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.-4 THE P devoted a great deal of time to the work of organizing the men and boys of tho congregation for definite Christian service, lie has shown exceptional gifts in getting hold of hoys and enlisting their permanent interest and he commands the respect of men by his sound judgment and manly type of Christianity. I lis pastor. Dr. Egbert W. Smith, says of him: "I believe Mr. Davis is admirably A notable feature of the development of the life of the Church of the present day is the attention being given by all denominations to the training of the young people in Christian activity. Our Assembly adopted in 1S91 a definite plan for the encouragement and direction of the work of our young people and outlined principles for the govern "i MAifin'h, a lid adopted i lie nam Westminster League as the official GROUP OF MOUNTAIN BOY At a Sabbath designation for our young peoples organizations. In the development of the work it was found desirable in many cases to have separate organizations for the boys anil girls, and the boys' organizations were called "Convenanter Companies" and the girls' divisions were called "Miriam Chapters." In many of cur churches the plan of the Assembly has not been followed, and there are hundreds of societies which have their own form of organization and a local name. Many of these societies are doing a fine work, but until the. Assembly plan is adopted, there will be lacking that unity of purpose and definiteness of aim which grows out of unified organization. The chief lines of work suggested are, Bible Study. Prayer. Christian Culture and Christian Activity. I'nder Bible Study distinct and sustained efforts are being RESBYTERI AN OF THE SOUTH. suited for Covenanter and Brotherhood work, in the former of which, especially, he has had remarkable success in our churgh. He is a man of character and consecration a diligent Bible student, of affable manners, gifted with common sense and an attractiveness for boys, and certain, I think, to develop into a very effective speaker." The Committee feels that the Church m:i<le tr< indiifo iho . j v/uii?> iirirva iu form the habit of reading and studying the Word of God daily. They are stimulated to better work in the Sunday schools. Here and there they undertake special studies as societies. In the matter of prayer, much is being done to encourage the practice of daily prayer, and to encourage the young to lead in prayer in their own meetings. In the leading denominations more or less S IN MITCHELL COUNTY. N. C. School Institute elaborate Christian Culture Courses have been prepared, and introduced with viper and wisdom. These courses cover such subjects as denominational doctrine, government and history and kindred themes, and are advertised and explained through well-edited papers. Under Christian Activity, or, as the Scotch say. "Works of Christian Usefulness," are included the careful study of missions along lines never attempted until recently; social work, such as social evenings and outings arranged for pleasure and recreation of the nobler sort; the visitation of the sick and strangers, and in general, such use of the social instinct as will draw the young to the Church and help to hold them; extension, including plans for extending the general work and for bringing all the young people ot proper age in the local church into the societies; personal work for the salvation of others, and various forms of local and temporary work. February 17, 1909. is to be congratulated upon securing a man of such promise for this important department, and it is encouraging to find consecrated laymen who are willing to turn aside from business life and give themselves to definite Christian work. Requests for visits from Mr. Davis should lie sent to Rev. A. E. Phillips, Superintendent of Sunday schools. Richmond, Ya. The direction of the work of our Young People's Societies was placed in the hands of the Executive Committee of Puhliesition :i 11 <I th?? tssomMv s?? \s.... 1906, directed that the Constitution and My-L?aws be revised to meet the en larged and changing scope of the work. Following this order, publications have been issued, in which full directions are given for the conduct of Young People's Societies. The publications are as follows: Free samples will be sent to pastel s or any one dcsirine to orsraniy-o n ?.wi?>iv Order I'rimi Presbyterian Committee of Publication, Richmond. Va.. or Tex ark ana. Ark-Texas. LITERATURE. "The Sunday School in the Country.' by Rev. John T. Paris. published in Philadelphia by the Westminster' Press, is a monograph on the country Sunday School and shows what has been done ny those superintendents who have refused to be balked by the special obstacles which confront the schools which have no fine buildings, cement walks, rooms for primary classes, and other ad juncts nowadays deemed needful to the successful conduct of a school. The pamphlet is practically a collection of experiences, and therefore represents actual work and results. The various religions represented by the children in our public schools, notably the Roman Catholic ,and the Hebrew, render difficult of solution the problem of ethical or moral instruction i in me stnoois. un tnis question the discussion is becoming .more and more acute with the Increase of the Jewish population and the insistence on the part of Roman Catholics that the religious instruction of their children shall he left entirely to themselves. Oh the other hand. Protestant America as strenuously Insists that the Bible shall have a place in the schools not for- ?i ? __ , cue uicuicniiuii of sectarian tenets, but to read, without note and comment, if so decided, as the Divine standard text book in ethical and moral Instruction. The Century Company publish the autobiography of Helen Keller, given under the title "The World I Live In."