The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-17
Anniversary Of the South Carolina
Peace Society.

Ine sixteenth Anniversary OF the
South Carolina Peace Society was
held October ,, 1855, in the Hall of the
Young Mems Christian Association,
Columbia, beginning ut 7.30 p. IN.
The meeting was opened with read
ing the Scriptures and prayer by Sidi
H. Browne, the President. c. d.
Stanley, by request, acted us Secreta-
ry.
Comparatively few were present.
The prescribed order Of business was
observed.
The President stated that he had
preached a number Of sermons during
the year on Peace, besides several spe,
cial lectures OH the subject. On every
occasion, the congregations seemed
much interested in what was said.
In Europe and America there are &c
Peace Societies 43 OF these are in
America, l in Denmark, 6 in France
4 in Germany, s in Great Britain, in
Holland, in Hungary, 4 in Italy,
in Norway and in Sweden.
The following communications from
brethren who could not attend the
meeting were read:
FROM DIR. J.. NJ. BURGESS, GREELY'
WILLIE, S. G.
I regret that I shall not be able to
attend the meeting of the South Caro-
lin Peace Society. I am still fully in
favor of peace among men, and of the
settlement of national difficulties by
arbitration. Trusting that all the
members may be inspired with fresh
zeal in this good cause, I remain very
truly your Friend.
FROM JOSIAH w. LEEDS, PHILADEL-
A little more than century and a
half has elapsed since the eminent
Methodist preacher John Wesley, paid
his visit to Georgia and the Carolinas.
1t was after his return thence that he
wrote his Appeal to Men of Reason
and Religion in which he very ear
nestly contended against engagement
in war as being insensate, murderous
and unchristian, as characterized by
no argument whatever in the decision
of differences, as being IAN amazing
way of deciding controversies" "
Sometimes it would seem, when the
subject of the settlement Of interna-
tional differences by amicable meth
DDS is much mooted-as has certainly
been the case in this country for sew
eral years past-that the minds of the
generality of men were pretty well
made up upon the matter, and that
they were about ready to concede all
that the friends of peace contended for
in that direction.
Thus, four years ago when the presi-
dental platforms were in course OF
construction, the then dominant polit-
ical party inserted what seemed to be
perfectly staunch plank upon inter-
national arbitration, one which might
be relied upon for good, permanent SER
vice. 1t is true that the Democratic
party made no attempt to put forth q
similar plank, yet the well-respected
candidate for the vice-presidency ex-
pressed himself very pOintedly in ia
vor of the peaceable reference Of inter-
national disputes. So also did st.
John, the candidate of Prohibition,
while the Equal Rights, and, think,
the Labor party, formally affirmed
their belief in the principle by placing
it-as the Republicans had done-in
their platform.
Within year or two, however, the
agitation of the Fisheries question has
aroused decided feeling of animosity
on our Northern border, while, in Con-
gress, Senator Dolph's elaborate
scheme for coast defences, and the
several projects looking toward an aug
mentation of our navy, here met
with considerable favor. And so it
came to pass that when the Republican
nominating committee this summer
addressed itself to the task of framing
an acceptable platform upon which its
constituency might stand, there was
found abundant space for our soldiers,
for q greater navy, for augmented
coast defences, but, alas land in con-
sistency's name, how can it be other
wise?) the beneticent principle Of az
bitration of differences had altogether
sank out of sight!
Nevertheless, it is cheering to per-
ceive that the party Of Prohibition an
nounces itself as Enthusiastically COM
mitted to the arbitration of differences,
international or otherwise. But I did
not set out to writea campaign letter, /
take leave of my subject in quoting
with approval this sentiment from
THE White Ribbon
"Closer bonds of friendship between
the women of different nations, may
help to strengthen the idea of inter-
national arbitration in the settlement
of all differences that thus the whole
military system, now draining the
very life. blood and wealth of the peo-
pie in the old world, may be complete
iy overturned, and war, with its crimes
and miserics, ended forever"
FROM REV. ROWLAND B. HOWARD,
SECRETARY OF THE AMERICAN
PEACE SOCIETY.
Tho ,dyont of thp DreciOuS LITTLE pa-