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The Presbyterian Vol. 96. No. 16. RICHMOND, VA. STRIKES are always bad in some features, and sometimes they are all bad. Though they are ever increasing in the number of people directly concerned, one of the noticeable facts connected with them is that they are conducted in a far more orderly way than they were a few years ago. It has not been long since it was expected, as soon as a strike was declared, that there would begin at once a period of disorder for which the strikers or their sympathizers would be responsible, and in which there would lie destruction of property and often of life. Probably the most gigantic strike ever known in this country is now in progress. It is claimed by the leaders of the labor unions that there are now 065,000 coal miners on strike, chiefly in live States. We do not claim to know enough of the merits of the case to pass judgment on the justification of the strike. But we do want to commend both sides for the orderly way in which it has been conducted. At the time of this writing, two weeks after the strike began, there has been practically no disorder of any kind. If both sides will just adopt the prin ciples of the Saviour's Golden Rule, it will not be hard to settle this strike, nor would it be difficult to prevent another. Abraham applied this principle, when he said to Lot, "We be brethren." EVOLUTION is attracting much attention today. The great soul destroying element of this doctrine as taught by most of its advocates is that it practically denies the existence of an infinite and all-wise God. It at least takes Him out of creation, except it may be to allow Him to create the first form of life. Then life and matter develop themselves, until they reach the high state of present development . No doubt this doctrine is gaining adherents, especially in our educational institutions, but the fear that this false and unscriptural doctrine shall over come the truth is not well founded. It is being shown up in its true character by Hon. William Jennings Bryan and other men of ability, and it cannot stand the light that is being turned on it. Like some slimy worm that inhabits the darkness scurries off to cover as soon as a light is turned upon it, so when the light of God's truth is turned upon it it will soon vanish away. However while the light is being turned on souls are being destroyed or are being imper illed. Wherever this doctrine is being taught, (lod's people should put forth every possible ef fort to flood all our educational institutions and all our homes with the light of truth as it comes to us from God. ? ' < CLEANLINESS is next to godliness, says the Mohammedan Koran. One of the strange things is to see an uncleanly Christian. Such a man or woman will not attract any one, ?r produce in him a desire to follow in his foot steps. Naturally there are certain kinds of work which one cannot keep hand and face and clothes clean, but when the work is over water and soap should be used as soon as pos ^>ble, and his soiled clothes should be laid aside. ' lie man who. comes home at night from his ^ork and keeps on his soiled clothes cannot ex pect his wife to be much concerned alnuit the ^av the house looks, and tlie woman who does not keep her house neat has no right to expect the husband to be careful about his appearance. If the house is not attractive there will be little inducement for father or children to stay at home. They need the influence of the home and a clean home, however plain its furnishings, will do much for them. It will keep them from go ing elsewhere to seek for what they do not find at home, and thus they will be saved from many of the temptations, which ruin so many men and children. TO ICHMOND PRESBYTERIANS are ral lying finely to the support of the Synod's Educational Campaign. A wonderful organiza tion, consisting of about 375 workers, has been completed and put to work. The meetings of these workers have been very largely attended and they are enthusiastic in their work. The campaign is now fully under way and will be completed on next Monday. It is confidently expected that Richmond will do its full share and give the $250,000 asked for to complete the $1,000,000 fund being raised for Hampden Sidney College, Union Theological Seminary, HOPE. ? By Mrs. Mary Payne Garnett. Disappointments fill our life, But hope eternal springs, And man will ever strive again, While in his breaat it sings. Our hopes perhaps are blighted ? Hopes sometimes are, you know ? We catch the threads and weave again, Because God made us so. Discouragement may be our lot, Yet, if with every deed "We trust in Him. our life revives. Because God sees our need. Then, if our hopes are blighted ? Hopes sometimes are, you know ? We'll catch life's threads and weave again, Thank God, He made us so! Brownwood, Texas. the Assembly's Training School and the Synod's Orphans' Home. This will mean a great deal for these institutions, which are doing such fine work in Christian education. CHURCH REPORTS are sometimes con sidered uninteresting reading. This is due to a lack of anything in the report that is worth while or else to indifference on the part of him who reads the report or hears it read. Last week we attended the midweek service at Grace Covenant Church in this city. It was known that the pastor was absent and that the reports of the church were to be read, and that this would take up practically all of the service. Yet there was a large congregation present. The meeting was in charge of two elders. First the reports to be sent to Presbytery were read and they were listened to with a great deal of in terest, because they showed that the church had done good work during the past year. Then each organization of the church made a more detailed report of its own peculiar activities. These reports, especially those made by the A ^oples organizations were sprightly written and well read by the representatives of these organizations. The result was that the congregation learned more about what t^e church was doing and went away feeling that it was well to belong to a church that was doing such fine work. Every member of a church ought to be informed of all of the church's work. 1 BEGGARS in China constitute a professional cla.s8, and they have their guilds or unions. The beggars in this country may not have readied the organized state, but it is reported from many cities that the professional beggars are increasing very much, in numbers, in per sistence and in the success of their efforts. A! any of these beggars are not in need, but they l)eg, because it is easier to get money in that way than to get it honestly. It is said that in some sections of New York a beggar will collect as much as from $3 to $5 an hour. Some of thein are said to have comfortable country homes, where they manage to live without letting their neighbors know what is the source of their in come. Other cities all over this country are afflicted in similar ways. These professional beg gars with their lying stories ought not to be al lowed to impose upon a kind hearted public. If those who beg are really in need, they ought not be so humiliated as to have to go on the street to beg, but they oughA *o be provided for either by the Church or by the city government. A beggar on the street is a disgrace to any city. BACK to the Bible is one of the new move ments that is much to be commended. Some Christian men in Ohio a little more than two years ago began to feel that something ought to be done to get people to read the Bible more than most people were reading it They decided that this could be done through the secular press. The plan adopted is to select a verse or two for each day and furnish them to the daily pajjers, which will agree to publish them under suitable headings. The movement has been so successful that at last reports they were being published in 871 papers in thia country, 26 in Canada, 2 in Hawai, 2 in Alaska and 1 in the Virgin Islands. The combined circulation of these papers is more than 10,000, 000. No doubt many people are reading these verses every day. It is sowing the seed broad cast, but there is God's promise, "My word shall not, return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." AUSTRIA is said to be about as badly off financially and economically as any coun try in the world. This is not surprising, when we are told that the people of that country last year spent $6,220,000,000 for liquor. Consid ering the fact that Austria is now such a small country and that its population has been so greatly reduced by the division of its territory, this enormous outlay for liquor seems incon ceivable. What hope there can be for the coun try under such conditions it is hard to imagine. What a blessing prohibition would be so that all this wasted wealth might be turned to use ful purposes.