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14 THE j Contributed OUR BRIGHTSIDE LETTER. On the Kanawha. After the charming entertainment at ?lkins, during the meeting of the Virginia Synod, and the opening of the eyes to the marvelous development of this mountain Virginia, we were unwilling to hurry away. And here we are on the banks of the Great Kanawha. A broad window looks out on the wide and yellow current, the busy railroad on the rocky ledge beyond, with the long trains and long streamers of white steam and the brown, leafless forest on the mountain side. If the river is not so great, as is the Ohio into which it flows, and the Father of Water's beyond, it is becoming great in its history and romance, as the pioneer past recedes, and it is already great in its vast natural wealth and the skill and energy which are literally unearthing it. A to ~ 1......... - ?.... ~!~V.? UU u A 11TC1 10 ai n aj o a. iiuc oigiii, wiiu I IS glistening waters, its irresistible power, its silent piajesty, its ceaseless flow, and the mountain rocks beyond are so lofty and fixed, scarred and blasted by ages of seasons and storms. Along this valley, Andrew Lewis and his Virginia riflemen went to Point Pleasant, and secured the defeat of Cornstalk, and the final deliverance of all Virginia from savage Indians. Up this valley, came back from captivity in Ohio, in Indian camps, Mrs. Mary Ingles, of Radford, where a monument was lately erected to the brave and suffering woman. And here came* Mary Moore, back to Abb's Valley, to be the mother of sons, strong and good, and to rest at last in the cemetery of New Providence Church. Here was the hunting lodge of Daniel Boone, the Kentucky pio neer, ana aoove ai maiden was ine Dome of Mrs. Ruffner, a humane and Christian woman, who taught her little negro boy, and sent him out, Booker Washington, to be a benefactor of his race. Not many miles away, at Clarksburg, is the birthplace of Stonewall Jackson, and not many States have produced a man, so great in war, so good in war and peace. And the young soldier, Rowan, who in Cuba, "carried the message to Garcia," is of the good and vigorous West Virginia stock, from the county of Monroe. There will be much to tell of the old pioneer stock of these mountain valleys, when the story is told. Productive industry began long years ago in the Kanawha Valley, when salt came up in the water from deep wells, and wealth accumulated. Then was the rafting of logs, with peril and long absences on the Mississippi, and in New Orleans. Then the uncovering of boundless measures of coal, black diamonds, to enrich the people. Then came the spouting oil, and now the gas from the great cavernous reservoir below. The State of West Virginia is rich be yond estimate. The vialleys are penetrated by iron rails, and lumber camps, PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOU' and coal tippler, and gas wells. Population increases, industry has its wncas and many grow rich. And with all this prosperity are better things than coal or gold. There are school houses, and good ones, everywhere, and churches at every village. Charleston and Huntington are cities to surprise the visitor, and are looking to greater things in coming years. West Virginia has two matters in litigation, which are now, it is hoped, coming to a long desired issue. One is the old boundary line question, long contested with Maryland. Is the Fairfax stone, at the southwestern corner of Maryland, in the right place? Or should it have been placed in the colonial days at the head spring of the south branch of the Potomac? And there is the settlement of the old debt question between Old Virginia and her runaway mountain daughter. Really, West Virginia does not seem to care much, being well able to pay the claims of the venerable mother. In another letter we must leave these eaithly matters, and write of churches and preachers and people, who are not altogether earthly. J. P. S. DR. FRANCIS L. PATTON'S VISIT TO AUSTIN SEMINARY. It may not be uninteresting to the Southern Presbyterian Church as a whole, and will certainly not be to the constituency of Austin Seminary In the Southwest, to know something of the visit and lectures of the Rev. President Francis L. Patton, D.D., LL.D., of Princeton, to this institution. Dr. Patton ar rived in Austin on Saturday, November 6, and his lectures began on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Through the courtesy of the authorities of the University of Texas, the lectures were held in the splendid auditorium of that institution, where large crowds heard Dr. Patton each evening of the week and twice on each Sabbath of his visit. The lectures were divided into two courses, the first consisting of five lectures on the general subject, "Fundamental Christianity," and the second course consisting of four lectures on the general subject, "Authority in Religion". It is safe to say that no such lectures have been heard in this city in the past seven years of the writer's experience here, and it is doubtful if better could be heard anywhere. Just take a (lance at the topics treated in the two courses. In the first course, "The Theiutic View of the World", where the audience could lust about hang on to the doctor's garments as he soared; "The New Christianity", in which the ultimate failure of both the Hegelian and Ritzschlian principles was clearly shown; "The Doctrine of Sin", which left no doubt of the speaker's conception of what is wrong with humanity; "The Person of Christ" and "The Philosophy of Salvation". The second course on "Authority in Religjon" dealt in a logical and comprehensive manner with the four topics, "Authority of the Bible," "The Authority of the Church", "The rH. December i, 1909. Authority of Christ" and "The Authority of Reason". I shall not attempt to describe these lectures, because that would be impossible in the limits which I may be allowed, one might be tempted to think that lectures on these seemingly obstruse subjects would be so dull as to be like "twiPP tnlH tfllno vnvlnnr ^"'1 ~ * ?w.vi w.>v?f TCA1115 v-uc uuii cat s ul a drowsy man", but they were as far as possible from that. Dr. Patton held up these subjects, differentiated them from kindred subjects, stated and answered objections, and then argued positively, with a wealth of luminous illustration, and a vein of exquisite humor running through the whole, and sometimes the sharpest sarcasm, which held his audiences in rapt attention from beginning to end. If I might speak in a pragmatic way, they worked. The people came to hear from night to night for a week, and Texas people, at least, do not go to hear what they can not enjoy and appreciate. In addition to the regular course, Dr. Patton also spoke twice to the students of the Seminary alone, first on preaching and later on "Theological Enclyclopedia" which were two of the best of his lectures. The Seminary and the entire community have been greatly benefitted by these courses of lectures. It would be a splendid thing if they could be heard over the whole South. They are timely, and one who hears them will feel that there is still a great deal to be said in defense of the "old paths." Robert E. Vinson. AN APPEAL TO THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The following stirring appeal of Mrs. J. Calvin Stewart, of Virginia, authorized by the Woman's Synodical Union of Virginia, will doubtless find a cordial response in the sympathetic hearts of the noble women of our Church. It is an effort to unify their Home Mission activities for the coming year on some ome worthy enterprise, and nothing would mean more for our work than the equipment of a great Missionary Institution of higher grade for our Indians and others in Oklahoma. Already some societies are sending in their gifts, others are pledging themselves for one or two shares and will furnish the funds later, while the institution is in process of erection, which is perfectly satisfactory. We sincerely trust and urge that there may be a general and generous response, and that we may soon throw open the doors of this institution to numerous students, and th^t it may be a monument worthy of the devoted women of our great Church. Let every woman read this appeal and co-operate by sending her" gifts to the treasurer of the fund, or through the channel of her society, and may God richly bless the efTort. 3. L. Morris, Secretary. The Appeal. The women of the Southern Presbyterian Church have recently had a wonder