Evening star., 1901-09-14
IN THE CHU RCHES

ocean with him were Rev. DR.. A. l.. Mag
MEN. president OF ST. Mary's Seminary, and
seventeen other priests.
member OF the party In speaking OF q
law recently enacted In France on the SUBJ
tect Of religious organizations, said that
the law Is most tyrannical and unchristian.
The conditions for approval are OF such a
nature that many of the congregations.
both male and female. refuse to apply for
the government sanction and will leave the
country. The bill was passed about July
l. and the congregations were given three
months In which to comply with It.
The object of the law Is to subdue the
religious spirit in the French people BY
driving out the associations which aid the
clergy and strengthen their hands they
hope to weaken the effectiveness of the
work Of religion. The regular clergy are
subject to the pope alone, and by driving
them out the government hopes to lessen
the Catholicity Of spirit Of the people. They
hope to be able to exert more influence on
the clergy under the control Of the bishops
than when they are exempt from this con-
troi and to establish a national religion, or
CIerics ambitious OF preferment may be
found who will yield to their persuasions
and be willing to carry out their schemes
ihere Is no doubt that the French peo-
put they have allowed themselves to be
fooled by the politicians who profess to be
friendly to religion, and promise IL elected
20 nring about some local public improve
ment that will benefit the people of their
district. In this way bad men get elected
to the legislature. The withdrawal of the
congregations. many of whom 1t is probable
Will come to the United States and some
Of them to Washington will prove a great
loss to many of the people. and in some in
stances to the government itself
Inc law was aimed primarily at the
Jesults, who determined not to apply to the
government for authorization, knowing that
their application would be refused. They
have made arrangements to turn over their
colleges In various parts of France to Sec
ular teachers. trained by them for the work
OF teaching"
When President Mckinley resumes the
duties OF his high office he Is to be asked by
the board of managers OF the Missionary
Society Of the NJ. E. Church to assist in
bringing to an end the opium traffic in
China. This traffic. it will be urged. has
been a terrible curse to all classes Of the
Chinese people, has brought desolation and
sorrow into many thousands of homes and
its victims are multiplying with every add
ed year.
The appeal to be made states that "The
position Of our government Is most favor
able for taking the initiative In this matter
Our own treaty concluded with China in
1884 absolutely prohibiting all American
citizens from engaging in the traffic and
all American vessels from carrying opium
to or between the ports of China. express
Ing as 1t does the sentiment of the Amer
lean people and our cordial good will to-
ward China In helping to relieve her of
this traffic gives us strong vantage ground
for asking the other nations to join In this
commendable purpose.
AS foreign nations will be urging a
great extension Of commercial privileges
at this time. including the abolition Of in
ternal duties and these privileges are nec-
essary for the increase Of commerce. they
can most happily reciprocate what may
be granted by China in this respect by
giving her their powerful help in delivering
her from the multiplied evils of the opium
peatedIy declared it's willingness and de-
sire to sternly prohibit the cultivation OF
the poppy as soon as foreign countries
consent to the prohibition of the traffic.
Such an act of humanity and justice on
the part Of our government at this time
will tend greatly to increased good feeling
among the Chinese officials and the vast
multitudes of people.
have greater effect in overcoming the re-
vengeful feelings aroused. especially in
those regions of the country which have
suffered most during the late troubles, and
it's whole influence throughout the land
would be most beneficial 1t would be a
most happy Inauguration Of the first new
treaties OF the twentieth century between
western nations and China to carry out so
humane and beneficial purpose in the re-
vision of treaties with that empire"
Much interest is felt here in the approach
ing dedication of the Mothers House Of
Deaconesses Of the English Lutheran
Church. which Is nearing completion in
Baltimore. Elaborate arrangements are
being made for the event, which will take
place on October 8. Many prominent min
listers from all parts Of the country and
all the deaconesses who have been sent
out during the past five years to work in
churches fhrorphnut q iuria6ic-
tion Of the general synod are expected to
be present. There are to be addresses by
Rev. DR.. J. A. Singmaster of the Gettys-
burg Theological Seminary, Rev. DR.. F. II.
Kubel Of New York, Rev. DR.. w. e. Stay
lor of Lebanon, Pa and several others.
has accepted an offer to commence evan
gelistic work in Brooklyn. This will take
him away from Washington and the
Peoples Mission and win necesstate some
changes in the affairs Of the mission. The
executive committee has before it several
propositions; but 1t has decided not to act
hastily, but to take time to consider the
subject in all its phases. Mr.. Bailey will
enter upon his new duties October 1.
The call Of Mr.. Bailey was coupled with
consent to divide his time between Brook
lyn and Washington If he deemed it ad-
visable to do so. In this form he accepted
the call and came back to make the neces-
sary arrangements. Those who have been
consulted in the matter believe that the
plan of dividing the time between the two
cities will not work out practically, but
will serve only to embarrass both ends OF
the line and the Peoples Mission is there
fore seeking to arrange its affairs SO as
not to burden Mr.. Bailey any more than
is absolutely necessary.
A recent visitor from Washington to the
famous Ocean Grove, N. j., camp meeting
gave to a Star reporter an interesting ac-
count of the origin of what is now the
biggest camp meeting in the world. He
stated that in 1869 some ten families Joined
in camp meeting on the shores Of what
is now Wesley lake, but then called Long
pond. Rev DR.. E. H. Stokes was chosen
president of the Ocean Grove Camp Meet
ing Association then and held that office
for thirty-two years, until 1897, when he
died. Under his direction 1t grew from its
small beginning to it's present proportions.
There are still tents, but they are not
many They on raised board floors,
which are carpeted, and each has frame
kitchen at the and front stoop with
a porch-like awning and rocking chairs.
Each has honeysuckle bush beside IL.
There are more honeysuckles at Ocean
Grove than anywhere else on earth.
The greater part of the summer popula-
ton Of Ocean Grove, however lives in no
tells and jigsaw cottages bearing romantic
titles and situated in streets with such