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The Presbytei Vol. 97. No. 52. RICHMOND, VA. DECEMBER 27, 1922 NEW YEAR GREETINGS we give to all our readers. During the year past they have been most kind and considerate of us. They have said many things that have made us happy and made it easier to do the heavy work of getting out a paper each week. And this is indeed a man's job. Our correspondents have helped us in a wonderful way in sending us in teresting news items from the home and the for eign field. 'And many of the ablest men and women of the Church have honored us by send ing valuable articles, which we have taken pleasure in giving to our readers. To all these we wish to express our heartfelt thanks. Our special thanks are due to the Woman's Auxil iaries for the excellent work they did, espe cially during Church Paper Week, in securing new subscribers for us. They did most excel lent work with very gratifying results. As we enter upon the 98th year of our life as a paper, we do so with the hope that our friends will be as kind to .us during this year as they have been in the past. Relying upon their help and upon the guidance and strength of God we shall continue to do our best to deserve the good will of our readers Our one great aim is to advance the interests of the kingdom of God, especially as it js represented in the Southern Presbyterian Church. We ask the prayers of all our readers that we may do bet ter work than ever. We want the continued and increasing help of our correspondents. We hope to have the help of the Woman's Auxil iaries and all of our friends in getting the paper into more new homes. The more homes we can enter each week the more help we can render to all the causes of the church, and the more we can hope to aid in building up the spiritual lives of the members of the families of the Church. SERIOUS CHARGES are made against mem bers of Congress by some of the newspa pers of today. It is said that some of these ?men who made the present laws providing for the enforcement of the prohibition amendment are now flagrantly guilty of their violation. The Dearborn Independent quotes from The Searchlight, which it says is "one of the few American magazines that tell the truth, or that know enough of the truth to make it worth telling." The Searchlight says: "There is no unit of American life today where studied dis regard of the Volstead Act is more in evidence than among the lawmakers 011 Capitol Hill, unless it be among the administrative officers charged with the solemn duty of enforcing the laws. It is a matter of common knowledge that there are many places in the Capitol build ing today where whiskey, wines and even beer can be obtained in volation of law. Senators Congressmen and their clerks are serving in toxicants to callers. .... Senators and Con gressmen who voted for the Volstead Act are the worst offenders." Practically the same charge has been made, though in more diplo matic form, by at least one member of Con gress on the floor of the House. Members of Congress, as well as all officers of the law, take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Conditions have reached a bad state indeed, when members of Congress openly and flagrantly violate any law. It does not matter whether they approve of the law or not, nor whether it restricts them in the gratifying of any appetite, they have been sent to Con gress to make laws and provide for their en forcement. The people at home ought to know, before they elect a man to such high office, that he is a law-abiding citizen; but, if they do not find him out until he has gone to Washington, they ought to let him know in no uncertain terms that he must .keep the law himself or they will send some one else to take his place. For the only foundation upon which liberty and a strong government can be built up is re spect for law. When what is commonly called the criminal element violates law, not half the harm is done that is done when the violators are among those that are considered the better class of citizens. If the men and women who desire to have the laws enforced will express FOR THE NEW YEAR. My presence shall go with thee So calm thy troubled fears; .Throughout the changeful years. Throughout the unchangeful years. Mid scenes of gloom or gladness. When weary or distressed. My presence shall go with thee. And I will give thee rest. My presence shall go witli thee ? Most blessed assurance here, While in this lower valley Itcset by doubt and fear. No evil shall befall thee. Close sheltered to my breast, My presence shall be with thee, And I will give thee rest. My presence shall go with tliee ? Though in a foreign land. Afar front home and kindred, Thin covenant shall stand. Nor time nor space can sever; Ijovo knows not East or West: My presence shall go with thee, And I will give thee re?t. ? H. Isabel Graham. themselves clearly on this subject, the trouble will soon be brought to an end. KENTUCKY Presbyterians undertook to raise a million dollars for their educa tional institutions. At the time of this writ ing they have come so near accomplishing their purpose that there is no doubt of their suc cess. Before this paper reaches its readers the full amount will probably have been secured. We knew Kentucky could do it, and we offer her our hearty congratulations. The institu tions to be benefited by this fund, such as Louisville Theological Seminary, have, done fine work in the past. They will do a far bet ter work in the future. MORMONS in large numbers, it is said, are leaving Utah. This seems strange, but even Salt Lake City lost 2,794 in population during the year 1921. Some Gentiles are leav ing the city and the State, but it is said that the larger part of the emigrants are Mormons. The explanation given of this state of affairs is that the people arc becoming more enlight ened and are realizing that the ecclesiastical hierarchy are conducting the church far more as a business enterprise for their own personal benefit than as a religious organization for the benefit of the people. The Mormon Church has always been much more of a business and po litical institution than a religious institution. The people who have been under the thraldom of the church officials have been kept largely in ignorance. Now they are becoming enlight ened. And people in other parts of the world are having their eyes opened also, with the re sult that the Mormon missionaries are not gaining as many converts to their faith as they have in the past. This is a gratifying state of affairs in Utah, and it is no doubt due in part to the work of home missionaries of the North ern Presbyterian and other churches in giving the people the truth of Ood. ELLIS ISLAND in New York harbor is the point at which the large majority of im migrants from Europe enter this country. Frequently they have to remain there for sev eral days, sometimes for weeks, and occasion ally for months. Until recently nothing was done for the comfort or help of these people. Men, women and children were packed away in overcrowded quarters, provided with food and a place to sleep, and that was all. Under the present superintendent of the station it is said that much has been done for the ameliora tion of the condition of these people who are virtually prisoners. Now much is being done to make them feel that America cares for them and is glad to welcome them to her shores. The last advance step in this direction is pro viding preaching for them. Every Sunday mission workers representing the missioh agencies in New York City go there. These workers preach to the immigrants in four or five languages, so that it is probable that each one can hear the gospel preached in his own language. This will aid much in giving the immigrants a good impression of America. CHINESE MISSION WORK is showing fine results. In the North Kiangsu Mis sion field the work moved slowly for a long time. The full number of missionaries in that field is 89. including men, their wives and the single women. Five years ago, after thirty four years of work by our misisonaries, Ihere were only about 2,G00 members of the Presby terian churches. Now there are about 6,000. During the past year 914 were added to these churches on profession of faith in Jesus as their Saviour. We cannot want a stronger argu ment for going ahead at once with our work in that field. Our missionaries are laboring hard, some of them are breaking down, under the strain of the rvork. They are very much handicapped by lack of help. They are suffer ing and the work is suffering for l^ck of better equipment. Yonng men and young women in our Church are offering their lives for this work. Our Executive Committee is doing the bfist. that it can to supply what is needed to carry on the work. But the fact remains that there is still a great need. That is the need of money. We are sure that there is enough money in the pockets and in the bank accounts of our people to supply the needs. It is a wonderful opportunity to show to God our appreciation of His blessings to us, and at the same time to be instruments in His hands of saving souls.