Some absent adherents of the Congress and promoters of Peace sent their good wishes by Dr. Darby, Alderman Snape, and others.

The first order of the day was the report of Commission "A" which submitted the following resolution :-"This Congress thanks the International Peace Bureau for the report submitted on the events of the year 1896-1897 concerning international relations, and approves the ideas expressed in it; it recognises with pleasure that the Bureau has lost no opportunity for calling public attention to the opinions of the Peace Societies and Congresses in international politics, and invites it to take the initiative in similar steps whenever such intervention may appearto be useful. Further, the Congress especially thanks the Honorary Secretary of the Bureau for the indefatigable devotion to its work of which he has given unceasing proofs."

M. La Caze expressed his regret that the German students' Peace Unions were not included in the list of those eligible for representation at this Congress, and that Madame Vincent was not elected on one of the Commissions. To this answer was made by M. Ducommun and M. Fleva, of Bucharest, that the students' unions were excluded by the rules of the Congress, for they presented themselves after the list had closed six weeks ago, and that Madame Vincent did not present herself at the Bureau yesterday. Mons. Th. Ruyssen, President of la Paix par le Droit, having referred to the donation of 10,000 francs for Peace propaganda by the family of M. Charles Brunet, their late President, the proposition was adopted unanimously.

M. Arnaud, the reporter of Commission "B," to which had been referred all juridical questions referring to International Arbitration, proposed the following resolutions :

"The Congress invites the International Peace Bureau to bring to the knowledge of Governments the Code of International Arbitration voted by the Peace Congress at Antwerp in 1894, aud to draw their attention to the desirability of applying this Code in future cases of Arbitration."

"The Congress, considering the resolution previously passed in favour of introducing an arbitral clause in all treaties, earnestly recommends as a first step which it is easy to carry out at once, the introduction of this clause in treaties of alliance."

"The Congress, considering that all differences between peoples should be settled by methods of justice, expresses its desire to forward the amelioration of international relations so as to permit the establishment of an International Tribunal, to which States should be obliged to have recourse. It engages the Peace Societies to do all that is possible to have inserted in the Constitution of civilised States the obligation to submit international disputes to Arbitration or some other juridical process." The following amendment was moved by Mr. Hodgson Pratt "This Congress, considering that all differences between peoples should be settled by juridical methods, expresses its desire to promote such ameliorations of relations between States as shall induce them to enter into treaties with each other binding them to refer their disputes to one or more tribunals, it being left to the contracting States to do so under such terms and conditions as may suit them (1) as to the class of questions to be referred, and (2) as to an obligation to refer all questions without distinction as they may find practicable."

Thereupon M. Arnaud, as reporter of the Commission, elaborated and defended its propositions in a long and closely reasoned speech. It was felt that the substance of this should be placed before the Congress by adequate translations in English and German, and the further consideration of the question was adjourned to the afternoon sitting.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

On resuming the deliberations at 3 o'clock, when Dr. Richter again occupied the chair, and Messrs. F. Passy and E. T. Moneta were appointed Vice-presidents, the substance of M. Arnaud's speech was given in English by Mr. J. F. Green, and in German by Miss Bloemendal. After a short debate it was decided to discuss the three resolutions separately. The first was accepted unanimously and the omission of the words "as a first step which it is easy to carry out at once in the second being accepted by M. Gaston Moch and M. La Fontaine, on behalf of the Commission, that also was adopted.

Mr. Pratt then defended his amendment, which was supported by Mr. T. Snape, who referred especially to the nonratification of the Anglo-American Treaty, which he thought would render any practical proposal for Arbitration impossible for some time to come. The Amendment was opposed by M. Lorenzen and M. Arnaud. It was supported by Dr. Benjamin Trueblood, who had arrived the previous evening, and was warmly received by the Assembly, and who in a most encouraging speech bore testimony as to the real feeling in America, and announced the early introduction of a new treaty which would certainly be ratified. He also described the result of the action of the Senate in directing attention to the question not only by its own members but throughout the country, and in deepening the universal sentiment in favour of a permanent Arbitration Treaty. M. Moscheles having supported the Amendment, Herr Haberland and Count Bothmer drew attention to the fact that the translations of the resolution of the Commission did not correspond, and that the German version was free from the objectionable form in French, which was the real point of attack, whereupon Mr. Pratt withdrew his amendment for the time being, the voting was postponed until to-morrow, so that the Bureau should amend and harmonise the phraseology omitting the word "obliged," and the Congress adjourned until 9.30 next morning.

EVENING BANQUET.

At seven o'clock, some four hundred members of the Congress and their friends sat down to a banquet in the dining hall of the principal building in the Horticultural Exhibition. Dr. Richter presided. After ample justice had been done to the viands, and the town, Senate and Council, of Hamburg had been duly toasted, Herr Sigmund Hinrichsen, President of the Town Council, responded in a very elegant and effective speech. He was followed by Frau Lina Morgenstern; Herr Otto Ernst; Dr. Nyström, of Stockholm; Dr. Kolben, of Vienna; M. Heyder and Madame Vincent. The banquet concluded early so as to admit of a stroll in the Exhibition grounds by those who were so inclined,

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14TH.

MORNING SITTING.

The morning session of the Congress was opened by the President shortly after ten o'clock, the Baroness von Suttner, M. Sörensen and M. Magalhaes Lima occupying the position on the platform as Vice-Presidents.

The Baroness von Suttner announced that M. H. Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross Society, had joined the Peace Movement, and had already, with herself, prepared an address to the nations of the Far East. This combination promised to have great influence upon the cause of Peace, the name of M. Dunant being well known, especially in Japan, where the Red Cross has more than 300,000 adherents. The address had been translated into all the languages of the Orient. It is the intention of General Türr to further its distribution in Turkey and the other Eastern lands.

The new text of the three propositions of Commission "B" on International Arbitration, was then unanimously adopted as follows:-"The Congress, considering that all differences between peoples should be settled by juridical methods, expresses its desire to forward the ameliorations of international relations, so as to admit of the establishment of an International Tribunal to which States may submit all differences which arise between them. It, therefore, urges the Peace Societies to do all that is possible to have invested in the Constitution of civilised States the obligation to submit international disputes to Arbitration or some other juridical process."

The various proposals embodied in the Report of Commission "C" were then considered, M. Gaston Moch, as the reporter of the Committee, expounding them scriatim, which, after some discussion, was the order in which it was decided to take them, and the following resolutions were adopted :

:

1. THE EXHIBITION OF 1900.-"The Congress invites the Peace Societies of the various countries, to come to an understanding among themselves for the appointment in every country of a Committee of Inquiry or a Special Secretary to consider in agreement with the French Bureau and the French Peace Societies, the ways and means of promoting the Peace Movement in connection with the Exhibition of 1900. The delegates of these local

Committees (and the special Secretaries) will form at the next Congress a Special Committee to which information can be given, so that next year preparation for the Exhibition may be usefully undertaken. The Committees are recommended to confine their attention strictly to what relates only to the Peace propaganda."

2. PROPAGANDA.-"The Congress is informed that more than half-a-million signatures to a petition in favour of Peace have been obtained in the Scandinavian countries, and commends their activity and the means they have employed as an example to all."

At this point Alderman T. Snape called attention to two movements in Great Britain-the petition from the Christian Churches in favour of Arbitration, representing many millions of persons, and the Peace Sunday Movement, which had achieved marked success. He was asked to prepare a resolution, which might be considered later.

3. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS.-M. Gaston Moch, on behalf of Commission "C," submitted the resolution : "The Congress approves of M. Moneta's report regarding correspondence between the students of different countries."

This, however, was felt to be too indefinite, and, after some discussion, in which Messrs. Moch, Keminy (Buda Pesth), Hodgson Pratt, Passy, Moscheles, Arnaud, J. G. Alexander, and Moneta took part, the following was substituted :-"The Congress recognises in the correspondence which for several months has been developing itself between French Schools, on the one hand, and English, Italian, and German Schools, on the other, a new element in International Peace effort. It congratulates Professor Micille, of the Normal School of Draguignan, on having taken the initiative therein; it exhorts the young people in these Schools to persevere in this commendable undertaking, and calls upon all the Peace Societies to assist by all means at their disposal in advancing such a promising and fruitful movement."

At this point, the hour of adjournment having arrived, the remaining proposals of Commission "C" were postponed until the reassembling of the Congress at 2 p.m.

4. STUDENTS' INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS.-M. Gaston Moch, as reporter of Commission "C," submitted the following Resolution, which, after speeches by Messrs. Prudhomme, Pratt, and Passy was unanimously adopted :-"The Congress has learned with pleasure that M. G. Tosi, President of the University Association of Turin, has convoked in that town for the year 1898 an International Congress of Students, with the object of founding a universal federation of students designed to act energetically in the cause of Peace."

5. RELATIONSHIP TO THE PRESS.-After speeches by M. Gaston Moch (in French, German, and English), General Türr and Mons. Raqueni (L'Epoque), the following Resolution was adopted: The Congress invites the Berne Bureau to put itself into communication with the Central Committee of the Union of Press Associations in view of the influence which the press possesses in every country. The Congress has learned with pleasure of the approaching constitution in Paris of an International Association of Journalists favourable to Peace, to which forty members have already given their adhesion."

The President at this point withdrew. General Türr occupied the chair, and the Congress proceeded to discuss the

6. DEMONSTRATION ON 22ND FEBRUARY.-It was proposed, That a general demonstration in favour of Peace take place on the 22nd of February next, the anniversary of the birth of Washington, and the Societies are invited to seek out and to put into practice every means of agitation which may suit each locality.

M. Bajer thought another day would be much better. St. John's Day, for instance, would be much more convenient for the Northern countries. Dr. Trueblood, too, preferred some other date, so far as the Americans themselves were concerned. M. Ducommun, in the name of the Berne Bureau, urged that a

declaration should be made on this day by the Peace Societies, and Mr. Moscheles that this declaration should be in identical terms. With this addition the proposition was adopted.

PROPAGANDA.-The resolution, which had been prepared by Alderman Snape, was at this point submitted to the meeting as follows:-"The Congress is also informed that another very important Petition, in behalf of Arbitration, bearing 166 signatures and representing 112 churches and many millions of persons, has been presented by the Arbitration Alliance to the 32 Governments of Christendom, and also that remarkable progress has been made in the movement for the observance of Peace Sunday." The Congress recommends these efforts for the imitation of all Peace Societies.

After Dr. W. Evans Darby had given the Congress a report of what had been done in connection with both these movements, and thanked those who had co-operated in the presentation of the Petition, the resolution was adopted with unanimity.

This terminated the proceedings of the sitting at 3.45. M. Lorenzen informed the assembly of the resolution adopted by the Inter-parliamentary Conference in Brussels determining that when differences should arise between two countries the Members of Parliament of both countries should take steps to settle thema communication that was greeted with applause. Several other announcements were made, and the Congress adjourned till Monday at 9.30.

EVENING ENGAGEMENTS.

At the close of the sitting some 200 members of the Congress proceeded to the landing stage at St. Pauli, where they embarked on a special steamer and proceeded on a voyage round the harbour, visiting, en route, the "Patria," one of the largest ships in the river. Returning to the landing stage to disembark those who were unable to proceed further, they were taken down the river to Blankenese, where they ascended the Süllberg, an isolated hill on which, perched like some restored medieval castle, was a restaurant, and there in the evening light a very effective photograph was taken. Inside the establishment provision had been made by the Hamburg Altona Peace Society to entertain their visitors at supper. The Baron von Suttner presided over the festivities. The meal was followed by the usual speechmaking, and addresses of a very high tone were made by Messrs. Haberland, Dr. Löwenberg, Ducommun, Dr. Trueblood, Novicow, Passy, von Egidy, Frick, Dr. Wagner, E. T. Moneta, the Baroness von Suttner, and others. The time was occupied well until 11 o'clock, the hour for returning. As the steamer moved away, the waters of the Elbe were illumined by a firework display, which outrivalled the mild moonshine and expressed the hearty good feeling of the Blankenese folks towards their visitors and the cause represented by them. It was past the witching hour of midnight when the steamer landed her living freight at St. Pauli.

MONDAY, AUGUST 16TH.

MORNING SITTING.

At the commencement of the sitting in the Patriotic Buildings, on Monday, August 16th, at 10 a.m., the chair was occupied by Dr. Richter, supported by Messrs. Novicow and Bajer, and Dr. Trueblood.

Mrs. Brenton, of Washington, another late arrival from America, greeted the Congress in the name of Mrs. Belva Lockwood, and invited the next Congress to meet in Washington.

The question of Duelling was introduced by Mr. Moscheles, who, in the name of the Committee appointed at Budapesth to consider the question, moved: "That the Congress hears with satisfaction of the energetic measures which certain Student Associations have taken against Duelling, in requiring their members not to accept any challenge, and hopes that other Associations will follow their example."

M. Félix Lacaze, who was delegated to the Congress by the Academic Peace Societies of Munich, Innsbruck, and ten others, gave a report of his work among students in Germany and Austro-Hungary. The Abbé Pichot proposed two resolutions, one against the proposed ducl of the Prince of Orleans, and the other a theoretical declaration against Duelling, both of which were rejected. Mr. Hodgson Pratt moved an amendment as follows; "Considering that at the instigation of Prince

Albert duelling in England was abolished by the Minister for War, who declared that every officer who accepted a challenge should be cashiered, and that this reform might be easily accomplished by the officers of the army and navy, this Congress is of opinion that this reform should be accomplished in other lands in the same way.'

After remarks from M. la Fontaine, the Baroness von Suttner, and M. Lorenzen both the resolution and amendment were adopted. The Juridicial Committee (Commission B) thereupon submitted the following resolution on International Arbitration which was unanimously adopted: "The Congress thanks the Inter-parliamentary Conference for the resolutions favourable to the conclusion of permanent treaties of Arbitration adopted by it at its recent meeting at Brussels-and, in particular, for the proposal to open negotiations for such a treaty between Belgium and Great Britain on the occasion of a special Arbitration now before them.

"In common with the Inter-parliamentary Conference it rejoices that responsible statesmen of two of the greatest Powers of the world (the United States of America and Great Britain) have, by the project of a Treaty which they had adopted, admitted the possibility of binding their respective countries by a permanent treaty of arbitration. It trusts that their example will be fruitful. "The Congress, while regretting profoundly that the proposed treaty was not ratified by the Senate of the United States, is happy to learn that a new Anglo-American treaty is being prepared; and that the Government of the United States is disposed to give a favourable consideration to the proposals for arbitration treaties which may be submitted to it by the representatives of the French and Swiss Republics accredited to Washington.

"The Congress expresses the hope that by the time of its next meeting it will be able to welcome the conclusion of several permanent arbitration treaties, either general, or applicable only to disputes of a special class whenever the conclusion of general treaties appears impossible."

A resolution referring to the code of International Law adopted by the Congresses at Rome and Budapesth, urging its communication to governments and parliaments, and authorising its verbal revision where necessary, was unanimously adopted.

Mr. Pratt submitted a motion of which he had given notice in a printed communication distributed by the Bureau. M. La Fontaine thought its introduction rather premature, and moved an amendment. After some discussion, M. Ducommun suggested a union of the two propositions which was adopted as follows: "Resolved that this Congress notes with satisfaction the action of the Inter-parliamentary Conference in Brussels on behalf of International Conciliation, and thanks both the Conference and Mr. Hodgson Pratt for their activity in this direction; this Congress expresses the desire that an efficient organisation be created in Europe for ascertaining and publishing the true facts, whenever false and dangerous accusations are made against one nation within the territory of other nations; and therefore recommends to the careful attention of the Peace societies and all friends of Peace the scheme which has now been submitted for the constitution of Councils of International Conciliation and Concord.

"Resolved further that a committee of five persons be now appointed, as follows, who shall make a report on the scheme in question and forward it to the International Bureau of Peace, in order that it may be communicated to all the Peace societies and any other bodies which are likely to aid in this object."

The question of the "Transformation of Armies and of the "Adoption of a Universal Language" were, after a very animated discussion, referred, with due acknowledgment of the services of those who had been occupied with them, back to their respective Committees for further study and report to a future Congress, and the session closed at 12.30.

that he was going to the Workmen's Congress at Zurich, where he would willingly represent this Congress.

The date and place of the next Congress were considered, when Commission "C" proposed that "This Congress decides that the ninth Congress shall take place in 1898. It takes note of the invitations given in the name of the cities of Lisbon and Turin, and gives to the Berne Bureau the power of fixing the date and the place of the Ninth Congress, after consulting the Peace Societies."

M. Magalhaes de Lima invited the Congress to Lisbon next year in connection with the Vasco de Gama celebrations, and Signor Ippolyte Luzzati, President of the Peace Society at Turin, appeared as the advocate of that city. After some conversation the resolution was accepted.

The President submitted the revised text of the telegram to Madame Canovas as follows: "The eighth Universal Peace Congress, accepting the principle of the inviolability of human life, desires, on the motion of its Italian members, to express to you its unanimous reprobation of the deed which has deprived you of your husband."

M. Arnaud, as the reporter of the Commission, read the "Appeal to the Nations," which was thoughtfully followed and unanimously adopted.

Then followed the usual acknowledgments and votes of thanks. M. Passy expressed the thanks of the Congress to the President for its services. Dr. Richter appropriately replied, and acknowledged his indebtedness to the members of the Bureau. Mr. Hodgson Pratt formally thanked the Senate, the Council, and the Press of the City of Hamburg. The President acknowledged the obligations of the Congress to the Committee of Organisation for its hearty welcome, indefatigable care, and generous hospitality, uttered his final word of official authority, and the Hamburg Peace Congress was a matter of memory and history.

HOME AND MOTHER.

A young French soldier lay, as if dying, in a hospital at Geneva. Far away in his native village in Brittany was an old father over seventy, a mother and a sister. As he lay there one day, he told a comrade that he would dearly like to see his old father once more. A letter was written to the family, and his father started at once. Arrived at Geneva, after many difficulties, he hastened to his son, who expressed the satisfaction he felt in seeing him before he died. "Ah, no!" said the old man, "you must not die. Courage, lad! I have brought money, and will buy every thing you need." But the youth protested that he had everything he needed now, and that all sorts of things were brought to tempt his appetite, but he could not touch them. The poor father was quite discouraged at the weary and wasted boy, and feared he had only come to take his dead one home. Then, all at once, it occurred to him to draw from his knapsack one of the common loaves of rye bread, such as are eaten by the peasants of Brittany. "Here, my son, take this; it was made by your mother!" The sick lad turned his heavy eyes, and stretched out his hand greedily, crying: "Give it me, father, I am hungry." As he ate, his eye lighted up, the blood came back to his face, and large tears rolled down his cheeks, as he said: "It's so good! so good! -the bread from my home." From that time he began to recover, and fifteen days later was able to start on the homeward journey. All the way, he repeated: "When shall I get there, where I may always eat from our good black bread made by my mother?"

In the Russian Army two days a week are observed as fastsWednesdays and Fridays-on which days all the soldier gets in the way of food is lentil soup and black bread, and a drink consisting of water in which rye bread has been soaked.

Cuba is divided into six provinces, and contains twenty-two cities and towns and 204 villages. The capital is Havana, which has a population of 250,000. The electoral qualification required is property of the annual value of about 250 dols.

Counting all classes of reserves, Germany can in twenty-four hours raise an army of 4,000,000 disciplined men.

CONSCRIPTION IN FRANCE. Formerly the period of active military service was five years, but recently the Chamber passed a bill reducing it to three, at the same time lengthening the periods spent with the various stages of the reserve force. As in Germany, it is possible to get a reduction of this term, provided the young man can produce proof of a certain standard of education. The degree of Bachelier, the Certificat d'Etude, or the passing of a special examination set for the purpose, enables, though it does not entitle, the recruit to get his period of service reduced to one year. This commutation is only granted where there is sufficient ground for believing the men are adequately trained and up to the required standard. Once out of the active army, the men pass into the reserve for six years, where they undergo a short annual period of training until thoroughly efficient soldiers. The next six years is spent with the reserve, after which they are drafted into the Territorial Army, or Third Line of Defence, for another six years, frequently rising in rank to the position of lieutenant, but not higher. Thence they are put on the reserve territorial list. This system gives France a peace army of over half a million, which in time of war can be augmented to two and a-half million of men, or even more. Partly as a result of the Republican nature of the Frenchmen and the administrative government, there is hardly ever a trace of class feeling in the ranks. The man of good blood receives no better and no worse treatment at the hands of his fellows and his superior officers than does the recruited farm hand, and rich and poor share equally and good-naturedly the pleasant duties and the dirty work. Of course, there, as everywhere, a well-lined purse is a passport to a certain degree of comfort and exemption from the distasteful; but the unfortunate individual who is foolish enough to give demonstration of too much love for clean fingers and whiteness of skin will find that money will not buy him free of the jobs he tries to steer clear of, and that the orderly will take a delight in putting him on to all the dirty work he can find-and in seeing that he does it.To-Day.

THE TERRIBLE NEW RIFLES.

In an experiment with the new and terrible rifle with which the European armies are to be equipped, a man was recently shot accidentally. He was nearly half a mile from the gun, and one of the new explosive bullets passed into his body. One of his ribs was struck by the bullet and the missile exploded. When the post-mortem examination was held, it was found that the bullet had split into fourteen pieces, which had penetrated the man's body in as many different directions. It would have been impossible for surgical skill to have accomplished any relief if the man had not died instantly, as the different parts of the bullet could not have been probed for, from the exterior of the body.

This is the rifle that can hit a man at the distance of a mile and a quarter, and a bullet from which went through the bodies of three men, one placed behind the other, the shot being fired from a distance of a quarter of a mile. Just now the European authorities, having become satisfied as to the murderous execution of the new rifle, have fallen into a consideration of the danger to the hospital corps. It is generally understood that the new German rifle will have a range of nearly two miles. In previous wars the hospital corps has moved perhaps an eighth of a mile in the rear of the line, and at times much nearer than this. As the men were wounded they were carried back and placed in the hands of surgeons, where their sufferings were relieved, and all that humanity could do was done in their behalf. The hospital corps in this instance was out of range of the enemy, and could work successfully.

The question now is, Where can the surgeons be placed safe from danger of the new rifles having a range of two miles? It is impracticable to carry the wounded a mile and a half back of the line, and if the forces approach within half a mile of one another, the whole question resolves itself into a discussion upon the terrible results which must attend the meeting of two hostile forces in Europe when armed with the new rifles.

The only fortress of consequence in Denmark is the capital, Copenhagen.

AGENTS' REPORTS.

BIRMINGHAM.

The Rev. J. J. Ellis attended Conferences of Ministers at TAMWORTH and Acock's GREEN on July 10th and 14th. He attended the fête of the Princess Alice Orphanage at NEW ASCOT on July 13th, where he met various friends of Peace, including Dr. Milburn, chaplain of the U.S. Senate. On the 18th July at Milton Hall, KIDDERMINSTER, at the close of a sermon by the Rev. H. Harry, Mr. Ellis gave some personal experiences. On the 19th July he attended STRATFORD-ON-AVON, "with a contingent of Birmingham police as philosophic guide and friend of Peace." At BROMYARD, on the 25th July, in the Congregational Church Lecture Hall, Mr. Ellis gave an address on "Ministries which make for Peace." And at the Baptist Church, KIDDERMINSTER, on August 1st, he preached on "Soldiers of the Empire and Soldiers of Christ."

MANCHESTER.

Mr. Charles Stevenson reports that on July 25th, he gave an address on Peace at Edgley Mission, STOCKPORT, in connection with the Church of England; on August 1st he addressed the GREAT ANCOATS Mission P.S.A. (Wesleyan); from the 12th-16th August he attended the meetings of the Universal Peace Congress at-HAMBURG; and on the 22nd August he gave an address at the Congregational Church, DENTON, the pastor, Rev. J. Brighting, being Chairman.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S MOTHER.

"All that I am or hope to be I owe to my mother," said President Lincoln. She was a forest beauty, who at the age of twenty-three had learned to read and write from the instructtion of an old itinerant preacher. Her husband was strong, resolute, rough in speech and ignorant. The wife taught him how to read and write, and by her gentleness-she had also a musical voice and her Christian spirit refined his coarse nature. About her log-cabin flowers blossomed and vines climbed. Neigh bouring wives resorted to it to learn how to nurse the sick and make their homes attractive. As soon as the boy was old enough she taught him by daily lessons to read and write. The "Reader" was the Bible. When Abraham was nine years old, he wrote his first letter. It was to the old itinerant preacher who had instructed his mother, begging him to come and preach a sermon at her grave, where she had been laid at rest without prayer or hymn. He came, weeks afterwards, riding a hundred miles through the pathless woods, picking his way by the blazed

trees.

The lesson of his mother's pure, gentle and helpful life taught the son sympathy with man and beast, love of justice, and hatred of oppression and cruelty. Once he came upon six boys whe were drowning a kitten. The youngest boy was older than Abe; but he sprang upon them like a panther, and one after the other went down under the blows of bis long arms. He then released the kitten, fondled it, and cried over it like a girl.

Lincoln in his boyhood had access to four books, the Bible, Pilgrim's Progress," "Burns's Poems," and the "Life of Washington." He so learned many of the chapters of the Bible, that he seldom made at the bar, or on the "stump,' a speech, in which he did not quote from it. He early learned in his professional life that to a public speaker the Bible is the most useful of books. Burns developed his fancy and imagination; Bunyan taught him how to use figurative language; and Weems inspired him with the noble spirit of Washington. Foreign readers of his Gettysburg speech and his second inaugural address asked, “Whence got this man style, seeing he knows nothing of literature?" He got it from the English Bible and from Bunyan's " Pilgrim's Progress "-two books which specially represent the power of the English language.

Do you mourn when another star
Shines out from the glorious sky?
Do you weep when the raging voice of war
And the storms of conflict die?

NOX AN?

THE

:

The autumnal meetings of the Peace Society will be held in Newcastle-on-Tyne on Tuesday, the 12th October. There will be, as usual, a morning and afternoon conference, and a public meeting in the evening. This will be presided over by Sir Joseph W. Pease, the afternoon conference by the Very Rev. the Dean of Durham, and that of the morning by Dr. Robert Spence Watson. All the meetings will be held in the Hall of the Church Institute, Newcastle-on-Tyne. We hope our friends will endeavour to attend the meetings.

JAPAN AND THE SEAL CONFERENCE.

The Japanese Government has just signified its assent to the invitation of the United States to send a representative to the Seal Conference at Washington in October. But has Great Britain joined in giving the invitation ?

THE QUEEN'S PERMISSION.

The Queen has granted to Mr. Henry Brown authority to accept and wear the insignia of the Imperial Order of St. Stanislaus of the Third Class, which decoration the Czar has conferred upon him in recognition of his services in connection with the introduction of a new rifle into the Russian Army. Perpetual emphasis is given to the fact that royalty and armaments are in inseparable alliance.

A NEW SOCIETY.

M. Vasseur, Agent of the Society in Paris, reports that he is engaged with others in active efforts to influence the journalists of Paris-the actual writers for

[PRICE 1d.

the Press-in favour of the principles of Peace, and, as reported by his colleague, M. Raqueni, of L'Epoque, to the Congress at Hamburg, in forming an International Peace Association among journalists. At a recent meeting, he says, held on Tuesday, 21st September, a committee was appointed with the duty of placing themselves en rapport with French and foreign journalism. Another meeting was to be held on the 28th September at the residence of a Brazilian member.

ANGLO-AMERICAN ARBITRATION.

It is reported from America that an effort is being made to induce a delegation of leading Nonconformist ministers to take part in the meetings in the United States to promote the question of International Arbitration. It is felt by leaders of the churches in America that if a deputation, representing the Presbyterian, Congregational, Baptist, and Methodist churches from this country could voice the sentiment of English Nonconformists in person, much weight would be given to the movement. The Bill is to be brought before the American Congress before the close of the year.

NEGOTIATIONS TO BE RESUMED.

The New York Herald learns that the State Department and Sir Julian Pauncefote have received instructions to resume negotiations for the conclusion of a General Arbitration Treaty between Great Britain and the United States. The journal adds that it is believed that if the duration of these negotiations be prolonged, it is with the express object of rendering the conclusion of a treaty possible.

THE ENGLISH COUNSEL AND THE JUDGE.

At the sitting of the Behring Sea Commission at Halifax, on September 1st, counsel for Great Britain declared that the officers of the United States had acted contrary to the rulings of the State Department, and that claims had not been presented in good faith. Judge Putnam thereupon declared he could not listen to any declaration that Great Britain or the United States had not acted in good faith, and especially he could hear no argument touching the good faith of the United States. The Convention did not permit that question to be raised before the Commission.

A HEALTHY SENTIMENT.

A remarkable scene occurred at a public debate at Porth recently. The subject of the discussion was "Is the God of Creation the God of the Bible?" and the