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November 24, 1909. TH] given special consideration by the company. M. Vandervelde then stated that when the company was formed they created a monopoly and immediately reduced the price paid for rubber. That when they do not pay the natives they intimidate them. He then produced a circular letter drawn up by M. Lecourt, the director-general of the Campagnte du Kassai in Brussels, pointing out to the agents of the company the habitual laziness of the natives, and directing them that force must be used to induce them to work, and that the method would be of future benefit to the natives themselves. Regarding the question of the use of armed sentries in the collection of rubber l?v force in the KhrraI riiRtrirt M VnnHer. velde stood ready to prove this fact in several instances. He emphatically informed the court that he had now at Leopoldville twenty Bakuba and Baluba native witnesses, who came from eleven different villages, some of whom were until very recently sentries in the employ of the company, and that if he would be allowed to produce these witnesses it would be found that such was the case throughout the Kassai district. These men armed by the company, forced the natives to make rubber. He also reminded the judge that there were now over fifty legal actions pending against the agcats of the Campagnie du Kassai, nearly all for illtreatment of the natives. Regarding Con sul Thesiger's report, which was published in the British White Book Africa, No. 1, 1909 (a summary of which will be found in my No. 8, dated November 24 1908), M. Vendervelde declared that it was not Mr. Sheppard's article that injured the company, but Mr. Thesiger's thorough exposure of the Campagnie du Kassai. The American missionaries were not aware of his coming until he arrived at Luebo. That Mr. Sheppard accompanied him as interpreter on his tour of the Bakuba country because Sheppard is the only foreigner in the country who speaks thp Hplrnhfl lnnmiflirp Thnt pvpti thp rti rector of the company and every company agent in the Bakuba country go about with native interpreters. The company knew quite well that the abuses exposed' in Mr. Thesiger's report were much greater than Mr. Sheppard reported. The article in the Kassai Herald was unknown until Mr. Morrison's letters were published in the White Book. M. Vandervelde finished this part of his argument by stating that the prosecution must accept Mr. Thesiger's report as true or judge him as a man who is imposing upon his country. It appears that the two main points for the judge to decide is whether there was malicious intent in writing the article, and the right to prove the statements made. M. Vandervelde openly challeng luc piUDCUUUUU IU yoi 111 AI UlUi iu yi uvc the statements by witnesses and an inquiry, which he argued the court should allow, but the prosecution would not consent. In that case, M. Vandervelde rePlied, you are morally condemned. The decision will be rendered October 4. as I stated In my telegram dated September 20 and it is probable that an ap E PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOU peal will be made by the missionaries if the decision is against them. It is M. Vendervelde's intention to make a second appeal if the decision is not satisfactory, so that the case will eventually be fought out in Brussels. A decision will, of course, first be handed down hv tho appeal court at Boma. I have been promised a copy of M. Vandervelde's speech, but I fear It will not be ready in time to be sent by this mail. It will, however, be forwarded by the first opportunity, also a copy of the judgment, when issued. We expect to return to Boma on the 27th instant. I have the honor to be, sir Your obedient servant, (Signed) Wm. W. Handley, American Consul-General. THE NEW ORLEANS MEETING. Dr. Thacker, the secretary of the Assembly's Committee of Evangelistic Work and General Evangelist, closed a two weeks' meeting in New Orleans on Sunday night, November 7, The work was under the auspices of the Presbyterian Ministers' Association, on whose unanimous invitation Dr. Thacker came. All ? x 1- ?- * * ah uib tuuiLuea iuuk pan, suspenaing their evening services of Sundays and week days. Beginning Sunday evening, October 24, the meeting was held in the Lafayette Church, and after a week there was transferred, according to previous arrangement, to the First Church, the Lafayette Church was filled at the first service and on two or three of the week nights. At the First Church there were great congregations, filling the lower part of the spacious building, on the two Sunday nights, and good congregations or the other nights. A noon-day service waa held In a business house on Camp street, near Canal, nine or ten days. The great Deep Water Way Convention and the visit of President Taft came in, and in the midst of the meeting, but affected it very little. From the beginning to the end the interest was sustained and the people gave good.heed to the messages. The preaching was clear, earnest, and Scriptural, and in perfect accord with all the confessional principles and statements of our Church. The conduct of the meeting was simple and dignified. No clap-trap methods were resorted to. The only features beyond what one would regard as outside of the usual every day service of a Presbyterian church was a little more singing, with the large, well con ducted chorus choir and the congrega tlon sometimes in responsive song, but usually together, and the distribution and gathering of cards on which those who desired to express their faith or renewed consecration might give in their names. Mr. Geo. A. Fisher led the singing moat efficiently, showing special skill in quickly training the large chorus. During the meetings one hundred and fourteen names were handed in, on the blank of the card which called for a confession of Christ, eighty-eight of them naming the Presbyterian as the church * 4. * TH. 15 of their preference, and twenty-six naming Methodist, Baptist or other churches. Twenty-two signed the blank stating that they were members elsewhere and expressing the determination to procure their letters and place them in the local churches. Seven hundred and eighty eight signed the blank for church members reconsecrating themselves to God's service. The numerical results of the effort will doubtless prove far less than the spiritual. The direct, Scriptural preaching, the earnest singing, the hearty co-operation of the pastors and peu pie of the thirteen churches working together, and the fervent prayers and personal activity of hundreds of Christians will not be without the happiest fruitage. After the union services of fifteen days, having a few days at their disposal before their next appointment, Dr. Thacker and Mr. and Mrs. Fisher remained in New Orleans and conducted four evening services in the Napoleon Avenue Church, in these services securing nine more confession cards and sixty-four more reconsecration cards. They left on November 12 for Austin Texas. DON'T FORGET. This is simply a reminder. We shell be glad to receive boxes of clothing, toys, books, etc. for distribution among the Alabama Indians at Christmas time. This kind of help will do much good and be greatly appreciated by them, and those of us, who are laboring among them. Please send at once, by freight or express, to Livingston, Texas, or by mail to Kiam, Texas, and oblige. Yours in the Lord's work, Rev. C. W. Chambers. . LAFAYETTE PRESBYTERY. Met at the call of the moderator during the sessions of Synod at Columbia, Mo., October 21, 1909, at 11 a. m. Rev. F. A. L. Reid, the last moderator, present presided. Rev. G. W. Jurey, of Springfleld, Mo., temporary clerk. Seven ministers and two elders were present. The installation of Rev. B. Andres, as pastor at Pleasant Hill, Mo., was changed till November 21, third Sabbath. Rev. S. F. Shifller was appointed to All the place on the commission on installation, left vacant by the death of Rev. J. M. Chaney, D. D. Rev. F. O. Hellier, Ph. D., was received by letter from the Presbytery of Highland, U. S. A. Day, C C ALL.ti * * . r. nuuuu wtta excusea irom serving on the commission to install Rev. J. J. Squire, at Hughesville, Mo.; Rev. G. F. Bell was appointed to fill his place. Rev. E. C. Gordon, D. D., and Rev. Xenophon Ryland, were appointed a committee to prepare a memorial upon the death of Rev. J. M. Chaney, D. D., to be presented at the spring meeting. Presbytery adjourned to meet at Pleas ant hill, mo.. November 22. 1909, at 4 o'clock p. m. W. E. Beattie, S. C. Often the fear of not accomplishing what is before us, is the only thing in our way.