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VOL. LXXXIV. RICHMi
000 ((Ebiti
TIIE highest courts of Presbyterian and
Reformed Churches in America will assemble
in May and June. There are potent
reasons why these meetings should be regarded,
this year, with unusual solemnity, humility and
supplication. The wisest of men are utterly
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future in the affairs of nations. The least observing
can well understand that there is possible
"tribulation such as hath not been from
the beginning of the world until now." It is a
supreme business of the Church to stand in her
place as witness-bearer and intercessor. If a
new day may be dawning, as we sincerely trust,
it will come in answer to the petitions and
through the obedience of God's people. It is
an awe-inspiring thought that the living Church
may be the medium of turning away judgments
from the earth and inaugurating a new
era of peace and good will; or by unfaithfulness
to her mission and recreancy to her covennntc
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Thy judgments arc in the earth, the inhabitunts
of the world will learn righteousness."
Surely this age of conflict, carnal and spiritual,
appeals to the Church that she put on the whole
armor of God and advance to new and larger
victories of faith. We are constrained to believe
that our Southern Assembly, this year,
will convene and conduct its deliberations with
feelings of dependence on the powers of the
unseen world, akin to those which were experienced
at the meeting of our first Assembly
held in 1861.
PERTINENT to the recent inauguration of
Dr. Edward K. Graham as president of
the University of North Carolina we think it
entirely discreet to inform our readers that Dr.
Graham is a Presbyterian. Moreover we venture
to remark that the great university has
on record 125 years of history and that
throughout this period, with the exception of
twenty years, its presidents have been Presbyterians.
Still further, a large proportion
of its professors have been of the same faith
and order, according to information derived
p ?
"i win nutnentic sources. The tirst president
who was the real father of the institution, Rev.
loseph Caldwell, was a Presbyterian. lie was
?iot only its founder, but "stemmed the tide
of infidelity at the university and put the
stamp of religion upon its character." This
was a groat service to render to a great state
by a truly great man. Also it is a credit to
the state and those who administer its affairs
that its liniversitv nftntinnoo linnx ?
j wt Muni a uuiiif
oant.ly Christian character in the personnel
(f its instructors and fn their professional
service. Presbyterians, as a rule, are not obtrusive
nor boastful, but we have not failed
to observe bow frequently it comes to pass
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that when great occasions find great men, the
men turn out to he Presbyterians.
WE sometimes hear of "giving until it
hurts," but there is such a thing as
giving until it heals and gladdens. A striking
story of the joy of giving comes from the
publishing house of the American Bible Society.
East year the lepers of Chiengmai, Siam, sent
a contribution to the Society. Early in the year
these lepers had contributed 3,300 portions of
the Scriptures for general distribution, and
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over twenty-five rupees as their Christmas gift.
It was a most impressive evidence of their
gratitude for the blessings of the gospel of
Christ. The letter which follows is their beautiful
testimonial: "We, the elders and members
of the leper church of Chiengmai, disciples
of the Lord Jesus, with one mind and
heart have great gladness in sending our small
ofl'ering to the American llible Society. And
we beg that our gift of twenty-five rupees
f$8.09) may be graciously received by you and
used for the distribution of the Holy Scrip
tures. To have a share in this good work will
give us very great happiness. (Signed) Elders
l:eang, Toon, Gnok." Here is an object lesson
for many in our favored land of Christian light,
peace and plenty. Many there may he who
are tempted to give grudgingly to the extension
of our Lord'8 kingdom, rather cherish the
assurance that "God loveth a cheerful giver."
One of the highest privileges of our earthly
life is that of earning and using money in
spiritual service. Tt is in this < ??.
neetion that Paul says, "And God is able 1o
make all grace abound.unto you."
OF ALL the possible issues of the war one
of the most interesting and significant is
its effect on Jewish history and destiny. The
daily press has made this a subject of prominent
and repeated comment. Before Turkey
became involved it was estimated that there
were more than half a million Jews in the
armies of Europe. In Palestine and other
Asiatic provinces under Turkish dominion
many Jews have been subject to conscription.
The war zone between the Russians and the
Germans and Austrians has included, mainly,
Poland in Russia and Galicia in Austria, both
being regions occuDied vcrv larcelv l?v Jewish
populations. Their destitution and other
forms of suffering have become appalling. Mr.
Philip Siderski writes interestingly in "The
Christian Workers Magazine" on "Israel
Among the Nations and the Present War."
He quotes a statement from the Russian capital
to the effect that a quarter of a million
Jews are with the Russian forces, and that it
is the largest Jewish army ever gathered since
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915. No. 17
nment
the fall of Jerusalem. It is regarded as a striking
coincidence that the war was declared on
the day in the Hebrew calendar which commemorates
the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction
of the Temple. Truly, the "chosen
people," so long persecuted and yet so won
uui^uiij jjicou >cu auiuiig nit: nuiiuiis, are suii'ering
more than a full share of the tragedy
of war. Yet they are believed to be Hearing a
new and long expected era. All the governments
involved have pledged to them, since
hostilities began, larger liberties and a more
crpnorAiig rscognition oi" thsir citiz6!iship slh vl
race and as individuals. Sir Edward Gray has
given assurance to Israel Zangwill, a distinguished
Semitic representative, that he would
neglect no opportunity of encouraging the
emancipation of the Russian Jews. Mr. Zangwill
regards such assurances, including the
solemn promise of political freedom made by
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and "affording a solid political basis of hope"
for his people. Orthodox Hebrews especially
are expecting the speedy realization of national
organic unity and independence. "The Jewish
Daily News" had a recent article entitled,
"The Jews Will Get Palestine," and the further
specification that England, France and
Russia will guarantee a Jewish state in Asia
Minor. Sir Henry Johnson, a professional
traveler and writer prophesies in the "Nine
teenth Centu**y" that the three allied powers
named will guarantee Jewish independence in
its ancient home. Students of inspired prophecy
find in present portents an intensified
prompting to discern the signs of the times.
THE very common and popular disparagement
of "theology is very foolish,
sometimes vicious, always unwise. As a rule,
it shows how little those who indulge in it
know what they say. Not one in ten of those
who decry theology could tell you clearly ami
intelligently what theology is. They would
tell you, if pressed, of a something which their
own imagination made or which the enemies
of truth invented. The great majority of them
are mere echoes of others. And, if they will
but think, what can they find of evil in a systematic,
scientific statement of related truths,
a classified presentation of recognized facts?
If there is anything wrong in this as of sacred
truths, then there must he something wrong
in such a statement or classification of secular
or scientific truths."
IF the disbelief in the integrity or truth of
n liook of the Bible, especially one authenticated
in its historicity and facts by Christ himself,
is simply an error of the head and very
pardonable, what sure guide has any soul in
avoiding errors ef both head and heart.