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6 THE PRESBYTERIA
that over one-third of all the Protestants on the island
belong to this one church. Could a better illustration
be found of the advantage of prompt and vigorous missionary
effort?
The insincerity of the liquor dealers in their promise
to "regulate" the saloon and the liquor traffic in
general is clearly shown by the manner in which they
strenuously resist every definite act or law looking
in that direction. They are fighting. for instance everv
feature of the Gay-Shattuck law passed by the legislature
of Louisiana at its last session. The conduct of
saloons within a given distance of churches or schools,
the serving of women and children, the use of music
to attract, the decoration of the walls with obscene
pictures, the commingling of blacks and whites, are
features of the law which they are doing their utmost
to resist or which they are actually defying. The author
of the bill, Mr. Shattuck himself, openly declares
that the defiance of the law will lead to an inevitable
demand for state-wide prohibition. Governor Sanders
practically declared the same thing in his message
to the legislature at the opening of its session and in
connection with his inauguration. The indications are
trprtr /?! ^
.v.j tuai indl Louisiana will soon put herself in line
with Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina,
and Tennessee in enacting statutory prohibition. And
the saloons are giving the most pronounced help to
this movement. They cannot help themselves, however,
for what they do is their nature to do. A reformed
saloon is no saloon at all. When it is reformed
it is gone, and in the strictest sense, gone "for
good."
We read the other day of an arrangement of lights and
shadows in a darkened room, such as to deceive most
completely any one who was nnt nn hie tu.
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illusion was of such a nature as this: The visitor was
ushered into a room where he saw in the middle of the
floor a pillar of marble about six feet in height, and two
feet broad and thick. As he g&zcd upon it, the light in
the room became fainter, though on the block of marble
the brightness remained. But as it remained it took shape.
Soon he saw the outlines of a man, standing erect, full
of vigor and strength; then he saw the eyes move. Ere
long he perceived motion in the hands and arms. And
finally the statue sang "My Country, 'Tis of Thee."
Of course the illusion was produced by the arrangement
and reflection of ligjits around the living man who was
to act his part, and who had stood concealed behind a
crrppn \\r? i?< -- ? - " -
<> v. tan uiiuciMuiHi now tnis particular impression
was produced.
There are other illusions in this world, and some of
them are produced by the devil. He wants to lure the
children of men to destruction. To this end he ever presents
that which is evil as full of brightness and arrays
sin in attractive glamor.' .To this end he makes wickedness
appear sweet, and he shades the rough corners and the
destructive features of sin. Too often he succeeds in
luring the unwary into embracing that which is their ruin.
What shall we do? In the words of Paul, "Prove all
things." Test them. Look behind the appearances. Study
what is the outcome?the future?of this or that measure.
N OF THE SOUTH. April 7, 1909.
Missionary
A VISIT TO OUR MISSION IN CUBA.
By Rev. James O. Reavis.
We left St. Augustine, Fla., Friday, February 26,
travelling via the Florida East Coast Railroad to
Knight's Key, thence by the. steamship "Halifax" to
Havana, making the entire journey from St. Augustine
in about twenty-four hours. As one approaches Havana
from the Gulf of Mexico, the scene is indescribablv
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beautiful. The rugged Cuban coast and the full view
of Havana present an imposing spectacle. Far to the
east, abruptly rising from the sea, are the foliage-covered
hills, stretching away toward Matanzas. In front
of us stands the picturesque light-house of Morro Castle,
whose floating pennants announce to the city the
approach of vessels. Passing through the narrow entrance
of the harbor into the land-locked bay, there
are steamers and vessels of all nationalities riding at
anchor. Our hearts were saddened as we passed near
the wreck of the Maine. The shattered beams are as
arms reaching up from the sea, proclaiming Cuba's
freedom, and bringing to memory our comrades who
gave up their lives here in the cause of justice and
liberty.
i ne city lying out before us presents" a beautiful
picture in the tropical sunlight, as it falls upon the yellow-colored
houses with their red tile roofs, and the
clean white rocks and surf that stretch along the shore
front. Havana is said to be one of the cleanest cities
in the Western hemisphere. It has a population of more
than three hundred thousand people. It is the metropolis
of the island, and the social and commercial center
of the Pearl of the Antilles.
After resting for a short time, we left Havana to
visit our missions. A few hours' travel over the United
Railway brought us to Cardenas. Here we spent two
days visiting our missionaries. Rev. and Mrs. R. L.
Wharton, Miss Craic. Rev. Frank- WarHlaw r>-~f
and Mrs. A. E. Sims.
Cardenas was founded in 1828. It is one of the few
cities in Cuba less than one hundred years old. It ha's
a population of about thirty thousand. It is a growing
city, and one of the principal places for exporting sugar.
Adjacent to the city is a large sugar-growing district,
and beautiful uplands of green pastures, dotted profusely
with royal palms. As we walked with our
friends through the city we found only one Catholic
church. If the Protestants had not entered Cardenas
the great multitude there would have had no other
means of hearing the Word of Life than that which is
so inadequately supplied from this one Catholic house
of. worship. We were glad to find the Baptists and
Methodists, in addition to our own Church, preaching
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The Presbyterian church has a membership of about
150. We were impressed with the substantial character
of the members, as we met them personally,* and,
through the use of Mr. Wharton's tongue, conversed
with them. The elders and deacons are choice men.
The new church building is substantially built of stone,