perusal, and arranging a lamp of easy management, that the night hours might not be lost. It was late in the afternoon before the Rabbi was delivered at the manse, and Burnbrae gave explanations next day at the sacramental dinner.

"It wes juist ten when a' got tae the manse o' Kilbogie, an' his hoosekeeper didna ken whar her maister wes; he micht be in Kildrummie by that time, she said, or half wy tae Muirtown. So a' set oot an' ransackit the pairish till a' got him, an' gin he wesna sittin' in a bothie takin' brose wi' the plowmen an' expoundin' Scripture a' the time.

"He startit on the ancient martyrs afore we were half a mile on the road, and he gied ae testimony aifter anither, an' he wesna within sicht o' the Reformation when we cam tae the hooses; a'll no deny that a' let the mare walk bits o' the road, for a' cud hae heard him a' nicht; ma bluid's warmer yet, freends."

The Rabbi arrived in great spirits, and refused to taste meat till he had stated the burden of his sermon for the morrow.

"If the Lord hath opened our ears, the servant must declare what has been given him, but I prayed that the message sent through me to your flock, John, might be love, for it hath pleased the Great Shepherd that I should lead the sheep by strange paths. But I desired that it be otherwise when I came for the first time to Drumtochty.

"Two days did I spend in the woods, for the stillness. of winter among the trees leaveth the mind disengaged for the Divine word, and the first day my soul was heavy as I returned, for this only was laid upon me, vessels of wrath, filled for destruction.' And, John, albeit God would doubtless have given me strength according to His will, yet I was loth to bear this awful truth to the people of your charge.

"Next day the sun was shining pleasantly in the wood, and it came to me that clouds had gone from the face of God, and as I wandered among the trees a squirrel sat on a branch within reach of my hand and did not flee. I heard a voice, 'I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.'

Then

"It was, in an instant, my hope that this might be

"God opened my mouth on Sabbath on this text unto my own flock, and the word was not void. It is little that can be said on the sovereign love in two and it may be a few minutes; yet even this may be more than your people are minded to bear. So I shall prætermit certain notes on doctrine; for you will doubtless have given much instruction on the purposes of God, and very likely may be touching on that mystery in your action sermon.'

During the evening the Rabbi was very genial-tasting Sarah's viands with relish, and comparing her to Rebecca, who made savory meat, urging Carmichael to smoke without scruple, and allowing himself to snuff three times, examining the book-shelves with keen appreciation, and finally departing with three volumes of modern divinity under his arm, to reinforce the selection in his room, "lest his eyes should be held waking in the night watches." He was much overcome by the care that had been taken for his comfort, and at the door of his room blessed his boy: "May the Lord give you the sleep of His beloved, and strengthen you to declare all His truth on the morrow." Carmichael sat by his study fire for a while and went to bed much cheered, nor did he dream that there was to be a second catastrophe in the Free Kirk of Drumtochty which would be far sadder than the first, and leave in one heart lifelong regret.

[To be continued in the September Magazine Number of The Outlook]

The Religious World

We have already referred to the deplorable separaThe Doshisha tion of the Japanese Doshisha University at Kyoto from the American Board and from all missionary influence. The Doshisha's declaration of absolute independence has been followed by the withdrawal of the missionary teachers in the University. The Trustees of the University, in severing relations with the American Board, expressed a desire that the missionary teachers should continue as instructors independently of the Board. In reply to this request a letter was sent in behalf of the Kyoto Mission signed by the Rev. Dr. M. L. Gordon and the Rev. Dr. D. W. Learned. In this letter, which was dated July 7, the missionaries, after acknowledging their appreciation of the Trustees' request, stated that "the American Board has specifically instructed us to enter into no relations in which we cannot be recognized as its representatives. Even in the absence of specific instructions we should hesitate to assent to such form of co-operation. If this were an entirely new work, having no history behind it, the case might be different; but, in view of your action severing the Doshisha from its long-standing relationship to the American Board, it would certainly be difficult to avoid at least the appearance of disloyalty to our constituency." Further on in the letter the root of the trouble is plainly disclosed. The writers of the letter call attention to the fact that the present teachings of the University differ from those of Dr. Neesima, who was in the closest sympathy with American Christianity. The letter continues:

The fundamental principles of Christianity which were dear to the hearts of the founders of the Doshisha, to those of the American friends who have given hundreds of thousands of dollars for its support, and which are not less dear to the hearts of all the members of our Mission, have been publicly assailed or ridiculed from the platform of the school and in other ways by persons connected with the administration; and instead of listening to the earnest protests of the representatives of the Mission, the Trustees have in one instance promoted an instructor who had been most active in assailing the Christian foundations of the institution to be the head of an important department. The Trustees have also said in their reply to the Report of the Deputation, in speaking of our protests, "the opinions considered so heretical by the missionaries are not so in our view." There is no longer a unity of feeling and practice in the Doshisha, but rather such a wide divergence as to render it unwise, if not impossible, for any of our number to continue to co-operate as teachers in the school.

The English paper published in Yokohama called the "Japan Gazette" declares that many Japanese Christians are as dissatisfied with the present teachings of the Doshisha, and that eight Japanese professors have left the school within a year. Somewhat cynically, the "Gazette comments as follows:

There is a story current,something of a chestnut in flavor, of two people entering into partnership, the one providing brains and the other money. At the

end of a certain period the man with the brains had become possessed of the money, while the other was poor in pocket but rich in experience. The letter of the American missionaries to the President of the Board of Trustees of the Doshisha University brings the story to remembrance. The Japanese have the University; the missionaries are sadder, we hope they are wiser, men.

Brotherhood

of the Kingdom

.

The fourth annual Conference of the Brother

hood of the Kingdom was held this year at Marlborough-on-the-Hudson, from August 3 to 8, inclusive. There is no diminution of interest nor lessening of attendance as the years go on. The papers that were read and the addresses made this year showed maturity of thought and that fearless conservatism which results from undivided purpose and painful experiential tests. The hours of the sessions of the Conference were apportioned to the intellectual and the devotional life of the Christian social movement. The Conference began with a reception and devotional meeting on Monday evening. The meeting was conducted by Mornay Williams, Esq. On Tuesday morning, after a devotional and a private business meeting, the public session was held at 10:30, and at this hour the initial paper of the Conference was read by the Rev Charles James Wood, of York, Pa. The topic of the paper was "The Historic Manifestation of Christ." The purpose of the paper was to demonstrate that neither the Incarnation nor the social religion of Jesus were fortuitous, but had been eternally and essentially necessary, because always divine. Some attempt was made to show also the applications of this principle to life and literature, to commerce and politics. In the afternoon of the same day the Hon. Ernest Howard Crosby read a paper on "The Reign of Peace." Mr Crosby is the most practical exponent of Tolstoï. Mr. Mornay Williams touched upon some legal points in a paper on "The Relation of the Citizen of the Kingdom to Existing Laws." Mr. Williams's ideas gave rise to some debate. Upon Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, came essays on "The Teaching of Christ" and "The Works of Christ," the former by the Rev. E. T. Root, of Baltimore, and the other by the Rev. Professor W. N. Clark, of Colgate University. As interpretations, both essays were suggestive and inspiring. Professor Nathanael Schmidt's study of "Hosea" gave the results of scientific untrammeled scholarship brought to bear upon social ethics. The Rev. Mr. Rauschenbush followed with a paper on "The Modern Apostolate." In line with this were the addresses of Superintendent J. W Kelgaard and Director George T. Powell. These were given at the large farmers' meeting on Saturday afternoon. On Friday the subjects were prospective and the speakers prophetic. The Rev. J. W. Hegeman was singularly original in writing of "The Future Christ." The Rev. Messrs. W. T. Brown wrote on "Christian Union," and E. E. Chivers, D.D., on "The Social Aspects of World Missions." It is to be hoped that the essays presented at this Conference may find publication, for they were careful, thoughtful, practical, and original. The Brotherhood is made up of Christian thinkers and workers from all the Churches, and its platform is roomy--even the Christian Socialist is allowed to utter his thoughts. It is reverently fearless. The effect of its work in the way of social amelioration, both in New York and elsewhere, has already been felt by those who guessed not the source. While determined in its propaganda, it never forgets to keep the spiritual life nourished. It is constantly at its work in the endeavor to realize its ideals. For bare intellectualism it has no sympathy, yet the intellectual quality of the Conferences is exceptionally fine and strong.

Education in the Y. M. C. A.

The prospectus of the New York Young Men's Christian Association for the coming year, which has just been issued, contains some novel features and indicates that a strong effort is to be made to lay additional stress on the educational side of the work of the Association. A new step, and one of great importance, is the introduction of the syllabi of educational courses adopted by the International Committee. This forms a basis for uniform study on a distinct line of development. It is expected that 25,000 students will be enrolled this year under the different branches of the International League. An advisory board has furnished syllabi of topics in ten selected subjects; examinations are to be held simultaneously in all the branch Associations, and certificates will be issued which will be accepted in place of examination by the training-schools in Springfield and Chicago, and probably, later on, by other institutions. In short, the Association is planning systematically to make its educational courses approach more nearly to university work, and to lay down an educational system which shall be comprehensive and of thoroughly practical value.

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Encampments this summer, perhaps none have enjoyed the camp experience more than the one hundred and fifty boys of the United Boys' Brigade in camp at Boynton Beach. They constitute the First New Jersey Battalion of the United Boys' Brigade, and include six companies, three from churches in Jersey City, one from Jersey City Heights, and two from Hoboken, under command of Major Thomas P. Wightman, of Jersey City. They represented two Presbyterian churches, two Reformed churches, and one Methodist church. large number of visitors have called upon the boys in camp, but their special guest was the Rev. Dr. Cornelius Brett, of the Bergen Reformed Church, who in former camps has so endeared himself to them that when he went to camp they insisted that he should remain with them until they should break camp. This indicates one of the underlying reasons for the organization-the molding influence of good men brought to bear upon the character and life of boys in the Brigade, until they are permanently fixed in good habits of thought and action. The strict observance of the day's routine, including the regular calls and drills of the military camp, morning and evening devotions, domestic duties about their tents, and the general cultivation of the comrade spirit, have a tendency to develop manliness in the boys. Objections are frequently urged against the Brigades on the ground that the order tends to foster the soldier spirit. No doubt the objection is well grounded, but in the hands of skillful managers the order can be made one of the most effective agencies for the training of boys in the arts of peace, the principles of manhood, and the spirit of genuine devotion to the pure and good in religion and life.

On Saturday and Sunday, Ocean Grove Missionary Anniversary August 15 and 16, the twenty-fourth anniversary of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society was held at Ocean Grove, and was largely attended both by visitors and missionaries from the foreign field. The reports of President Mrs. E. H. Stokes, Secretary Mrs. M. S. Wheeler, and Treasurer Mrs. R. Van Kirk were eloquent with the evidences of progress, and were received with delight. The feature of the Saturday afternoon session was a symposium including representatives of various mission countries in their peculiar costumes, led by Mrs. S. L. Baldwin, of China. Mrs. S. M. Butler, of India, then delivered an inspiring address on Gospel work in that land. Saturday evening was devoted to an enthusiastic missionary love-feast conducted by Dr. E. H. Stokes, President of the Ocean Grove Association, in which a large audience took part. Sunday was a high day, noted in the annual conventions at Ocean Grove as " Missionary Sabbath." All the services that day were devoted to the cause of foreign missions, and were under the auspices of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. Thousands of people took part in the holiness meeting led by Dr. R. J. Daniels, and the young people's meeting conducted by the Evangelist C. H. Yatman. At the morning service Miss Ruth Marie Sites, recently returned from China, made an address, as also did Miss Marguerite Wong, of Foo Chow, China, the daughter of a high Chinese official, recently converted from Confucianism, who spoke in her native tongue, Miss Sites acting as her interpreter. Several returned missionaries from China, India, and Syria spoke briefly, and Oriental converts, in costume, sang and spoke in their native tongues. At the afternoon meeting twenty returned missionaries occupied the platform, and a collection of about $1,000 was taken in the interest of missions. It was pronounced one of the greatest missionary days in the history of Ocean Grove. Ten thousand people attended the closing services.

The annual encampment of Bethany Assembly for the season of 1896 was held on the beautiful grounds of the Association at Brooklyn, Indiana, twenty miles west of Indianapolis, July 23 to August 17. For many years the Disciples of Christ in Indiana, which is one of their strongholds, have been accustomed to spend three or four weeks in a summer assembly at Bethany Park, considering the interests of the cause of Christ in that State. At first it was simply and only missionary in character; but with the passing years the Assembly has grown into a much wider scope, until it includes many features of entertainment, amusement, and class instruction, the latter of which was added this summer. The encampment which has just closed devoted the first week very largely to Christian Endeavor interests. Professor G. P. Coler, of Ann Arbor, conducted a Christian Endeavor Training-School, and Miss Mattie M. Botler, editor of the "Lookout," lectured each morning to the young people, giving them, in her happy literary style, many valuable lessons. The latter part of the same week was occupied by the Christian Woman's Board of Missions, which presented an attractive programme, and whose reports told a story full of devotion and success. The second week the Sunday-School Association held a three days' convention; Butler University, located at Irvington, observed "Butler University Day," which is always a time of literary

Bethany Assembly Encampment

feasting and gladness; and "Christian Union Day" proved that the Disciples have lost none of the old-time zeal in their fervent advocacy of this issue. During this week Dr. B. B. Tyler, of New York, gave six lectures on "Some of the Great Preachers of the Metropolis." The third week was devoted largely to State, general, and foreign missionary matters, and to the Ministerial Association of Indiana. At this time President D. R. Dungan, of Cotner University, favored the preachers with six strong lectures on questions particularly related to their work. There were two series of special lectures each day, besides a number of sacred concerts, in addition to the regular conventions and special day celebrations. The attendance was large from several States, the interest deep, and the results full of promise for greater efficiency in Christian service.

The experiences of the Rev. Dr. Job Bass, the Thirty Years a Prison Chaplain thirtieth anniversary of whose installation as Chaplain of the Kings County Penitentiary, Brooklyn, was celebrated on Sunday afternoon, August 16, is full of pathetic and interesting incidents. At the request of Samuel Booth, then Mayor of Brooklyn, Dr. Bass was in 1866 ordained Chaplain of the Penitentiary at Crow Hill. Previous to his chaplaincy he had charge of several Methodist Episcopal churches in New York, Brooklyn, and New Orleans; and during the Civil War he was Chaplain of the Ninetieth Regiment of New York Volunteers. Since 1865 Dr. Bass has been connected with the City Mission and Tract Society, and has been engaged in many endeavors of a philanthropic and humanitarian nature. He has made a special personal study of hundreds of convicts, with the object of helping them morally and spiritually while in prison, and of providing them with an honest means of living upon their release. He also conducts correspondence for many, acts as banker for others, and in a number of cases has accepted the burden of supporting the families of prisoners. It has been his rule to provide bountiful dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day for those families entirely dependent. He says the most interesting class of convicts are the Federal prisoners, of whom there are about 400 at Crow Hill. Among the 700 convicts who attend chapel services regularly, almost every nationality and religious sect under the sun is represented-there are a dozen Jews, one Mussulman, and two Chinamen. Among the Federal prisoners from the mountains of Tennessee, Texas, and the Indian Territory there are some who never saw a Bible until they entered the Kings County Penitentiary. While Dr. Bass would not advocate a term in the penitentiary as the best theological training, it is a fact, nevertheless, that four men who only recently wore the stripes at Crow Hill are now regularly ordained ministers of the Gospel. So unselfish have been the services of Dr. Bass that his friends presented him with a purse of $1,000 as a token of the esteem in which he is held.

A New Departure

The wide-awake pastor in a thriving little city of 20,000 people has, according to a Chicago paper, instituted what he calls a conversazione " in his church, with the primary object of rendering moral and intellectual benefit to the community at large, and indirectly to reach and redeem many of the non-church-goers. His plan is to invite, by printed cards, about two hundred people to the church parlors once a month. The young members of the church are made useful as special distributers of invitation-cards, and have been found quite adapted to the work, which they very much like. The pastor selected those things pertaining to the welfare of the community, and encouraged the utmost freedom of expression of opinion both by those specially invited to speak and those taking part in the general parlia ment. Special effort was made to secure the attendance of some of the leading labor people, who led in the discussion of the labor unions and their attitude toward organic morality and religion. Such questions as local railway service, the public schools, kindergartens, highways, the public health, and other things in which the community in general are interested were discussed. Several of these parliaments were held during the past winter, with even better results than this sanguine pastor anticipated. We see no reason why this plan could not be made of great service in many churches.

Brief Mention

St. Augustine's Benedictine Priory at Ramsgate, England, has been made an Abbey by the Pope. It is the first Abbey of Benedictines established in England since the Reformation.

Next November the first Catholic Congress ever held in Peru will open its sittings at Lima. A committee, specially appointed by the clergy of the republic, has informed President Pierola to that effect, and he has readily approved the project.

St. Paul's Methodist Church of New York is one of the most desirable pastorates in that denomination in the country, and is now, since the appointment of the Rev. A. J. Palmer as Secretary of the Missionary Society, without a pastor. Considerable interest very naturally is taken in the question of filling the vacancy. Some of the ablest men in the denomination have served St Paul's.