Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-16

4
| and the feet of the infant are overlaid
! with gold, only these portions showing,
while diadems OF gold and precious stones
| encircle the heads of the mother and child.
The history of the picture Is enveIoped In
| mystery. though it is said to have been
miraculously handed to the monks CEN
turtles ago on Mt. Athos.
The ikon is frequently taken to the
houses of the sick and dying. when 1t is
carried in great pomp to perform miracles.
and In this way earns immense sums yearly
for the tiny chapel to which it belongs. 1t
was my good fortune, during the festivities
attending the coronation of the present tSar
In 1885, to see the image taken one of
these journeys.
1t was On the wide street, near the Cen
trail telegraph office, that l saw it pass.
was made aware of the rapid approach of
some important carriage by the demeanor
of the people who gathered on the foot
paths and roadway, the general silence and
stoppage of all traffic. Presently a great
blue coach drawn by seven horses, three
abreast in front and four abreast at the
wheels, ridden by two positions, passed at
a running pace.
The crowd all fell to bowling and cross
ing themselves as they do before church
as the bells strike the hour or ring for
service. Many knelt in the street or pros
trated themselves before the coach. Inside
the carriage the back seat was arranged as
glass compartment, behind which was
the sacred ikon, surrounded by flowers. On
the front seat, with his head partly thrust
out of the window, was fat priest ROBBED
in a gold chasuble. who complacently re-
garded the alteration of the people. None
were too high nor too low to do it rever-
ence. The carriage of high official stopped
while the ikon passed, the. official alighting
and standing beside his vehicle.
Haggard's Appointment.
/ am informed that the selection of Mr..
Rider Haggard as commissioner to visit the
land settlements of the Salvation Army in
the United States is hardly a government
appointment. Mr.. Haggard is merely nomi-
mated by the colonial secretary, and invited
to report to his department on his return
from mission, the costs Of which will be
betrayed by the Rhodes trustees. Mr.. Hag-
gard. l understand, has been selected main
ly on account of his complete knowledge of
the exacting conditions Of agriculture in
South Africa, inasmuch as the colonial Of
flee is likely to be directly responsible for
some time to come for the occupation of
large tracts of land in the Orange river col
ony, which We're taken over from the de-
funct Free States; land on which British
farmers are reluctant to venture at almost
any price. 1t is not so much to help the
Salvation Army to extend their settlements
in British colonies that Mr.. Haggard is
delegat ted to conduct this investigation as
for the sake of obtaining unbiased expert
opinion as to the successful economic work
ing of the settlements by immigrants from
congeSted cities. In colonial quarters in
London the appointment is talked of with
but limited approval Mr.. Haggard having
acquired the reputation of a faddiSt in
farming and his ple:horic Imagination be-
ing supposed to disqualfy him for drastic
analysis on the spot of a complex organiza-
ton. In any case, the innovation will not
increase the burdens of the British tax
payer.
Interesting Peerage Case.
An unusually interesting peerage case.
especially interesting your side of the
Atlantic will shortly be before the COM
mittee for privileges of the house of lords.
1. will be made by Mr.. Robert Barclay
Allardice, and relates to the Earldom of
Airth. The claim turns an question Of
law, and not on the usual issue of pedigree
Mir. Barclay-Allardice claims the Earldom
of Airth of the patent of 1888, which united
and annexed the earlier Earldom of Men |
teith to the newly-created Earldom of
Airth. The Earldom of Airth was conferred |
on the grantee and his heirs. In this pat |
ent there is no restriction to heirs male, |
but in the annexed Menteith earldom there
is this limitation. The question arises, |
therefore, whether the title Aof Airth is |
separable from the Earldom of Henteith, |
which is limited to heirs male? The present |
claim arises through descent in the female |
line. The Earldom of Menteith, to which |
no claim is made. isethe older dignity. 60 |
ing back to 1927. The claims of Mr. Bar |
ancestors TO the Earldom |
of Airth have been. preferred before the |
house of lords more than once but no de- |
cision has ever been given. The present |
mother brought claim to the |
Eardoms of Airth, Menteith and Strathern |
in 1870 but the committee adjourned sine |
die. and never gave a decision. The present |
is siXty-three. and bachelor, but |
his younger brother, David Stuart Barclay
AlIardice is married, and has living four |
sons and two daughters. They live in the |
United States, and should Mr.. R. Barclay |
Allardice be successful, it may we'll be that, |
like the Barony of Fairfax, the Earldom |
of Airth will be held by citizen of the |
United States.
Congress of Baptists.
The remarkably cosmopolitan character of
the world congress of Baptists, which is to
be held here in July, is fully attested by the
arrangements which have already been
made On the day before the congress
really begins-that is, July 10-addresses
will be delivered in all parts of London by
Americans, Australians, New Zealanders.
Canadians, Frenchmen, Italians, Swedes
and colored delegates. On the opening day
of the congress, with the president of the
union, Judge Willis, X. c., in the chair, as
many as seventeen delegates from all parts
Of the world will answer to the roll call of
On foreign missionary day DR..
Mabie, the secretary of the American Bap-
list Missionary Union in the northern states, |
and DR.. Timothy Richard of China will
speak
Much will be made of the free church
movement. 1t has been arranged to receive
4 deputation from the council, and as the
Rev. DR.. Clifford and an American not yet
appointed are to speak on the subject it
IS fairly certain that the archbishop of |
recent letter to an American
On the education controversy will not escape |
attention. The Sturgeon statue is to be I'M
Felied In Exeter Hall on July II by the
president of the congress. the Rev Dr. |
Maclaren. 1t will be taken to the hall for
The purpose, and afterward fixed at the en-
rance OF the Baptist Church House in Hol-
Dorm. The last day of the congress is to |
pc devoted to great meeting in the Albert |
Hall. followed the next day by excursions
10 Bedford and Cambridge, which places
have a great historic connection with the |
baptlSt community. l.. H. MOORE.