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THE CHRISTIAN NATION. Vol. 61.
history have to say about the continuous progressive
changes demanded by the definition
of evolution
If this principle is valid each
generation should find each people more developed
than the preceding, each race should
have a better character than the one that
went before. What answer does history
give Few question that the Euphrates is
the ancient home of the human race. If evolution
is true we should find there the highest
civilization. What is the fact That as
they uncover with the spade the monuments
of the earlier people each lower strata seems
to show a higher culture. Three thousand
years ago, four thousand years ago, here
were mighty cities teeming with the trade of
the world, here were temples splendid with
sculpture, libraries filledwith the wisdom of
the time. Here dwelt the kings that ruled
the East, their time scarcely less noted foi
its architecture and its engineering than for
its feats of arms, and when one turns from
these evidences of culture and prowess and
looks about him he sees on the sandy waste
only the houseless, wandering Arabs of the
desert. Next in antiquity is the Valley of the
Nile. What answer does it give to the claim
that there have been continuous progressive
changes by means of resident forces Do
we find here the proof that life tends ever
upward Here stand the pyramids, the wonder
of the world, ancient when Caesar looked
upon them; here are the ruins of ancient temples
showing the genius of the artist, here
is the evidence of libraries and schools, anc
when one rises from the study of ancient
times he is beset by the squalid natives pleading
for baksheesh. How far are the Mohammedans
of the desert superior to that generation
which followed Mohammed and the
crescent to death and paradise
Of all the nations whose names are recorded
in the Scriptures, Assyria, Egypt, Tyre,
Moab, Ammon, Edom, the great Hittite people,—all
became degenerate and perished
from the earth, some of them left scarcely a
memory. The only one which has stood
through the ages is the Jew, preserved by
the special providence of God to work out
a special purpose. Among the ancient nations
there is abundant proof of decadence,
little of continuous progress. Nor in the
cases where advancement has been made does
it appear that it came through any process
of natural selection, but rather through the
attractive power of him who said: "I, if I be
lifted up from the earth, will draw all men
unto me." Every sinner won from the world
by the power of the blood, every drunkard
weaned from his cup, every Magdalen turned
into a Mary is a final disproof of evolution.
What resident force in the besotted drunkard
or in the lecherous Hbertine changes him
into a disciple of the Nazarine If evolution
were true there could be no such miracle as
that to which many bear witness in their
own experience, a twice-born man.
FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION
OF THE NATIONAL WOMAN'S
CHRISTIAN
TEMPERANCE
UNION, ATLANTA,
GEORGIA.
November 12th to 18th, 1914.
Atlanta, Georgia, is a very busy city, indeed
at some of its crossings, it seemed to
be as dangerous to life and limb as the most
crowded thoroughfare in New York City.
However, the business seems to be confined
to two or three streets within walking
distance and even then, tall stone buildings
are placed alongside of those of one and two
stories—mere shacks of wood used as laundries,
near-beer places, etc. For there is a
flaw in the law of Georgia which permits the
sale of near-beer, said to be a non-intoxicant,
but whose places of sale carry all of the
appearance, as well as the disgusting odor
far into the street, of a New York beer saloon.
We saw no drunken men on the street
while we were there, but in the hotel on the
evening of a match-game of ball, several university
students had a difficult task in holding
up the tallest of their number, who could
not stand alone.
Presumably they had carried
strong drink from another State with
them, but it was enough "to make angels
weep" to look upon the degradation of young
men who had every opportunity to become
powers for good to their country and home.
The stores, however, seemed to be doing but
poor business while we were there, for the
lack of a market for cotton, their principal
export, has stagnated the money supply and
women from the Northland paid for bales
of cotton to be held until there is a better
market for it, in order to help their Southern
sisters in time of their distress.
Two beautiful and well attended receptions
were held at Cox College, and the former
home of ("Uncle Remus") Joel Chandler.
The magnitude of the attendance at the
Chandler home surprised every one. The
house is a bungalow with wide veranda and
extensive grounds in the residential section
of the city. Beautiful homes and lawns extend
for some distance on both sides of the
street and are all well shaded by tall trees.
The "home" is now the property of a corporation
which keeps it open to the pubHc
for a small renumeration, enough to pay for
its up-keep.
Mrs. Chandler stood near the head of the
receiving list. Refreshments were served to
six hundred guests.
The reception at Cox's College was also a
very fine affair and was well attended.
The Baptist Tabernacle in which we held
our meetings, is a vast building erected under
the direction of Dr. Lew Broughton at
a cost of $300,000. Dr. Broughton left Atlanta
shortly afterward and the Institutional
Church, whose congregation is composed
mainly of working people, are groaning still
under a debt of $76,000. Still they offered
the building free for the use of the W. C. T.
U. Through the persuasion of Mrs. Mary
Harris Armor, a collection on Sabbath morning
and in the evening raised over $2,000,
with which to pay interest already due to the
amount of $2,700. Many women gave each
$25, while one woman gave $250.
The Y. M. C. A. building just opposite the
Tabernacle, is the largest Y. M. C. A. building
we have ever seen. Of course there is
the State Capitol and Grant Park, the various
other parks, the monument to the unknown
Confederate dead, the Military Academy
and a host of other notable things to
see, but there were so many meetings to attend
that few of the Executive Board at
least could find time for sight-seeing.
Not far away is "Stone" Mount, which is
to be used as a monument to the Confederate
dead.
WELCOME NIGHT.
The forty-first Annual Convention of the
National Woman's Christian Temperance
Union held Evangelistic meetings all day on
Thursday, Nov. 12, while the Official and
Executive Boards, and Board of Superintendents
also held meetings to prepare the
work to bring before the Convention.
In the evening, after music by the Tabernacle
Choir, Miss Anna A. Gordon, acting
president, called the meeting to order, and
Mrs. Adrianna Hungerford, President of Colorado,
read the scripture and led in prayer.
Addresses of welcome were extended to the
whole Co'nvention by the Governor of the
State, who had an appointment at Macon
early in the evening, but accompanied by his
wife, he took an early train and was in time
to give a most cordial welcome to Georgia.
Other addresses of welcome were offered in
behalf of the State by Judge John C. Hart,
in behalf of the city, by His Honor, Mayor
James C. Woodward, in behalf of the
churches. Rev. H. M. Dubois, D.D., and for
others interests, Mrs. Samuel Lampkin, Prof.
M. L. Britain, Dr. C. W. Eishelberger, Mrs.
M. L. McLoudon, and Mrs. F E. Patterson,
President of Georgia State, W. C. T. U.
The Baptist Tabernacle chorus of nearly
100 voices sang "Hail to the Ribbon White,"
and other selections. Responses were given
to the eloquent addresses by Mrs. Nellio G.
Burger, President of Missouri, Mrs. Lieber
L. Shepard, President of Utah, Mrs. Lenna
Lowe Yost, President of West Virginia, and
Mrs. Deborah Knox Livingston, Superintendent
of the Department of Franchise. All
these addresses were exceptionally fine.
On Friday, Nov. 13th, at 2 p. m., the Convention
proper was called to order, Miss Gordon
presiding. After the devotional exercises,
the roll call and report of executive