propagated among the masses." In Africa, Italy was firmly resolved to follow a policy of Peace and recuperation suitable to her colonial progress and to her interests in Europe.

"As regards my relations with the Church," continued his Majesty, "I shall pursue my policy of liberty, which is in conformity with the traditions and the feelings of the Italian people, which has always respected religion. The Government will always know how to protect the rights of the civil power under all circumstances." While the Budget would be carefully adhered to, the fleet would be gradually raised, in the number and quality of ships, to the rank demanded by Italy's geographical situation, the defence of her legitimate interests, and the efforts made by the great States of Europe to increase their navies.

AFTER THE WAR.

It seems as if to the Cuban insurgents War with all its hardships were almost preferable to such a state of Peace as at present exists in the island. The position of the rebels is anomalous in a high degree. They never had the ordinary resources of a Government, and depended for the simple means of subsistence upon their power to levy contributions on the owners of plantations and other non-combatants with anything to deliver. What they got in this way was supplemented by such natural supplies of game, roots, and fruit as the forests yielded. But game has become scarce, and since the provisional Peace the forcible levy of supplies has been forbidden. There are 25,000 insurgents, and the correspondents describe their state as most deplorable. In one of the most fruitful countries in the world they are suffering starvation which cannot be called slow.

AT LAST!

The History of the War of the Rebellion, by the American General Staff is at last completed. The compilation of this work has lasted thirty years. It contains 111 vols., with a total of 118,232 pages, and has an atlas of 178 maps. Apparently it is a typical history book on a grand scale.

INTERVIEW WITH COUNT MOURAVIEFF.

The Baroness von Suttner had a long and interesting conversation with Count Mouravieff during his visit to Vienna on the 24th October last. The minister, says the Baroness, does not deceive himself with regard to the difficulties of the work undertaken, and the time that will be required for its accomplishment. "We must not count on a complete disarmament of the nations," added he, "nor even hope that they will consent to a diminution of their actual contingent. But if we can only arrive at a common agreement to halt in this race of armaments, that in itself would be a grand result." The Count expressed great sympathy with the work of the Peace Societies. He attaches a great importance to their public meetings and writings, because they elicit a manifestation of public opinion in the direction of Peace. He is familiar with the work of the Peace Societies, having himself been a member when he was an attaché of the Russian Embassy at Stockholm.

He considers that the more the idea of Peace permeates all classes of the population the casier it will be for governments to realise it. The support of the Press would be very valuable. Unhappily some journals, as has been the case in the United States, use their influence in the direction of war rather than of Peace. The permanent Treaty of Arbitration between the United States and England fell to the ground because it was not sufficiently supported by the Press. Governinents must proceed by degrees. Count Mouravieff showed himself full of confidence in the happy issue of his august master's initiative, and added that the French Government had given him friendly assurances in its favour. Finally, as the Baroness expressed her pleasure at shaking the hand which had written the luminous words announcing the advent of a new epoch, Count Mouravieff replied: "I count for nothing in it; it is my august sovereign who is the sole author of it." (Je n'y suis pour rien: c'est mon august souverain qui en est le seul auteur).

AUTUMNAL MEETING OF THE PEACE

SOCIETY.

THE Autumnal Meeting of the Peace Society was held in Exeter, on Tuesday, 18th October, in the Barnfield Hall, a handsome modern building, belonging to the Literary Society.

The meetings were a decided success, and testimony was freely borne to the helpful character of the deliberations. The arrangements were made by a local Committee, superintended by the Rev. J. T. H. Paynter (Dartmouth), and the Rev. R. W. Row (Exeter).

MORNING CONFERENCE.

At this Meeting the Rev. J. T. Maxwell, of Plymouth, was voted to the Chair. After prayer had been offered by the Rev. R. W. Row.

The CHAIRMAN said that Peace was one of the teachings received in childhood's days from his honoured parents, who always endeavoured to make their children understand that war, bloodshed and strife were utterly inconsistent with the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He could remember his dear father reading a paper on this subject forty years ago, before the members of a large Literary Society, in which he stood almost alone as an advocate of Peace. That could not be the case to-day, for most persons would admit that the profession of arms was in antagonism to the whole teaching of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. His whole heart and sympathy, he assured them, was with the movement they supported and upheld. That Conference was a small representation of the Peace principles of Devonshire. It was not always the large and excited gatherings that carried most influence in public life. Some of them remembered when Band of Hope meetings and Temperance meetings were frequently called "hole-andcorner meetings," but opinion was queen of the universe, and gradually, step by step, public opinion had largely come over to that side. What they were trying to do was to educate and mould and shape public opinion. That it was being moulded and had been influenced was inore than made manifest by the topics announced for their consideration that morning, when it would be shown that the principles of Peace had penetrated one of the largest and most warlike kingdoms of Europe, and had met with the seal of approval of the Tzar of Russia. They were meeting under unusually favourable circumstances, and they had behind them, though not manifested in their midst, the strong conviction that was gradually taking hold of the hearts of the leaders of society; and, if it possessed them, it would by-and-bye reach the humbler classes, who at present had such a high opinion of the gospel of force and might.

Mr. CRAWFORD'S PAPER.

Mr. G. E. CRAWFORD, M.A., of Bristol, read an interesting paper on "Armies and Democracies, " in which he said it had been thought that with a more perfect Democracy universal Peace was to be in sight. Just now possibly we were suffering from

A REACTION

against that belief. This was due to several object lessons. The conduct of America in attempting war in the name of righteousness, which they must consider wrong, was one. The present dispute with France, and the military feeling which cropped up in various ways, was another. Then the war in the Soudan seemed to show that the Democracy as a whole was not averse to war. Yet there was evidence in the other direction. At a meeting of miners in East Durham, a resolution was passed to the effect that the time had arrived for general disarinament; that the present war system cast an enormous weight of taxation upon the workers of the world, from whose ranks the fighting forces were obtained; that it was a great reproach on civilisation that no other system but brute force was resorted to for the settlement of international differences, which were rarely in the

INTEREST OF THE WORKERS.

The meeting further urged all combinations of labour to express their thoughts on the question. That he considered was a nail in the coffin of war. But the war spirit was such a big giant, and it would take a big coffin to bury him, and a lot of nails would be required to be put into it. Democracies considered

that there was some material advantage to be derived from war, i.e., trade routes, territory, prestige. That notion was widely prevalent. He did not consider it was justified in every case, because if two nations were going to war it seemed to him obvious that it could not be in the interest of both to fight, and yet from both sides we invaribly heard the same argument used, that their interest required them to fight. If our eyes were not fastened up too closely upon our own point of view, we should perhaps have our confidence in that argument shaken. Another reason why Democracy seemed to consider war as inevitable was that growth of population demanded new outlets, and that without war they could not be obtained. But England was an illustration of the fact that a population could grow to an enormous extent, and could be supported merely by attending quietly to our own business, and developing our own resources peacefully, and intelligently, and in a united manner. The gain of these new territories therefore, was not considerable. He believed in Democracy, to whom the readiest appeal was justice. The great difficulty to combat was the argument that such and such a war was

A JUST WAR.

It appealed to everything that was generous in one's nature to root out abuses and to protect the helpless. Such a war was the recent American war, and many we had undertaken in defence of savage tribes, who were supposed to have appealed to us for help against others. The difficulty here was to decide what was just war. The whole question lay in that. What standard of justice had we to go by? There were two standards of justice, one moral and the other legal. By the moral standard war could not, of course, for a moment be justified under any circumstances, because all morality taught that it was better to suffer than to do wrong. Over and over again that view was emphasized in the New Testament. We could not decide what legally was a just war, because there was no good international law like there was civil law. In conclusion, Mr. Crawford combated the idea that war was good or necessary to cultivate

COURAGE.

It would be thought cowardly if people walked about carrying pistols. There was more courage displayed by the man in the factory, in the mine, in the stoke-hole, or on the engine, who alone purchased the lives of hundreds of others at the cost of his own, than the man who carried out the converse operation. He advocated gradual disarmament, and then there would be no difficulty as to what we should do with our soldiers and sailors. Cease building ironclads, and in a hundred years the battleships of to-day would be rusty and obsolete, and the soldiers and sailors of to-day, poor fellows, would be dead. He contended that the nation which took the initiative in carrying out disarmament should be protected from possible aggression by other nations who preferred to maintain their armaments. He moved that :-

This Annual Meeting of the Peace Society is convinced that the time has come for some serious attempt on the part of the various Governments to check" the massing of war material which is transforming the armed Peace of our days into a crushing burden which the peoples have more and more difficulty in bearing;" to discover the means of averting their inevitable result-"the calamities which are threatening the whole world; " and to seek, through "international discussion, the most eflectual means of ensuring to all peoples the benefit of a real and durable Peace." It therefore expresses the supreme satisfaction with which it welcomes the proposal of the Tzar of Russia for an international conference which would occupy itself with this grave problem; And it respectfully urges Her Majesty's Government to give the proposal their careful consideration and most cordial co-operation.

before closing he should like to read a letter from one of their prominent West of England men. Among those who had sent apologies for their absence was Sir Richard Tangye, who wrote :GLENDORGAL,

NEWQUAY, CORNWALL,

26th September, 1898.

DEAR SIR,-I am very sorry I shall not be able to attend the meeting at Exeter on the 18th October. Looking at the vast armaments of Europe at the end of the 19th Century, it almost seems as if we were no nearer the Christian ideal for all our efforts but is it so? Is there any one who doubts that if the misunderstandings with America arising out of the "Alabama" depredations, the seizure of Mason and Slidell, and, still later, the trouble with Venezuela, had occurred 100 years ago, war, with all its horrors, would certainly have followed? And the same may be said of the recent delicate negotiations with France about West Africa. Over forty years ago, Mr. Sturge and his two friends went to St. Petersburg to endeavour to persuade the Emperor Nicholas to seek a peaceful solution of the trouble with this country, and they were assailed with the bitterest abuse by their own countrymen for their pains-they were traitors, enthusiasts, or madmen-but to-day the Emperor of Russia has adopted the self same plea to the rulers and peoples of Europe! It is certainly one of the most remarkable incidents of the century, and is full of encouragement to all lovers of Peace and of progress. I am, dear Sir, Yours faithfully,

Rev. J.T. H. PAYNTER also announced letters of apology from Mr. Jas. Clark and Mr. W. S. Clark, of Street, Somerset ; the Rev. H. J. Bishop, Chairman of the Devonshire Congregational Union; and the Right Hon. C. Seale-Hayne, M.P. for Mid-Devon.

RIGHT HON. C. SEALE-HAYNE, M.P.,

said:-"I fear my engagements will prevent my returning to Exeter next week. As a friend of Peace I have always taken an active interest in the question of International Arbitration, which I believe to be the first practical step in that direction. I sincerely trust that the proposals of the Emperor of Russia, may receive encouraging and favourable consideration, and that some limit may be put to the continual increase of expenditure upon preparation for war among the nations of the world, which is utterly inconsistent with the religion they profess."

The resolution was then carried unanimously. The Chairman, on putting it, said he was sure that he might without any for mality express his heartfelt thanks to the friends who had so ably moved and seconded this resolution. The Meeting was closed by prayer and the Benediction.

AFTERNOON CONFERENCE.

Rev. John Stevens, D.Lit., D.D. (London), presided over the Afternoon Conference, when further papers were read.

The CHAIRMAN said he was exceedingly glad to have the opportunity of directing to some extent the proceedings of that convention. Those of them who were present at the Morning Conference must have felt that they had a profitable and most stimulating meeting-(hear, hear)-and they were looking forward to the papers and addresses that afternoon, when they would have their hearts stirred afresh in connection with this great movement. He had lived for some years in a heathen land, and as a consequence he was able both to gauge and appreciate, in a way that perhaps some others were not, the advantages and the priceless privileges of our Christian civilisation. He was very glad to be able to say to those present that there were numbers of Indians, Chinese, and Japanese, who looked upon the people of this country and of the sister country across the Atlantic with sincere respect and admiration. Just before he left China to return to England, a native said to him "British people are not a polite people, but then they are an honest people." Another of the Chinese said when speaking about the citizens of the United States and ourselves, "American is Englishman, only bigger." When one was able to estimate at something like their right proportions and their true value the privileges and advantages which we enjoyed as compared with other and less favoured

countries, one's heart was moved with a great desire that we might not only continue to enjoy these privileges and advantages, but that they might be developed to their fullest fruition. There was one thing in particular which marred the glory of our Christian civilisation. It was the barbarism, War, and they were there that afternoon to do their most and best to destroy that barbarism.

PROFESSOR MACEY'S PAPER.

The first paper, "Some Necessary Accompaniments of a Peace Policy," was read by Professor Macey, who pleaded for a more systematic and careful influence in the

EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG.

At present, he said, the youth of the country were taught to look upon war as forming a part of the natural order of things. Their notion of the greatness of a nation was based upon the number of men available for war. History as taught was little more than the story of successful wars, and the names held in the highest admiration, and which lived most tenaciously in the memories of youth, were the names of great, successful commanders. Instruction should be given to produce higher and nobler ideals of greatness, justice, mercy and truth. Advocates of Peace must watch foreign affairs, and advocate a policy of righteousness. He urged those on the side of Peace to

CAPTURE THE PRESS,

which was one of the most important instruments that could be wielded by the advocates of any cause. They should also endeavour to get the religious sentiment of the country on their side. He condemned the pronouncements of the preachers of the Established Church, and the resolution of the Congregational Union on the Soudan affair.

MISS COOKE'S PAPER.

A paper was then read by Miss M. L. Cooke, Corresponding Secretary of the Peace Union, Auxiliary of the Peace Society, on "Forces Making for War," considered in relation to the Peace Propaganda, which is published by the Society in a separate form.

Dr. DARBY

was called on to read a Paper reporting progress, but said he did not think it would be at all useful at that point. He was anxious that their meeting should be really a conference, and taking into account the hour they had reached, and the fact that so many topics had been put before them in such an admirable way by the papers they had listened to, he would reserve his report of progress till the evening meeting, and ask them to address themselves to the discussion of those papers.

Rev. J. T. MAXWELL moved the next resolution :-The resolution first asked them to express their heartfelt thanks to God, the giver of all good. Miss Cooke had led them back at once to the great foundation principles on which the Peace Society and all its endeavours rested, and, in doing so, she had brought them to feel that if they were to have the privilege of seeing good accomplished, they owed it to the Lord, who was the author and finisher of their faith, the author of all that was good, to whom they gave their thanks. The resolution also spoke of "encouraging success." Dr. Darby was going to give them a résumé of that success. Some of them looked out upon the world and saw the revival of the military spirit, and some sad exhibitions at recent gatherings. It was no unusual thing in the history of any great reform, that when a good principle had been making a certain measure of advance, there came such a consciousness of that on the part of the adversaries, such a wakening and gathering of the forces against them, that for a time the reform went back again. But the success was there for all that. Slavery never seemed stronger than when President Lincoln was called to the chair of the United States. But slavery was doomed. The abolitionists did not dare to hope for such a victory. It seemed as if they were on the verge of being defeated, and then God gave them the blessing. Might it not be that at the present time God was testing their faith, and preparing the way for a large and glorious victory, larger than they dared even dream of? They might take courage that there had been success. The second element in he resolution was that of rejoicing. Their faith was in God;

when they held living truth they could always be glad of it. However weary they might seem to be of the strife, there was always room for the element of joy. The resolution rejoiced that the principles of the Society had been recognised in various influential quarters, but he wished that the resolution had included the journalists.

The resolution was seconded by Mr. ANSTEY.

The CHAIRMAN said the resolution, with the concurrence of the Conference, would receive a slight addition on the lines suggested by Mr. Maxwell with regard to journalists. The resolution, as amended, read as follows:

This Meeting expresses its deep gratitude to Almighty God for the encouraging success which has attended the efforts of the Peace Society, and of Peace workers generally, during the period of its existence. It rejoices that the principles of the Society have been increasingly recognised as rational, right, and practicable, both by the utterances and action of legislatures, diplomatists, statesmen end rulers, and, with increasing frequency, by journalists. It urges upon the Society prompt and adequate response to the present pressing duty imposed upon it by the action of the Tzar of Russia, so as to use the occasion to the utmost advantage, and it pledges itself to continued and cordial co-operation with the Society in the pursuit of its humane and Christian endea

vour.

Mrs. RICHARDSON (Plymouth), said it was a great privilege to have that opportunity of expressing their feelings. Members of this Society, and just members of this nation rejoiced that it had pleased Almighty God so to act upon the heart of the ruler of the great Russian nation, enabling him to have the moral fortitude to bring forward at this time such a proposal as that which had stirred the civilised world. She thought it was well that the action of this Society-the persistent and faithful action that had been going on so long-and the influence of the Peace Congresses in which other nations joined, had been blessed by Almighty God in preparing the hearts of the nations to receive this message of the Tzar in a way that they would not otherwise have been prepared to do. They had now in nearly every country in Europe a Peace Society, and men imbued with the principles of Peace. A grand opportunity was coming, and she felt thankful to be able to most cordially support the resolution.

Rev. J. PITKIN (Exeter), said that whilst he generally approved of what had been said, he had heard many things that he should like to have an ample opportunity of discussing, only there was not time. But he did think that they had left out one consideration, and that was that until the millennium came they would never have a state of Peace. With regard to the proposal of the Tzar of Russia, which was exercising the minds of Christian men and women, there were three reports of very sensible interviews in the Daily News of that day, one was an interview with the Bishop of London, another was with the Archdeacon of London, and the third was with Mr. Tom Mann. Mr. Tom Mann said they could not trust the Russian Government. He was very emphatic in that. He said that the action of Russia in the far East made him unable to believe in the sincerity of Russia. Α statement of that kind coming from Mr. Tom Mann, whom every one knew and believed to be an advanced Democrat, who was in favour of co-operation, and who believed that strikes were not for the benefit of the working man, must think and hesitate before they accepted unconditionally this message from the Tzar of Russia. At the same time, they should by every means endeavour to reduce excessive armaments, to bring governments into a better frame of mind, and to carry out those Christian principles and to re-affirm that law of love which he was constantly doing every day in his official position as Chaplain of Her Majesty's prison. But whilst they affirmed the law of love they must also do those things which were calculated to prevent other nations breaking the law. They must see that this great nation was upheld, not by criticising little acts on the field of battle, where everything was done in the most humane way possible. He believed that the Sirdar had shown himself to be the most humane man possible in the last battle. Rather than criticise little acts on the field of battle, they ought to allow the

feeling of charity to enlarge in their hearts, and to say that the best thing possible had been done. In a general way he supported the resolution, but he should be glad if there could be added an expression of opinion that these meetings and Arbitration meetings should be held in all the provincial towns of this country, and that the Government of the country be petitioned and otherwise urged to carry out this proposal of the Tzar of Russia. He believed that if the Peace Societies and the Arbitration Societies could do that, it would be a great work for the promotion of Peace, and the spread of those principles of Christianity which they and he held most strongly, although they sought to give effect to them in different ways.

The CHAIRMAN thought that the first resolution, taken in conjunction with the second, covered the ground which the last speaker desired should be covered. At the meeting in the morning they expressed their extreme satisfaction at the proposal of the Tzar, and agreed respectfully to urge her Majesty's Government to give the proposal their careful consideration.

Of

Dr. DARBY said he was glad to find that the last speaker was in such thorough accord with their work and principles. course, there were particular questions about which they differed. That was the right of all men. With regard to that question of the millennium, if they were to abstain from this humane work, because war would not cease until the Lord came, by the same argument they must abstain from all humanitarian and Christian work. It was a vast undertaking to stop that which most persons admitted to be the greatest evil that had ever afflicted humanity, the evil of war, and they must oppose it with all the energy of which they were capable, leaving the rest to their King. He thought he must seize the opportunity of once more correcting a statement which did not represent an historial fact. Archdeacon Sinclair, if he had informed himself correctly, would not have made the statement that the three Friends who went to the Tzar of Russia in 1854 were, in any sense, the cause of the Crimean War. Why, the Crimean War had actually begun, although a formal declaration of war had not been made. It was an incorrect statement that the Friends went to the Tzar and sought to give him the impression that the people of England were so indifferent that he might do or say what he liked. They went to the Tzar as the bearers of an address from the Religious Body of which they were members, in the name of the Prince of Peace, whom they recognised as their King, and as to a fellow-man holding a prominent position and possessing great influence, in order to incline him to Peace. The Tzar received them, and arranged to give them another interview. Then came the British newspapers, abusing him to such an extent that he seems to have lost patience, and said, "I should like to keep the Peace, but these newspapers won't let me." The interview was, therefore, declined and the war went on. These were the facts of the case. The war was due to a wholly different cause, and was provoked by a wholly different person. He was afraid he could not quite accept the doctrine of Archdeacon Sinclair that all our actions must be in subjection to our rulers. He shared the position of the Friends most thoroughly. There were matters as to which he yielded glad obedience to the temporal sovereign. There were others as to which, with one who dared to be true centuries ago, he would say, "We ought to obey God rather than men." As regards Mr. Tom Mann, he believed in his sincerity. Mr. Mann popular leader, but he was subject to prejudice and false reasoning as other men were. True, the morality of Governments was not the highest, anywhere, and in the far East it was no exception. Wherein was our own Government better than others? But what had his argument, as to whether the Russian Government was trustworthy or not, to do with this proposal of Peace, or their acceptance of it? Here was a proposal of what everybody saw to be a necessary thing. He did not care who made it. It was said Lord Salisbury had made the same proposal two or three years ago, but nothing came of it. Somebody had to propose it. He did not think we were in a position to do so, if he might honestly express his opinion. He did not think that there was any other sovereign in Europe who might have made it with any probability of success. But whatever the motives of the Tzar might be, that was not the point. Here was a practical proposal made; an invitation for a certain line of action. They

was

a

had to judge that line of action on its own merits, and without any regard to motives, or any consideration outside the proposal itself. He dared to say that if the European nations did not consider the proposal now made, the cataclysm about which the Tzar argued so forcibly would inevitably come. There was one phrase of the speaker's which he must protest against. The "little acts" on the field of battle were not little acts. They were the essential character of war; they were a crime, the blackest treason against humanity, and humanity was greater than Governments, or organisations, or selfish considerations either of classes or nations.

Mrs. IDA WHIPPLE-BENHAM (Connecticut) said she gladly joined her thanks with theirs in ascribing thanks for this great advance step in the cause they had at heart, to the proper source-the only source of all blessing.

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously, and the Meeting closed with the Benediction.

EVENING MEETING.

Rev. Herbert Arnold, minister of Exeter Congregational Church, presided at the public meeting at 7 o'clock in the evening. The report of this meeting is of necessity held over to our next.

PEACE SUNDAY.

Now that the season of the Angel's Song is again approaching it may interest our readers to learn what was done in connection with Peace Sunday last year at the Antipodes, and since then elsewhere.

Mr. J. A. Horsfall of Melbourne writes, that he drew up a circular similar to our own, which he sent to some hundreds of ministers in the Colony, together with an assortment of literature selected so as to prove suggestive and helpful to them, whilst to those who intimated their intention to preach a reply was sent, and copies of "Sermon Notes" and other information supplied. It was not possible to say what proportion of ministers responded by observing the day, Miss Horsfall writes. "Here in Melbourne we sent out 250 letters and a large number of tracts sent us by Dr. Darby to almost all the ministers in Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo, our three principal towns, and we received several very hearty promises of sermons, and find that some who did not reply, either preached or mentioned the subject. I think," she adds, "the effort was highly successful, and we shall feel encouraged to do bolder work next time. It has also interested those who have engaged in the effort." At Wesley Church, Melbourne, a popular P.S.A. gathering was addressed, and the Wesleyan Conference was memorialised to admit Peace Sunday as an annual fixture on the Connexional Plan. Letters were sent by our indefatigable friends to each of the workers in the various Colonies. Some of the Colonies did not take the matter up, but in Queensland this was done warmly, and a great number of sermons were preached, especially round about Brisbane. In West Australia, too, and in New Zealand, Peace Sunday was noticed.

AT the request of the Peace Society of Torre Pellice, the Synod of the Vaudois Evangelical Churches, which met at that place early in September, considered the Question of Peace, and adopted the following resolution. "The Synod, approving of the initiative of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia in favour of general disarmament, and acquiescing in the request of the Torre Pellice Peace Society, decides: That the Executive of the Synod be directed to inform His Majesty's Government of the sentiments which animate the Vaudois Evangelical Christians with regard to Peace amongst the nations, and that the last Sunday in October be devoted to the propagation of the cause of fraternity among all peoples, and to pray for its early triumpb.

This resolution was carried out in fifteen parishes in the Vaudois Valleys, and fifty-one churches and forty-five mission stations of the Vaudois Church in Italy, and also in the Vaudois Colonies of America.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.-Mr. Charles H. Allen has resigned the position of Secretary of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, which he has held for nearly twenty years. Mr. Travers Buxton, M.A., has been appointed to the office. Mr. Allen will continue his interest in the society's work as honorary secretary.

AGENTS AND AUXILIARIES.

BIRMINGHAM AUXILIARY.

:-

Rev. J. J. Ellis reports meetings as follows:Sunday, October 2nd, WILNECOTE, a sermon at the Congregational Church on 66 Germs of Peace Societies."

Wednesday, October 5th, at Yate Street Baptist Chapel, BIRMINGHAM, a lecture on "Suspicion v. Trust."

Sunday, October 9th, at the Mission Tent, FRANKLEY, a sermon on "Rumours of War."

Sunday, October 16th, at the Francis Road Congregational P.S.A., BIRMINGHAM, Mr. J. W. Nichol in the chair, an address "The Tzar's Rescript."

on

Monday, October 17th, at the Methodist New Connexion Chapel, BLACKHEATH, an address on "The Church and Public Questions." Mr. Cashmore, chairman.

Wednesday, October 26th, at the Congregational Church, STRATFORD-ON-AVON, presided over by Rev. W. M. Armistead, a resolution in favour of the Tzar's proposed conference was moved by the Rev. J. Mark, and carried unanimously.

Sunday, October 30th, at the Congregational P.S.A., BROMSGROVE, Rev. A. Parkes presiding, an address on "The Tzar's Rescript."

Monday, October 31st, at the Congregational Church, FOLESHILL, Rev. J. Allen in the chair.

Wednesday, November 2nd, at the Congregational Church, SUTTON COLDFIELD, address on "An Ancient Soldier and a New Spirit."

Sunday, November 6th, at the Summerhill Wesleyan P.S.A., BIRMINGHAM, Mr. Sunderland in the chair, an address (Evangelistic) on "Decision and Peace."

These ten audiences contained about 1,700 people.
IPSWICH AUXILIARY.

September 28th. A paper on "The Tzar's Manifesto" was read by Mr. Hanes at Y.M.C.A. Literary and Debating Society. October 15th. A paper on "Arbitration" was read by Ada Cunningham at the Gleaners' Literary Society.

November 2nd. Public Town's meeting for the consideration of the Tzar's Eirenikon. Speakers :- Felix Cobbold, Esq., Miss Ellen Robinson, the Bishop of Norwich.

November 20th. An address at Museum Street Chapel by Miss P. A. Peckover. Subject-"Peace."

LIVERPOOL PEACE SOCIETY.

October 31st. Mr. J. W. S. Callie read a paper on "The Social and Economic Effects of Disarmament," at a Meeting of the Liverpool and District Bankers' Institute.

November 1st. A debate was held with the New Ferry Wesleyan Literary Society, on "Can a Nation exist without Armed Forces ? The affirmative was taken by Mr. Arthur Boden and Mr. W. G. Jones.

November 3rd. Mr. Arthur Boden gave an address to the Christian Endeavour Society in connection with the Presbyterian Church, Newgate Street, Chester.

November 9th. Mr. J. K. Slater delivered a lecture, with limelight illustrations, on "The Franco-Prussian War," in the Congregational Church, GOLBORNE.

November 10th. A debate on the question "Is it desirable that War should cease forthwith?" was held with the Rake Lane Liscard, Congregational, Social, and Literary Society. The Peace Society was represented by Messrs. Mark Howarth, W. G. Jones, and G. C. Legge.

November 10th. Mr. Callie again gave his lecture on "The Social and Economic Effects of Disarmament," at a Meeting in the SOUTH WALTON Liberal Club.

MANCHESTER AUXILIARY.

Mr. C. STEVENSON reports :-" Since last report I have attended and addressed the following meetings:

Salford, Greengate P.M.E., 200 present, address on Peace, Chairman, Mr. Smith.

Longsight Presbyterian School, sixty present, lantern lecture, "The Crimson Orient," Mr. John Reid in the chair.

St. George's Church, Oldham Road, lecture, "Working Men and War." Rev. C. C. Frost, M.A., in the chair, forty present. Blackley, Wesleyan Guild, 150 present, lantern lecture, "The Crimson Orient," Mr. J. Gilbody in the chair.

Marple, Congregational S.S., 120 present, "Swords," Mr. George Shaw in the chair.

Rochdale, Baillie St. School, 150 present, lantern lecture, “The Crimson Orient," Mr. William Mellor in the chair.

Chadderton, St. Luke's School, lantern lecture, "The Crimson Orient," Mr. Greenhalgh, secretary to the Mutual Improvement Society, occupied the chair in the unavoidable absence through indisposition of the Rector, the Rev. G. F. Holme.

On the 4th November, the Manchester Committee had a conference with the committee in Liverpool as to the best means of utilising passing events for the promotion of the Peace movement. Views were freely exchanged, and it is expected that good will result. Conferences have also been held with many of the leaders of various bodies in Manchester, and at the opportune time steps will be taken to advance the cause. Literature has been supplied to the secretaries of many Literary, Debating, and Mutual Improvement Societies, who are discussing the Tzar's manifesto at their meetings.

THE THREE ERAS.

(Written on visiting Worleborough Camp, near Weston, with the British Association, 1898.) By W. P. THOMPSON.

I.

WORLEBOROUGH CAMP in Pictish day
A refuge seemed for all around,
Until its last defenders lay

Lifeless, upon the blood-stained ground; And "might was right" in that dark hour. It was the simple rule of man; "That they shall take who have the power, "And they "-alone--" shall keep who can." II.

Worleborough Camp in ruin lies.

In England, Law triumphant stands, And each man fiercely seeks the prize, The greatest share of goods and lands ; And ruthless competition's art,

With cunning lie, and power of gold, Now take the place of sword and dart, And stronghold of the days of old.

III.

But have we here the final goal

Of Christian civilising power? Its seeds divine, as centuries roll,

Will surely bear a nobler flower; A reign of love, where men, as brothers, Will spurn both kinds of warfare grim. And each man strive to do to others

As he would wish them do to him,

OBITUARY NOTICES.

Mrs. JANE LOVE ROBINSON (née Colgate), the wife of Mr. Henry Robinson, J P., one of the early workers in the Peace Cause, has died at her residence, "Cayuga," Eliot Park, Lewisham, on the 2nd of November, aged 69 years. In her young womanhood she was indefatigable in the various departments of work, initiated by Elihu Burritt, in connection with the Olive Leaf Movement, viz-Ocean Penny Postage, Anti-Slavery, and the wide dissemination of Peace sentiments, in the journals of the Continent. After a long illness, with unfailing patience borne, she passed peacefully away, and was interred at the Friends' Meeting House, Reigate.

The Society has also to include among its losses the death of Mrs. RACHEL BACKHOUSE, of Pilmore Hall, Darlington, widow of the late Mr. Alfred Backhouse, who was a generous supporter of it and of many other good causes. She died on the 15th November last, at her residence in Darlington, aged 72.

Mr. ROBERT FOSTER, of the Quarries West, Newcastle-on-Tyne, who had been a Member of the Society for many years, died on the 16th ult. in his 87th year.