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Sunday-schools when young. Few of these
hymns get farther than Christ's office as Saviour,
which is a low estimate of the Anointed,
and a selfish one, if we stop there. This
imperfect view of his character accounts for
much of the frivolity, emptiness, and error
which devout users of them believe they find
in many hymns.—W. W. Reynolds, Utica,
Ohio.
Two pages before in the first column of a
lengthy article by Charles M. Alexander, the
singing companion of Dr. Chapman, this sentence
occurs, "The Bible insists that all the
people sing.''
On the page before this, in a letter from
Prof. Matthew B. Riddle, a member of the
New Testament Company of American Revisers,
on wine in the Lord's supper, occurs
this remark, "And the use of individual cups,
so widely approved, is not in conformity with
the original mode."
In the same number of the Times the Editor
invites letters on "Church Choir Quarrels."
This also suggests to us some
thoughts.
THE PRESENT WORLD.
We had made a note of the Drexel Biddle
Dancing Contest, but we take instead the local
comment on its appearance in Philadelphia
from the Presbyterian of the 23rd:
"We have heard of the Biddle Bible classes
from time to time, and we had hoped that they
would prove to be a great power for good, but
we are much disappointed to read the following
announcement from one of our Philadelphia
dailies:
" 'A prize dansant will be given at the Biddle
Bible Classes' Summer Home at Lansdowne, Pa.,
this evenihg. Three prizes for the best women
dancers, and three for men will be presented by
A. J. Drexel Biddle. The competition, which
will embrace the modern dances, will be under
the direction of the entertainment committee.'
"It is not our purpose here to write pro or
con on the general subject of dancing, but we
feel confident that the attempt to conduct a prize
dance of tangoes and other modern dances, under
the name and association of a Bible class, will be
most offensive to the Christian conviction of all
God-fearing people. It shows the violation of at
least the principle of Christian expediency, as
taught in the New Testament, and it foretells
the disorder and dissolution of the classes which
so indulge. These classes have found their way
into several of the evangelical churches, and ii
will be incumbent upon the pastors and the governing
boards to look after tbe spiritual interests
of these classes. Moreover, this is another warning
of the peril to the churches ot taking in every
organization and movement outside of the
regular constituted authority of the churches."
This last sentence should impress ns in view
of the constant tendency to graft into tlie life
of the Church every and any kind of movement,
in the end in some cases in lieu of her clearly
defined activities.
We note in this connection the following
sentences from The Christian Work and Evangelist
of September 26, under The World of Today:
"Acting and dancing are rapidly becoming
ino- dancin.g-.
familiar valuable tin's done direction, features -irith in It is England." the interesting of especially work education. being These to done note the Our mixtures way what in readers America of is folk-
may are he­
THE CHRISTIAN NATION. Vol. 61.
produce for a time a certain life akin to efferve^^cenee,
but the residuum of education either
from the Bible or other book at all akin to it, is
small.
"THE HUMAN SLAUGHTER-HOUSE."
By Rev. J. M. Coleman.
This book was suppressed by the military
authorities in Germany and I bought it to
know why. I know now. I know that if the
young men of Germany had read this book,
the Kaiser with his General Staff would have
had a revolution on their hands. Wilhelm
Lamszus, the author, does not exhort, he
does not argue. He paints a picture in words
of blood. Verestschagin painted war as it is
with his brush and militarism would not allow
the pictures to be put on exhibition.
Why Because if men faced the realities of
the battle field those who make wars would
have to fight them. Militarism can not live
in the light, Lamszus has painted pictures
with his pen. He does not gild war with
martial music and waving plumes. He gives
us a moving picture of hell. Dante did the
best he knew in his Inferno. But he did
not know modern war. He did not know
what science could do to increase the horrors
of hell. Ungodly nations shall be cast into
hell. This is not a command of God. It is
a prophecy. It is permission. William of
Hohenzollern and his General Staff fulfilled
the prophecy.
There are a dozen chapters in the book,
but as I read it I did not notice that there
were chapters. From beginning to end it
is a scream of agony. Yet there is nothing
in it that is not being acted out along the
battle line in France. It is not strange that
Caesar Wilhelm suppressed the call of Lamszus
to humanity, or that Caesar Nicholas suppressed
the call of Verestschagin.
The modern censorship serves two purposes.
It keeps the enemy from knowing
the plans; it keeps the people at home from
knowing the red terror at the front. If the
moving picture men were allowed to get a
battlefield on the film, if the correspondents
were allowed to get the facts on paper, it
would start a storm of protest against war
that the pride of the Pharaohs could not resist.
That is the purpose of this little book. You
need to read it and then you need to lend,
hoping that it will not come back. Then
you will i;ot be disappointed. The National
Rip-Saw, St. Louis, Mo., will send it to you
for fifty-sixcents. About sixty elsewhere.
Get it and let it start a peace movement.
FOREIGN MISSION CIRCULAR.
New York, October, 1914.
Dear Brother:—Allow me to call your attention
to the claims of the Foreign Missions.
For your instruction and that of the
congregation under your oversight, I give
below the estimate for 1914-1915, prepared
by Treasurer Metheny, and published for
the guidance of the churches in making their
contributions to the Syrian Mission on the
first Sabbath of December, 1914, and to the
Mission in China on the firstSabbath of January,
1915:
LEVANT MISSION.
Sal'i-ies Exp'nse Rent Tr'vel T'tal
Syria $5,695 $7,729 $ 500 $i:;,'J24
Asia Minor 5,230 6,600 1,250 1,500 14,5i!0
Cyprus .. $14,575 . 3,,65016,329 2,000 $1,250 $2..3o0 350 $34,504 6,0i)0
CHINA MISSION.
Sal'ries Exp'nse Bldg Tr'vel T'tal
Tak Hing $8,735 (As approved $1,500 $10,235
Do Sing .. 1,010 by Synod of 1,010
Lo Ting . . 2,680 1912, for the 2,lWiJ
Mission Field
$12,425 $1,500 13,!125
in China.)
$4,.0O0 $8,000 ^ $12,000
$25,925
The only item in this estimate demanding
explanation is that of mission or fieldexpense,
which includes every expenditure on
the fields, in addition to the salaries of American
missionaries and allowances made to
them for their children, namely: Wages of
native Licentiates, Evangelists, Bible Readers,
Teachers in Boarding and Village
schools, male and female, and other native
helpers; Rent for buildings in locahties
where the Church does not own property,
purchase of land, repairs on buildings, provisions
and fuel for Boarding Schools, clothing
for free pupils, medical and surgical supplies,
and local traveling expenses. For details
please consult Minutes of Synod for
1914, pages 105-103. The appron-iation of
$30,000 for the Missions in the Levant, and
of $20,000 for the Missions in China, are not
too large to meet the demands of these needy
fields, and the Board solicits the co-operation
of each pastor, who is in a better position
than any member of the Board to stir the
hearts of the people under his care to increased
liberality in Christian giving, that
the full amount may be paid into the Treasury.
The spiritual prosperity of the home
churches, the salvation of souls in heathen
and Moslem lands, and the honor of the enthroned
Redeemer should be inspiring motives
to unresting activity in seeking the
evangelization of countries for which we
offer daily prayer. And we cannot say, "Thy«
Kingdom come," and not give to the full
measure of our ability to hasten its coming
in fullness and power.
By Order of the Foreign Board,
R. M. SOMMERVILLE,
Corresponding Secretary.