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6 THE PRESBYTERIA LOYAL PRESBYTERIANS. By Rev. James G. Snedecor, Sect'y. With the approach of December, it is only necessary to remind loyal Presbyterians that it is the month for collecting the offering for Colored Evangelization. The conviction is spreading that our Church has failed in her duty to this branch of home missions. We have given nickels where we oucht to have criven dnl _ o O" lars. Only the reckless and thoughtless spend their time abusing the negroes for their crimes and worthlessness. The sober, thoughtful, Christian people of the South feel that God in his Providence has permitted these people to increase in our midst in order that they might be civilized and evangelized, and through them light might be sent to the Dark Continent. If we had not established our Stillman Institute, we would not have had our Sheppard and the other colored missionaries. It was Dr. Stillman and the other teachers in the Institute at Tuscaloosa who suggested the starting of an African mission in the Congo. "Behold what God has wrought!" The committee put in charge of this work of educating negro preachers and establishing missions, is sadly in need of money. The treasury is empty. People of missionary spirit will give to this cause if opportunity is given. This collection is often announced with an apology; whereas we ought to be glad to give the gospel to these poor people. Let every Church determine to raise at least a sum equal to 25 cents per member and send it promptly to Tuscaloosa. Dr. John Little is treasurer. Tuscaloosa, Ala. THE EXIGENCY AND HOW TO MEET IT. J rpn rl wifli inforocf "-J * ' 1? ?1 - _ ...... ..nviviii ?ii auic emu uinciy article Dy Rev. R. C. Reed, D. D., headed "The Exigency and How to Meet It." While he offers sound reasoning for the way to remedy the evil as far as it goes, yet the main cause in my humble opinion is overlooked. To better illustrate my opinions with regard to so vital a matter will simply state that our Presbyterian Church is derelict in duty in not urging our membership to send our boys only to our Synodical Colleges in the South. Dr. Clyce, President of the Austin College, Sherman, Texas, a^ man of fine educational abilities, and sound to the core in the tenets of Presbyterianism, informs us that about 33 1-3 per cent, of the young men who are entering our ministry in Texas, are from Austin College. A minister in the Christian or Campbellite Church here, informs me that they are training young men in their colleges annually to fill all their churches. He said that their people were very loyal in the attendance of their Church services. Again I presume to sav that our svstem of Churrh ? ~~J """""" rules are not so well adapted to the peculiar exigencies of the times; in other words Presbyterianism flourishes best in populous sections. All must agree that Rev. R. C. Reed's ideas are correct in the main, but the true blue old school Presbyterian is hard to convince that God does not in truth and in fact through his Spirit's power call our young men to the ministry. An Elder. 1I ft I L .N OF THE SOUTH. November 24, 1909. THE CHURCH AND THE AGE. (Parts of a sermon by Rev. J. F. Carson, of the Central Church, Brooklyn, preached at the opening of the Synod of New York, October 19, at Jphnstown, N. Y. Dr. Carson waa retiring moderator.) "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." This sentence is a part of Isaiah's broad and broadening conception of the religious and spiritual possibilities of the people of Israel. It is an alluring and glowing vision which he holds before the people?a vision of the complete triumph of the spiritual Kingdom. Another thus paraphrases this scripture: "Stand erect and cet tl-iir ? www the burning vision, and thou shalt incarnate the heart of thy contemplation. The Lord shall arise upon thee, his glory shall be seen upon thee and thy imperial power shall be realized." By dropping their historic setting and limitation and filling them with the larger and richer meaning of the new economy, these words of Isaiah phrase a timely appeal to the people of God to whom is committed the extension and establishment of the Kingdom of God upon this earth. The most effective agency that is working to this end is the Church of Jesus Christ. In saying this I am not unmindful of the criticism to which the Church ?.. w: *?i T. i .... - - .a auujcticu. ?t is cnargea witn every conceivable folly, inefficiency, blindness and indifference to the needs of the times. Despite all criticism the Church abides and today stands forth with as fine and fair a front to her work as she ever had. As a consequence, the hold which the Church has upon the sympathy and support of the people is as strong as it ever was, though this may not be the popular notion. The problem of non-attendance upon the church is not peculiar to our times, and it is not as much of a problem in our times as it has been at other times. The Church has the attention of men today. Its services to society, its educational, social, philanthropic, moral and spiritual forces are appreciated and applauded. The Church is come upon her day in our land. The report of the Church's growth, which was made in the icv-ciii national census, nas silenced the many voices which have been telling us that the Church was not holding her own. She has done that and more. She has not been merely marking time, she has been marching. The census shows that 391 in every 1,000 of the population of this country were church members in 1906, while in 1890 only 327 in every 1,000 were church members. In 1890 the membership of the Church was 33 per cent, of the entire population, but in 1906 it was 39 per cent, of the population. A good deal of printer's ink has been used in explaining why men are not in the Church. The census report shows that 43 out of every 100 members of the Church are men. Another fact. More than one-half of the college men are professing Christians and members of evan gehcal churches.^ The college man furnishes more than fifty per cent of the makers and leaders of public opinion. The power and influence of the Church is as great today as it ever was. She must not sit in the shadows of an apologetic attitude toward the world. Let her arise and shine. In graphic phrase the statesman-prophet of Israel de/