The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-24

me some months ago SIndll NOiGIlc Ol
223 pages, entitled 'The Creed OF Pres
byterians.' 1t is by Rev. Egbert Watson
Smith, D. D., pastor of the First Presby-
terrain church at Greensboro. 1t is neatly
printed and bound, and has had, as it so
richly deserves, a large sale for a rel-
gious book. l have read it with very
much pleasure and interest. Of its kind
it is almost faultless work It's spirit
is kind, conciliatory, and yet emphatic.
1t stands bravely forth in defence as well
as of enforcement of Presbyterian dogma,
history, popularity and heroic devotion
to civil and religious liberty. 1 have
read first and last a good deal within the
last forty years bearing upon the history
OF Calvinism, and its splendid stand IN
many lands for the right to think and
in behalf of oppressed peoples in many
countries. 1t has indeed a glorious re
cord, as whole, in behalf of freedom OF
conscience and the right to believe, tc
speak, to write, to print. Our own coun-
try is greatly indebted to it for human
rights and the glories that encrcle tree,
untrammeled government OF the people
and for the people and by the people. By
the way, Lincoln stole this tavorite quo
tation from him from a New England
Reader published in the thlrtles. Cal
vinism has asserted it's right to be called
the invincible and unfaltering friend OF
genuine democracy, mans equality and
an untrammelled religion. George Ban
croft, the able Nav England democratic
historian of his country, said that Cal
vinism opposed hereditary monarchy.
arstocracy and bondage" AS the Drift
of events is now in this country after
some 10 years of self-government, there
will be a great need for the influence of
Presbyterianism to stay the hands CT
despotism and usurpation, and to save
free institutions on these shores from the
murderous handsFof tyrants and enemies.
In this very able, tactful, tasteful book
there are four points OF discussion, 1. The
Greed Formulated; 2. The Greed Tested
by its Fruits; 3. The Greed Illustrated,
and f. The Greed Catholic. The style is
exceedingly good: 1t is the production ot
a scholar, of d careful student widely Gull
tivated of a writer of admirable gifts,
rhetorician of uncommon Judgment, iellcl-
ty and charm. This is not unwarranted
or unsustained Read the book, and you
will see there is no exaggeratIon in what
l have written. l am not surprised tnat
two great Presbyterian divlnes wrote II
such warm terms of approval. Rev. w.
NJ Paxton, d. D., LII. D., the very able
president and theologian OF the famous
Princeton Theological Seminary, and
divine of the North, wrote thus in adj
miration: Il cannot speak OF 1t in terms
too high. It is the best thing have ever
seen on the subject, and l have read
much" No praise could we'll be higher.
l am sure it is well deserved. Then the
greatest of Southern Presbyterians OF late
years,-the great patriot and orator
the venerable Rev. B. NJ. Palmer, D. D.,
LII D., who passed away year or two
ago, aged some 81, so revered, honored,
loved, who was the eloquent, very able
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church
in New Orleans, wrote this not long before
the close of his most distinguished and
useful life of the book of DR.. Smiths: "A
priceless gift to the church at this pres
ent time. Brief complete, and sharply
to the point X written in style,
clear, forcible, and charming in its
rhetoric. it is bound to attract thousands
o. readers and to do good wherever 1t
circulates." 1 am very much obliged TO
NV Greensboro friend for putting 1t into
my power to read so excellent religious
work, as | am grateful to the accomplish
ed and able author, who 1 can claim, too
as my friend, for preparing so complete
and strong a book, that I and others who
relish superior workmanship might enjoy
it in it's rich and wide gathering OF fruit
age and in its earnest, vigorous presen-
tation of the claims Of his own great his
toric church. If he should never write
another book, / think his fame is secured
for a century to come, If not Tor centuries.
In 1902. $4,000 Americans settled IL
Canada. On the other hand great many
French Canadians have over-run the New
England States, and 'have driven the
Irish out of the cotton mills" l see no
cause here for rejoicing.
There are 100000 of italians who have
left their native land. OF these a hall
million are in France. In the United
States the number is given at 2S5,0OO,
which is less than had supposed Per
haps it is enough.
Prof. Noah X. Davis, of the University
of Virginia, a scholarly, gifted writer,
has written a life of Christ that is call
ed 1.-THE Story of the Nazarene. There
are probably dozens of lives of the Savior,
and two new ones are announced. So
far as l know the most desirable Is
Geikie's superior work, and after him the
most useful is DR.. Deems's large volume
One of the South's greatest men i'll the
last hundred years was beyond fair qucs-
tor Jefferson Davis, the President of the
Southern Confederacy. He had many
great qualities, and some glazing defects,
but he was heightened, honest and honor
able brave and conscientious. He was
distinguished and noble man. AS Secrc-
tary of War, according to a well known
Northern writer and special friend oil
Abe Lincoln he was a great success, and
reflected high credit upon the govern
ment and his country. l remember that
in 1867 there was report in the South
err newspapers that his family was in
''needy circumstances This very I'm
pleasant rumor stirred my patriotism and
gratitude and I wrote for a North Caro-
na paper an article N 5hich l urged
that immediate steps be taken 20 provide
fer the wife and children OF the South's