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February 2* 19^1- THE PRESBYTER! In South India the London Mission, after a hundred years, shows a people uplifted, transformed, with three hundred and fifty churches, and over seventy thousand worshippers. Centennials will come rapidly on, and the missions around the world will tell a surprising story. A remarkable change has taken place in the tone of the secular press in Great Britain and in America with reference to the great missionary enterprise. In reviews and monthlies and great metropolitan dailies for tllf* 1aQ<- vpar nr t\*rn Vin\rA ornA 1 ^4-**- * J v?w ?a < V ajyj/vai LU IIIC 1E11C13 Ul 1.1 it VCI~ lers and diplomats and editorials expressing the highest appreciation of Christian missions and their fruits around the world. The secular press is fast becoming the friend and supporter of the great movement to evangelize the world. A striking fact is the testimony to missions and missionaries given by men of high station, men of intelligence and character, who have had opportunity of observation. Mr. Taft and Mr. Bryan have been pronounced witnesses, and a long list of notable men, ambassadors, statesmen, Mr. James Bryce, Lord Curzon, Sir Robert Hart, Sir Bartle Frere, and many others, who have lived and served in India, in China, in Africa, in tllf? Parifif ,o 11?-i^1 o In China the changes are continuous, and though affecting a vast people in a gradual way are none the less marvellous; the overthrow of the ancient educational system with the old government examinations, and the establishment of colleges and universities, reaching out to Western learning; an edict abolishing footbinding, and the destruction of the opium traffic. Onefourth of the world's population is opening the door to the coming of light and truth. Nearly two hundred thousand bear the name of Christ, and everv nmvincp ' ?J t ? forgetting its hatred of the foreigner, is welcoming the missionary teacher, doctor, and evangelist. A new cloud of witnesses, martyrs faithful unto death, men and women bearing testimony to a divine Savior in the midst of heathen darkness, men redeemed and empowered, are standing up among all the nations to say "We have found him." A new eleventh of Hebrews could have been written in every age since the apostles, and none more full or rich than that of our day. Nearly two million Protestant followers of Christ are members of mission churches. "All hail the power of Jesus' name.*' LAYMEN'S CONVENTION. The first general convention of the Laymen's Missionary Movement will be held in Birmingham. Ala., from the 16th to the 18th of February. The provisional program is one of unusual strength and attractiveness. It includes the names of great leaders in mission work, both at home and in the foreign field. Opening Tuesday afternoon, February 16th, the con vention continues morning, afternoon and evening, closing Thursday night. Of our own laymen, we find Gov. R. B. Glenn, Prof. Williams of Missouri, Prof. Martin of Davidson College, Prof. Howe of Washington and Lee, Mr. F. T. Glasgow of Lexington, Va., Mr. Raymond of Nashville, Tenn., Mr. Davis of Richmond, Va., and Alfred D. Mason of Memphis. And of our mission* 4 [AN OF THE SOUTH. 5 aries Rev. Motte Martin, Dr. James B. Woods, Dr. Wilkinson and Dr. Bradley. It will be a great meeting on which we should pray for God's blessing. Information, as to hotel rates, can be obtained from Mr. C. W. Mills, Birmingham. Ala. Railroad rates are one fare, plus half a cent a mile, for the round trip. NOTES IN PASSING. By Bert. "The truth shall make you free." There arc two kinds of bondage to which truth is antagonistic, intellectual and moral. Intellectual bondage has the two forms of ignorance and error. The Japanese and Chinese are highly intellectual peoples, each has a civilization centuries old, and yet how poorly they show up in compari son with the intellectual attainments of the Christian nations of the west. When Japan was first opened to the world by Commodore Perry they were in all things which we understand to be embraced in a civilizaion more than 1,000 years behind. Their minds were bright and of good calibre yet their progress was nothing. ' In arts and sciences, judged by our standards they were hopelessly in the rear. They had no such comforts of life as we have; and their standard of living was low. Under the influence of the Gospel they not only quickly embrace western ideas but their minds seem to clear UD. a new look comes into flip face a rtfw ?>nrt mr\r<* manly bearing to the carriage. They learn how to master great problems, even the greatest problem of all, self. The entrance of the Gospel awakens an ambition to be something unknown before. The truth makes free. Under its gracious influence the whole man moves up. It is not only the cure for sin, it enriches every faculty,, and spiritualizes every power. Prayer is audience with God. Only a favored few can hope to have audience with an earthly king, and they only for a brief time and at a specially appointed hour. The utmost that can be gained from such an audience is a brief earthly advantage. It is very different with the King of Kings. The humblest may come into his presence at any moment, stay as long as he pleases without previous appointment, and gain eternal privileges. Things that can be had from earthly powers may be more easily had from God. Things no earthly power can bestow can be had from God for the asking. How vast then is the gain of prayer. You have a time to eat when the body may take its necessary food, you should have a time for oraver. for nraver is the soul's food. You have a time for sleep when the weary body may rest, you should have a time for prayer, for prayer is the soul's rest. You have a time for pleasure and recreation that the body may know something besides mere slavish drudgery. You should have a time for prayer, for prayer is the pleasure and recreation of the soul. Let it not be forgotten that whatever affects the body also has influence uoon the soul. If all vnnr 4 J care and study is for the body the soul will become dull and unresponsive, it will lose its power of spiritual discernment, carnality will disfigure the life. But if the emphasis be placed upon the spirit the body will brighten up and reflect the growing light within. In your daily schedule fail not at any cost to have a time and place for prayer.