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1/4 THE
BRIGHT SIDE LETTER.
Virginia's Attitude Towards Slavery and
Secession. By Beverly B. Munford.
A great service to one's country is
rendered when the truth as to the past
is sought and found; and the character
and motive of the people and their leaders
of a generation gone by are justified.
He is a loyal patriot who truthfully and
courageously writes his country's history,
as well as he who gives up his life on the
field of battle, or he who contends for
the opening of ways of progress and elevation
for years to come.
Mr. Munford has not essayed to write
a history of slavery in Virginia, *but
rather the history of the attitude of
Virginians towards slavery from the earliest
coming of slaves to the colony, to
the outbreak of the war of secession.
The object the author has in view is, two
fold?to show by a thoroughly and faithful
research that the people of Virginia
were not moved to join the cotton states
in secession by devotion to slavery, or
.anv selfish desire to maintain nr e*.
tend the institution, nor yet by hostility
to the Union and the ideals of liberty
.proclaimed by its founders. To present
the true attitude of the dominant ele
ment of the Virginia people with respect
first to slavery, and then to secession,
is the work which the author has taken
in hand.
The greater part of the book is occupied
with the historical study of slavery
in Virginia. Virginia's efforts to abolish
it in colonial days, and the positive
opposition of the British government?
the rising remonstrance against slavery
by Virginia statesmen and leaders?the
efforts at colonization in Africa and in
Western States, the many efforts at
emancipation to the conditions existing
in the period before the war between the
sections. He shows the small number
of slave holders in Virginia, compared
with her white population, and the small
proportion of slave-holders among the
soldiers of Virginia, and the insuperable
difficulties which were in the way of
emancipation, and the embarrassments
and dangers of attitude produced by the
growing hostility of the Abolitionists in
the Northern States.
Tho author affirms and maintains with
abundant evidence that it was for no love
of slavery, or desire to extend slavery,
that Vigrinia joined the seceeding states,
and bared ner breast to the ravages and
desolations of war. He says: "It may
be safely asserted that but for the adoption
by the Federal government of the
policy of coercion towards the cotton
states, Virginia would not have seceedod."
The story of Virginia's approach to
secession and the final and reluctant
adoption of that course, is told with fullness
and care, and is read with pathetic
emotion, remembering all that followed.
In the conflict, "the people of Virginia
took a stand, predetermined by the beliefs
and avowals of successive generalions,
and Impelled by an unswerving
idealism found their supreme incentive
to action in their determination to maintain
the integrity of principle."
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOUT
The reader is surprised at the thoroughness
of the research after fact, and
the care in quotation and reference, as
he is filled with admiration for the successful
prosecution of the high aim of the
author. Virginians will love their old
commonwealth the more, and tho world
understand her better, and do her justice,
and speak her fair.?J. P. S.
OUR STATISTICS.
Rev. T. H. Law, D. D.
Church statistics are very useful and
valuable. True, they are sometimes overestimated.
The number of new converts
received, the number of members on the
roll, and the number of dollars contributed,
though interesting in themselves,
do not always indicate the real spiritual
life and growth and efficiency of a
Church. As seen and portrayed by the
all-searching and unerring spirit of God,
the condition of the church in Smyrna,
which He declared to be rich despite
her tribulations and poverty, was certainly
far better than that of the
Loadeceans, which boasted, "I am rich
and increased with goods and have need
of nothing." And the Master Himself,
as He sat over against the treasury, on
one occasion, and watched how the people
cast money thereon, declared that a certain
poor widow who dropped in only
two mites had really contributed more
than all the rest.
Yet, Church statistics have this use
and value. The inspired statement of
Uuke's that about three thousand were
added to the Church on the day of Pen
tecost, and ttiat a little while later
through the preaching of the Apostles
in Jerusalem, the number of men whG
had heard the word and believed were
about five thousand, gives us both a
divine sanction for the use of Church statistics,
and also valuable information
thereby as to the progress of eaj-ly
Christianity in the very centre of its
fiercest opposition. Then, let us have
our Church statistics, and endeavor to
use them wisely.
But to be of the highest value they
must be accurate and full. Otherwise,
mey are sauiy misieauing, ana nullify
their own purpose. For example, if only
ninety out of one hundred churches give
the number of additions or professions
or tho amount contributed to the work of
the Church, then the record as a whole
becomes false, and Its value vitiated to
that extent. And I regret to say, as the
result of a large experience, that Church
statistics, our own and all others that
I know of, are notoriously inaccurate
and untrustworthy. To illustrate, I will
take my own Presbytery with which I am
familiar, and consider the statistics which
appear in the minutes of the last Assemhlv
ft i a t horo caa" 4-V*of 1 ^
Mi/* ?."viv ocvu vuot nu icss man
twelve churches, more than one-fifth of
the whole, have no figure at all in the
columns after "Total Communicants,"
which indicates that these churches sent
up no reports and the stated clerk had
therefore simply to enter the number of
officers and members last reported. Others
appear to have made reports, but
H February 9, 1910.
omitted altogether their contributions.
And what appears in the statistics of
Enoree Presbytery exists to a greater
or less extent in the statistics of all our
Presbyteries. Let any one who desires
examine our minutes and see for himself.
But cannot this condition of things
be improved? The time for making up
our statistics for 1910 is approaching, and
will not those who are resnonsihle He.
termino to do their utmost in making
correct and complete reports? There are
over 3,300 clerks of sessions and Presbyteries
in our Church, and there are likely
to be some careless and inefficient men
in that large number; but who will assume
that character for 'himself and
fail to make up a correct and full report?
I would respectfully call the attention
of all these clerks to the necessity of
special care this year. The last Assembly
made several changes in our statistical
tables; and at the cost of throwing
away $100 worth of old blanks the secretary
of publication has had me, as clerk
ul mu Aotseuiuiy, xo correct all tne blanks
up to date and has printed a new lot
which he is ready to supply to the stated
clerks of the Presbyteries for their use
and that of all their church sessions.
In order then that we may secure
proper statistics this year, let me urge
all clerks of Presbyteries and sessions:
1. That they procure promptly and
use only the new blanks, discarding the
old ones altogether.
2. That they follow thoroughly in filling
out these blanks the directions printed
thereon. Let all contributions be entered
in their proper columns.
3. That they make every effort to
procure the exact figures and put them
all in, as an omission counts nought
iu me auumon.
4. That the clerks of Sessions make
out these reports promptly as soon after
April 1st as possible, and be sure to
forward them at once to the stated
clerk of Presbytery that he may complete
his report and forward at once by
the 1st of May, so that it may be printed
before the Assembly meets.
Spartanburg, S. C.
Self-centered soul, hast thou forgot
The marvel of our common lot,
The mystic tie that binds us all
Who dwell on this terrestrial ball,
The tie of solidarity;
Stupendous hope and mystery,
The far-off goal of history?.
Good Lord, increase our charity!
?Henry Nehemiah Dodge.
It is said there is not thought that is
good in the mind but soon looks good in
the face. Heart qualities are artists
that work, indeed, behind the screen, yet
at last they strike through the canvas
and become manifest in the facial illumination.
Contrariwise, in men long Inured
to vice and crime, sinful thoughts
within have so * *- "
%.*opvnacU U1 LUG IflClRl LIS"
sue without that the countenance has in
it something of the crawling serpent.